Inventory Controller
Vaco by HighspringInventory Controller
Location: Long Island City, NY
Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Compensation: Up to $225,000, based on experience
Employment Type: Full-Time
Position Overview
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 Op
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erations, 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
Inventory Management & Controls
• 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,