Inventory Controller

Vaco by Highspring; New Providence (NJ); Hybrid; USD 122,000 - 149,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring in Long Island City, NY, is seeking an experienced Inventory Controller to oversee inventory accuracy, costing, controls, and financial reporting. This hands-on role partners with Finance, Accounting, Purchasing, and Operations to ensure data is accurate and audit-ready.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in inventory accounting, cost accounting, reconciliations, and variance analysis, and will translate detailed data into actionable insights for improving processes

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Strong experience in inventory accounting, cost accounting, controls, and reconciliations.
• Understanding of inventory valuation, COGS, gross margin, and PPV.
• Experience with physical and cycle counts, and reconciliations.
• Advanced Excel and data analysis skills.
• Experience with ERP and inventory management systems.

Responsibilities

• Own the accuracy and integrity of inventory records and financial information.
• Develop and maintain inventory control procedures.
• Perform reconciliations between inventory records and physical quantities.
• Investigate variances and identify root causes.
• Coordinate physical inventory counts and ensure audit readiness.
• Provide reporting and analysis on inventory turns, variances, and cost changes.
• Collaborate with Finance, Accounting, Purchasing, Operations and warehouse teams.

Skills

Inventory accounting

Cost accounting

Inventory controls

Reconciliations

Financial analysis

Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Supply Chain

Tools

ERP systems

Inventory management systems

Job description

Location: Long Island City, NY
Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Compensation: Up to $225,000, based on experience
Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Overview

Inventory Controller

Our client is seeking a highly experienced Inventory Controller to oversee inventory accuracy, controls, valuation, and financial reporting. This position will serve as a key partner to Finance, Accounting, Purchasing, and Operations, ensuring inventory information is accurate, well-supported, and aligned with financial reporting requirements.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in inventory accounting, cost accounting, inventory controls, reconciliations, and financial analysis, along with the ability to investigate variances, identify root causes, and recommend process improvements.

This is a hands-on role for someone who is comfortable working with detailed transactional data while also providing management with meaningful analysis and recommendations.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the accuracy and integrity of inventory records and related financial information.
• Develop and maintain effective inventory control procedures and processes.
• Perform detailed reconciliations between inventory records and physical quantities.
• Investigate inventory variances and identify underlying causes.
• Review transactions related to receiving, shipments, transfers, returns, adjustments, and other inventory activity.
• Establish and monitor cycle-count processes and inventory accuracy metrics.
• Coordinate and oversee periodic physical inventory counts.
• Ensure inventory transactions are recorded accurately and in the appropriate accounting period.
• Identify recurring issues and recommend improvements to inventory processes and controls.

Inventory Costing & Valuation

• Maintain a strong understanding of inventory costing and valuation methodologies.
• Review and analyze inventory costs and changes in cost assumptions.
• Evaluate purchase costs and other components that contribute to inventory valuation.
• Investigate unusual or significant cost fluctuations.
• Analyze inventory valuation and identify potential reserve or adjustment requirements.
• Understand the relationship between inventory costing, COGS, gross margin, and overall financial performance.
• Ensure inventory valuation schedules and supporting documentation are accurate and audit-ready.

Cost Variance & PPV Analysis

• Oversee reporting and analysis related to purchase price and other inventory cost variances.
• Analyze cost variances by vendor, product, item, purchase order, and other relevant factors.
• Investigate significant fluctuations and determine the business drivers behind them.
• Identify whether variances are related to purchasing activity, standard costs, receiving, invoicing, system setup, or other factors.
• Partner with Purchasing and Finance to resolve recurring costing issues.
• Communicate significant cost variances and their impact on profitability to management.
• Identify opportunities to improve purchasing and cost-control processes.

Accounting & Reconciliations

• Reconcile inventory-related general ledger accounts and supporting schedules.
• Research differences between operational systems and financial records.
• Prepare inventory-related schedules and supporting documentation for month-end close.
• Review inventory journal entries and adjustments for accuracy and completeness.
• Partner with Accounting and Finance to ensure inventory balances and COGS are properly stated.
• Provide support for internal and external audits, including reconciliations, valuation documentation, physical count results, and variance explanations.

Physical Inventory & Cycle Counts

• Maintain a structured physical inventory and cycle-count program.
• Coordinate the reconciliation of physical counts to system records.
• Investigate significant inventory differences and determine root causes.
• Ensure inventory adjustments are properly documented, reviewed, and approved.
• Monitor inventory discrepancies for trends that may indicate process or control issues.
• Work with warehouse and operational teams to improve inventory accuracy.

Reporting & Analysis

• Develop and maintain inventory reporting and analytical tools.
• Analyze large data sets to identify trends, discrepancies, anomalies, and opportunities for improvement.
• Provide management with reporting and analysis related to:
• Inventory accuracy
• Inventory variances
• Inventory turns
• Slow-moving and obsolete inventory
• Cost variances / PPV
• Inventory valuation
• Inventory adjustments
• Cost changes
• Inventory reserves
• Go beyond reporting results by identifying the underlying causes and business impact of significant trends and variances.
• Present findings and recommendations to management in a clear and actionable manner.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Supply Chain, or a related field preferred.
• Strong professional experience in inventory accounting, cost accounting, inventory control, or a related function.
• Strong understanding of inventory valuation, costing, COGS, gross margin, and purchase price variance.
• Experience with physical inventory counts, cycle counts, and inventory reconciliations.
• Strong general ledger and month-end close knowledge.
• Experience investigating inventory discrepancies and identifying root causes.
• Advanced Excel skills and the ability to analyze large data sets.
• Experience working with ERP and inventory management systems.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and a high level of accountability.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Finance, Accounting, Purchasing, Operations, and warehouse teams.
• Experience supporting internal or external audits is strongly preferred.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for an analytical and hands-on inventory professional who can take ownership of inventory accuracy while understanding the broader financial impact of inventory decisions. The successful candidate will be comfortable working at both the transactional and strategic levels and will be able to turn detailed inventory data into meaningful business insights.

If you have strong experience in inventory accounting, costing, controls, and financial analysis, please apply with your resume for consideration.