JOB OPPORTUNITY: STOCK CONTROLLER

Location: COMACO Head Office, Lusaka

Reporting To: Chief Financial Officer

Supervising: All Stores Officers

About COMACO

COMACO (Community Markets for Conservation) is a leading organization dedicated to improving rural livelihoods while promoting conservation-friendly farming practices. We work closely with smallholder farmers, donors, and partners to deliver impactful, sustainable development programs.

Position Summary

The Stock Controller shall be responsible for overseeing and maintaining effective inventory control systems across COMACO’s supply chain operations, including crop procurement, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, distribution depots, and sales locations.

The role ensures that physical stock accurately matches system records through timely reconciliations, disciplined stock movement controls, investigations of variances, and continuous process improvement. The position also supports operational efficiency, financial accuracy, and accountability across all stock holding points.

Key Responsibilities

1. Inventory Management and Control

Oversee inventory management across all stock categories, including:

• Raw materials
• Packaging materials
• Work-in-progress (system Monitoring)
• Finished goods
• Returned stock
• Damaged or obsolete stock

Maintain stock visibility and accuracy across:

• Factories
• Regional warehouses
• Mid point Warehouses (seasonal)
• Sales stocking points
• Third-party storage facilities where applicable

Ensure all stock transactions are captured accurately and timely in Sage.

2. Stock Reconciliation and Verification

• Ensure physical stock balances reconcile with system balances across all locations.
• Monitor and resolve:
  • Unreceipted transfers
  • Stock in transit
  • Negative stock balances
  • Duplicate transactions
  • Delayed stock receipts
  • Incorrect warehouse allocations
• Coordinate weekly cycle counts and periodic stock verifications.
• Lead mid-month & month-end stock counts, reconciliations, variance analysis, and final stock sign-off.
• Ensure write-offs are done in the same Month.
• Ensure stock records support accurate financial reporting.

3. Stock Transfer Management

• Oversee stock transfers between buying bulking points, warehouses, sales points and factories.
• Ensure:
  • Proper dispatch and receiving documentation
  • Timely system updates
  • Confirmation of stock receipt by receiving locations
  • Escalation of delayed or incomplete transfers
• Monitor stock-in-transit ageing and follow up outstanding transfers.

4. Production and Manufacturing Stock Control

Work closely with Regional stores Officers & production teams to ensure:

• Accurate issuance of raw materials to production
• Proper recording of production usage
• Timely capture of finished goods
• Recording and monitoring of wastage and yield losses

Ensure finished goods are immediately available in the system upon completion of production.

Promote accountability, discipline, and strong stock control practices throughout the organization.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Stock accuracy percentage
• System versus physical stock variance
• Transfer completion turnaround time
• Number of unresolved stock variances
• Production stock capture turnaround time
• Invoice turnaround time
• Stock ageing levels
• Inventory turnover ratio
• Stock write-off levels
• Month-end closure timelines

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Logistics, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field.
• Professional inventory or warehouse management qualification will be an added advantage.
• Sage inventory management experience preferred.

Experience Required

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in stock or inventory management
• Experience managing inventory across multiple locations
• Manufacturing and FMCG experience preferred
• Strong reconciliation and stock investigation experience
• Experience supervising teams in a multi-site operational environment

Required Competencies and Skills

• Strong analytical and reconciliation skills
• High attention to detail
• Strong investigative and problem-solving ability
• Knowledge of ERP and inventory management systems
• Good reporting and data analysis skills
• Leadership and team management capability
• Strong communication and coordination skills
• Ability to work across departments and operational teams

• Oversee inventory management across all stock categories, including: Raw materials, Packaging materials, Work-in-progress (system Monitoring), Finished goods, Returned stock, Damaged or obsolete stock
• Maintain stock visibility and accuracy across: Factories, Regional warehouses, Mid point Warehouses (seasonal), Sales stocking points, Third-party storage facilities where applicable
• Ensure all stock transactions are captured accurately and timely in Sage.
• Ensure physical stock balances reconcile with system balances across all locations.
• Monitor and resolve: Unreceipted transfers, Stock in transit, Negative stock balances, Duplicate transactions, Delayed stock receipts, Incorrect warehouse allocations
• Coordinate weekly cycle counts and periodic stock verifications.
• Lead mid-month & month-end stock counts, reconciliations, variance analysis, and final stock sign-off.
• Ensure write-offs are done in the same Month.
• Ensure stock records support accurate financial reporting.
• Oversee stock transfers between buying bulking points, warehouses, sales points and factories.
• Ensure: Proper dispatch and receiving documentation, Timely system updates, Confirmation of stock receipt by receiving locations, Escalation of delayed or incomplete transfers
• Monitor stock-in-transit ageing and follow up outstanding transfers.
• Work closely with Regional stores Officers & production teams to ensure: Accurate issuance of raw materials to production, Proper recording of production usage, Timely capture of finished goods, Recording and monitoring of wastage and yield losses
• Ensure finished goods are immediately available in the system upon completion of production.
• Promote accountability, discipline, and strong stock control practices throughout the organization.

• Strong analytical and reconciliation skills
• High attention to detail
• Strong investigative and problem-solving ability
• Knowledge of ERP and inventory management systems
• Good reporting and data analysis skills
• Leadership and team management capability
• Strong communication and coordination skills
• Ability to work across departments and operational teams

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Logistics, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field.
• Professional inventory or warehouse management qualification will be an added advantage.
• Sage inventory management experience preferred.