Stock Operations Manager

JR United Kingdom; Havant; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in retail clothing seeks a Stock Finance and Operations Manager to oversee inventory management and stock reconciliation. You will play a vital role in maintaining stock accuracy, driving process improvements, and managing a stock audit team. This position blends financial acumen with operational oversight, ensuring the integrity of stock records and compliance with accounting standards. You will need to cultivate relationships with stakeholders and present data-driven insights to senior management while leading initiatives for audit readiness and process enhancements. If you have a proven track record in stock management with strong leadership skills, this is an excellent opportunity to grow your career.

Benefits

Perkbox platform for discounts and wellbeing resources

THRIVE learning management system access

Dental Insurance (employee funded)

EAP support around the clock

Critical illness/Death in service for Salaried staff

Eye Tests/contributions to glasses

Sabbatical leave in line with service

Enhanced Family Friendly policies (e.g., Maternity Leave)

Qualifications

• Experience in stock management in a managerial capacity.
• Strong understanding of supply chain logistics.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement inventory control procedures.
• Lead and manage the stock audit team.
• Build reporting requirements with the data team.

Skills

Stock Management

Warehouse Operations

Leadership

Analytical Skills

Problem Solving

Communication

Education

Degree in Finance or related field

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Job description

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Working Arrangements: Hybrid Working (3 days per week office based)

Who are we?

For over 30 years, we’ve travelled, we’ve laughed, we’ve grown. We believe life is for living and more fun with those we love. We are Made for Life.

Our mission statement:

Crafting clothes for life’s everyday adventures. Today, tomorrow and always.

Our Product formula:

Equality and inclusion isn’t an aspiration but the standard. We promote and drive equality within our workforce to ignite an inclusive foundation for us all to build from and truly connect with our customers, colleagues, and communities alike. You play a key part in creating an environment free from prejudice, racism, sexism, harassment, bullying and any other form of marginalisation in our workplaces.

Role Summary

The Stock Finance and Operations Manager is accountable for the accuracy, existence and completeness of the FatFace stock file – both units and cost valuation. They will monitor and report on the company’s inventory. The role is an important connection between NEXT and FatFace regarding stock reporting. To be successful, the Stock Finance and Operations Manager is a reliable professional with excellent record-keeping abilities, great attention to detail and a drive for continuous improvement.

Role Responsibilities

• Devise ways to establish and ensure continuous improvement and efficiencies within the reconciliation of stock

• Develop and implement inventory control procedures to ensure stock accuracy, spanning from the posting of journals to assisting with supporting documentation for the external audit

• Own the accounting for stock financial entries, including ability to be able to take a detailed level of understanding on financial entries and display this into appropriate summary level for presentation to senior management

• Taking ownership for ensuring correct accounting treatment in accordance with accounting standards for stock

• Develop and implement new stock processes including a reconciliation between NEXT and FatFace and processing stock adjustments

• Build, maintain and sustain working relations with relevant stakeholders internally & externally

• Present findings and meaningful conclusion to relevant stakeholders

• Build reporting requirements and work with data team to create power bi reports where necessary

• Lead and manage the stock audit team.

• Manage regular stock counts; investigate variances and report findings.

Skills and Experience

• Experience in stock management, preferably in a managerial or supervisory capacity.

• Strong understanding of warehouse operations and supply chain logistics.

• Excellent leadership and people management skills.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to enable diligent reviews of financial entries and stock records to maintain high standards of precision

• Good communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

• Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy and efficiency.

• Ability to manipulate large amounts of data and to compile detailed reports

• Continuously seeks out and implements process enhancements to improve accuracy and efficiency in stock management.

• Ability to apply critical thinking to overcome challenges and implement effective solutions.

Accuracy & Attention to Detail

• Maintains the integrity of the stock file through rigorous reconciliation and control processes.

• Demonstrates a high standard of precision in journal posting, audit preparation, and stock valuation.

• Reviews and validates data meticulously to ensure the existence, completeness, and accuracy of all stock records.

Financial & Analytical Acumen

• Possesses a strong understanding of financial principles, with the ability to analyse stock-related accounting entries and ensure alignment with accounting standards.

• Interprets large data sets, turning complex data into actionable insight using tools such as Excel and Power BI.

• Identifies trends, risks, and anomalies in stock movements and valuation.

Communication & Influence

• Clearly articulates financial findings, presenting them in a meaningful way to stakeholders including senior management and external auditors.

• Builds credibility and fosters trust through transparent and consistent communication with both internal teams and external partners such as NEXT.

• Translates technical detail into accessible insights for non-finance stakeholders.

Process Development & Continuous Improvement

• Drives efficiency and accuracy in stock control by designing, implementing, and evolving robust financial and operational processes.

• Proactively identifies gaps and introduces solutions to improve reconciliation, audit readiness, and inventory reporting.

• Seeks out innovation and simplification in ways of working to reduce manual intervention and increase automation where appropriate.

Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Builds and maintains productive relationships across Finance, Logistics, Supply Chain, IT, and external partners.

• Aligns internal and external stock reporting to ensure consistency and transparency.

• Effectively manages conflicting priorities and negotiates solutions to deliver business objectives.

Leadership & People Management

• Leads and motivates a high-performing stock audit team, promoting accountability, development, and a culture of ownership.

• Provides clear direction, constructive feedback, and coaching to support team success.

• Sets and upholds high standards for teamwork, delivery, and integrity.

Problem Solving & Judgement

• Approaches complex challenges with a solutions-oriented mindset, using critical thinking to resolve discrepancies and variances in stock records.

• Applies sound judgement in high-pressure scenarios, ensuring decisions are backed by data and align with financial compliance.

Audit & Compliance Readiness

• Ensures all stock-related financial entries are audit-ready, supported by clear documentation and compliant with relevant accounting standards.

• Champions a strong control environment, minimising risk through preventive and detective controls.

• Coordinates effectively with auditors to ensure efficient and smooth audit processes.

Technical & Systems Proficiency

• Comfortable navigating financial systems and collaborating with data teams to build or enhance inventory reports and dashboards.

• Supports systems enhancements and ensures reconciliation tools and reports meet operational and audit needs.

• Able to bridge operational knowledge with finance and systems capability to deliver accurate and timely reporting.

Strategic Thinking & Commercial Awareness

• Connects operational stock processes with commercial impact, providing insights that inform business decisions.

• Aligns inventory control and reporting with business goals, ensuring stock is optimally managed from both a financial and operational lens.

• Plans for future needs, anticipating challenges and preparing processes that scale with business growth.

Key Contacts and Relationships

o Finance Department

o IT Department

o All areas of the business

o NEXT Logistics team

o NEXT Stock Operations team

o NEXT Finance teams

Accountable Resources

Stock Audit Analysts

• Perkbox our online platform to use from day one (this includes amazing online discounts, home workouts, wellbeing content, popular brand discounts e.t.c)
• THRIVE – Our learning management system- access from day one with 1000’s of pieces of learning
• Dental Insurance (employee funded)
• EAP support around the clock- UNUM/Retail Trust/ Fashion Textiles Support
• Critical illness/Death in service for Salaried staff
• Eye Tests/contributions to glasses
• Sabbatical leave in line with service
• Enhanced Family Friendly policies i.e. Maternity Leave