Cost Controller/Inventory Manager at Freshcrop Limited

Job Description: Cost Controller & Inventory Manager

Role Summary

The Cost Controller & Inventory Manager is a critical dual-function role that requires a strong financial background. The incumbent is the custodian and auditor of all company inventories across farms, agrovet outlets, mechanization, and processing facilities. Reporting to the Senior Accountant, this role is key to ensuring rigorous internal controls and accurate financial accountability by merging operational management with a comprehensive audit mandate.

Key Responsibilities

A. Cost Control & Financial Analysis

• Cost Accounting: Apply Cost Accounting principles, including tracking material costs and calculating Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), and maintaining comprehensive records on purchases, stock movement, and usage.
• Cost monitoring and analysis: -Track and analyze costs, identify budget variances, and forecast future expenses. 
• Budgeting: Develop and maintain cost control systems, prepare detailed budgets, and ensure adherence to them by conducting regular variance analysis to track the difference between actual costs and budgeted costs, reporting on inventory status, audits, and variances for senior management.
• Cost control strategies: Develop and implement strategies to minimize expenditures and maximize profitability without compromising quality. 
• Procurement Oversight: Oversee procurement related to inventory needs, ensuring timely and cost-effective acquisition of goods and services.
• Reconciliation & Reporting: Collaborate with the Finance department to align inventory transactions with company accounts and ensure accurate inventory valuation.

B. Inventory Management & Supply Chain Control

• Direct Management: Take overall charge of all company inventories, with direct management responsibility for potato stores, sorting, and logistics.
• Stock Optimization: Implement inventory management techniques to ensure optimal stock levels and monitor stock movement between sites to ensure full documentation.
• Logistics Coordination: Coordinate the logistics for potato inventory movement, ensuring efficient flow across all sites and enforcing SOPs on logistics to clarify the department's role.
• Asset Management: Maintain an updated register of farm assets and verify mechanization, fuel depots, and auxiliary stock management.

C. Audit, Internal Controls, and Compliance

• Inventory Audits (Company-Wide): Conduct regular physical stock counts and audits at all locations on a scheduled basis, including all areas of inventory and assets.
• Reconciliation: Reconcile physical counts with system and manual records, addressing discrepancies promptly.
• Internal Controls: Strengthen internal controls around procurement, stock handling, and inventory records to minimize fraud, waste, or misuse. Enforce company inventory policies and ensure segregation of duties.
• Labour Audits: Oversee proper documentation of labour used in inventory-related activities. Conduct random audits in the field to verify labour records.
• Process Improvement: Identify SOP gaps within inventory operations and champion the development of new SOPs where needed.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

Key Skills & Competencies