Inventory Controller – 3PL Warehouse

The Inventory Controller will act as the company’s on-site representative for all inventory-related activities and will be responsible for ensuring that physical stock, ERP stock and 3PL system stock are fully aligned.

The role will closely monitor inbound receiving, put-away, storage, picking, dispatch, returns, damaged goods, stock transfers, cycle counts and inventory reconciliation.

The successful candidate must independently verify 3PL activities and immediately report any discrepancies, damages, shortages or process deviations to management.

• Monitor and control all inventory stored at the 3PL warehouse.

• Ensure physical stock matches:

  • ERP stock
  • 3PL WMS stock
  • System stock reports.

• Perform daily inventory reconciliation.

• Identify stock discrepancies immediately.

• Investigate shortages, excess stock and incorrect stock postings.

• Maintain accurate stock records by SKU, batch, serial number and location where applicable.

• Monitor stock ageing and slow-moving inventory.

• Ensure inventory is stored in the correct warehouse/bin location.

• Verify stock status such as:

  • Saleable stock
  • Damaged stock
  • Returned stock
  • Service stock
  • Spare parts
  • Quarantine stock
  • Non-saleable stock.

Inbound Receiving Control

• Be present for major inbound receipts.

• Verify quantities received against:

  • Purchase Order
  • Packing List
  • Delivery Note
  • ASN
  • ERP records.

• Check SKU, model, barcode and quantity accuracy.

• Verify carton condition upon receipt.

• Record shortages, damages and overages.

• Ensure damaged goods are separately identified.

• Verify GRN accuracy before system posting.

• Ensure all inbound stock is properly labelled.

• Confirm correct put-away location after receiving.

• Escalate discrepancies immediately to management.

Outbound / Dispatch Control

• Monitor order picking and dispatch accuracy.
• Verify SKU, quantity and serial number before dispatch where required.
• Ensure correct products are picked against Sales Orders.
• Monitor packing quality.
• Check dispatch documents.
• Ensure orders are dispatched within agreed SLA.
• Monitor delayed or pending orders.
• Investigate picking errors and wrong shipments.
• Review cancelled orders and failed deliveries.
• Ensure returned orders are correctly received back into stock.

Cycle Count & Stock Count

• Conduct daily and weekly cycle counts.
• Perform scheduled monthly inventory counts.
• Participate in full physical stock counts.
• Compare physical stock against ERP and 3PL WMS.
• Prepare stock discrepancy reports.
• Investigate root cause of variances.
• Coordinate inventory adjustments only after management approval.
• Ensure stock count reports are signed and documented.

3PL Performance Monitoring

The Inventory Controller will monitor the 3PL provider’s performance against agreed SLA.

This includes:

• Receiving accuracy
• Put-away accuracy
• Picking accuracy
• Inventory accuracy
• Dispatch accuracy
• Order processing time
• Damage rate
• Stock loss rate
• Return processing time
• Warehouse housekeeping
• Product handling standards.
• Escalate recurring operational issues.
• Track corrective actions agreed with the 3PL.
• Maintain evidence for 3PL claims where applicable.

ERP & WMS Reconciliation

• Compare ERP stock against 3PL WMS stock daily.

• Investigate system discrepancies.

• Coordinate corrections with ERP, 3PL and Finance teams.

• Ensure inventory transactions are posted correctly.

• Verify:

  • GRN
  • Stock transfer
  • Dispatch
  • Return
  • Adjustment
  • Damage posting.

• Ensure no unauthorized inventory adjustments are made.

• Maintain inventory reconciliation records.

Damaged & Returned Goods Control

• Inspect damaged and returned stock.

• Categorize returns as:

  • Saleable
  • Repairable
  • Damaged
  • Defective
  • Scrap.

• Maintain damaged stock register.

• Maintain return stock register.

• Ensure returned products are not returned to saleable stock without approval.

• Coordinate with Customer Care and Service teams.

• Support warranty claim documentation.

• Monitor disposal/scrap process with management approval.

Spare Parts Inventory

• Monitor spare-parts stock at the 3PL location.
• Maintain spare-parts quantity accuracy.
• Monitor issue and return of spare parts.
• Reconcile service spare-parts consumption.
• Track critical spare-parts stock levels.
• Identify slow-moving and obsolete spare parts.
• Support service operations.

Inventory Reporting

Prepare daily, weekly and monthly reports covering:

• Opening stock
• Inbound stock
• Outbound stock
• Closing stock
• ERP vs WMS variance
• Physical vs system variance
• Damaged stock
• Returned stock
• Pending GRNs
• Pending dispatches
• Inventory ageing
• Slow-moving stock
• Fast-moving stock
• Non-moving stock
• Stock adjustment
• Serial-number discrepancies
• 3PL operational issues
• Corrective actions.

Daily Reporting Requirement

The Inventory Controller must submit a daily inventory report covering:

• Inbound received
• Outbound dispatched
• Returns received
• Damaged stock identified
• Stock discrepancies
• Pending orders
• Inventory adjustments
• 3PL issues
• Corrective action required
• Any risk affecting customer orders or stock accuracy.

Any major discrepancy must be reported immediately and should not wait for the daily report.

Desired Candidate Profile

• Bachelor's degree or Diploma in: Supply Chain/Logistics/Inventory Management/Business Administration/Accounting or related field.

• Minimum 3–5 years of inventory control experience.

• Previous experience working in a 3PL warehouse environment is strongly preferred.

• KSA/GCC warehouse experience will be an advantage.

• Good understanding of:

  • Inventory control
  • Warehouse operations
  • GRN
  • Picking
  • Packing
  • Dispatch
  • Returns
  • Stock reconciliation
  • Cycle counting.

• Experience with ERP and WMS systems.

• Strong Microsoft Excel skills.

• Experience handling high SKU volumes.

• Experience in electronics, appliances or consumer goods preferred.

• Experience in serial-number-controlled inventory is highly advantageous.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent attention to detail.

• Ability to independently challenge discrepancies with the 3PL provider.

• Good English communication skills.

• Arabic will be an advantage.

Preferred Candidate Profile

• Highly disciplined
• Accurate with numbers
• Strong in physical stock control
• Comfortable working inside a 3PL warehouse
• Able to independently verify 3PL reports
• Assertive when identifying discrepancies
• Strong in ERP/WMS reconciliation
• Capable of working under pressure
• Process-driven
• Able to escalate issues quickly
• Trustworthy and accountable

Important Reporting Structure

• The Inventory Controller will be based at the 3PL warehouse but will represent and report directly to our company, not to the 3PL provider.
• The primary responsibility of this role is to protect the company's inventory and ensure that all stock stored and handled by the 3PL is accurate, traceable, properly controlled and fully reconciled with the ERP system.
• The Inventory Controller must therefore independently verify 3PL activities and must not rely solely on reports submitted by the 3PL.