Warehouse Inventory Auditor Job Description

Inventory Auditors

The requirements to get a job as an inventory auditor are similar to other entry level positions. You only need a high school degree to get a formal education. Inventory auditors deal with correspondence, be it with managers or suppliers.

Knowing how to use email and word processing is required. Knowing how to use a database program is an essential skill for an inventory auditor. Good physical condition is a must for inventory auditors, who work in retail and warehouses.

They lift items and packages as much as 50 pounds. They may have to climb ladders to get to the top shelf and also lift and return things from there. An inventory auditor's primary concern is to make sure that entries in the database match the actual count.

It is a daily task to make sure that everything is counted right and it requires a level of concentration. Getting things right during inventory is important for other departments. The purchasing, planning and forecasting team needs data gathered by an inventory auditor in order to proceed with a plan of action.

The Inventory Auditing Position at a Large Retail Company

Independent inventory audit firms work for large retail companies. Their duties include matching the physical count to the computer inventory. The computer data for the planning and forecasting groups is maintained by auditors.

The auditor reports to the supervisor. The inventory auditors are not surveyed separately by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The auditor position is responsible for counting all physical inventory, generating audit reports, reconciling computer data with physical counts taken, and reporting on errors found.

The position works with each department to suggest ways to reduce errors. The inventory auditor performs audits of paperwork at the receiving dock, each department transfer area, and any outbound areas, such as shipping or layaway. Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, and experience inventory counting are required for the position.

Warehouse Inventory Specialist Job Description

Are you analytical person who wants to figure out the root cause of the problem? A warehouse inventory specialist job is a good one. A warehouse inventory specialist wants to ensure accuracy of inventory within the warehouse and within its software systems.

They are the main points of contact when there is an inventory problem. Warehouse inventory specialists are responsible for maintaining inventory control, resolving inventory issues, and ensuring accurate inventory counts. They identify and coordinate with inventory control managers to make process improvements.

A warehouse inventory specialist can be involved in purchasing and delivery schedules. They will perform any other warehouse duties as needed. The hiring manager will want to observe the warehouse operations and inventory control processes of the candidate.

Warehouse Audits

Warehousing audits are an essential task for running a successful supply chain and business. It is a time-Consuming process and must be done properly so you can improve efficiency and save money in the long run. Warehouse audits don't follow a typical schedule.

They can be done as frequently as monthly or quarterly depending on the size of the warehouse and the current resources you have available. Every warehouse audit needs to determine what is being audited. A public company may focus on inventory valuation for financial data, while a private company may focus on efficiency of warehouse operations.

If you are running an online business, your audits will likely focus on making sure the warehouse is running as efficiently as possible, especially if you are still learning what the best approaches to warehouse management are. Make sure your inventory system is in place to match the quantities in your software. You can track discrepancies and investigate where the issues are coming from with proper inventory forms.

Observe order fulfillment, warehouse inventory processes, warehouse employees, warehouse quality control, and other equipment to ensure safety compliance and maximum efficiency. OSHA procedures are serious and must be taken seriously. You don't want to be sued by injured employees.

Health and safety warehouse processes should be the first ones. You can identify processes or policies that need modification once you have the audit data. Managers will be able to suggest improvements to increase productivity with the data collected.

Inventory Count Reconciling to the General Ledger

The inventory count should be Reconcile to the general ledger. They will trace the valuation from the physical inventory count to the general ledger to make sure the balance was carried forward into the company's accounting records. Test high-value items.

If there are items in the inventory that are of high value, the auditors will spend more time counting them inventory and making sure they are valued correctly, and then tracing them into the valuation report that carries forward into the general ledger. The test item costs are not known. The auditors need to know where the costs come from so they can compare them to the costs listed in the inventory valuation.

Review freight costs. You can either include freight costs inventory or charge it to expense, but you need to be consistent in your treatment so the auditors can see how you handle freight invoices. Test for a lower cost market.

The auditors must follow the lower of cost rule and compare a selection of market prices to their recorded costs. The finished goods cost analysis done. If a significant proportion of the inventory valuation is comprised of finished goods, the auditors will want to review the bill of materials for a selection of finished goods items to see if they show an accurate compilation of the components in the finished goods items, as well as correct costs.

Direct labor analysis. If direct labor is included in the cost of inventory, the auditors will want to trace the labor charged during production time cards or labor routes to the cost of inventory. They will look into whether the labor costs listed in the valuation are supported by payroll records.

What Skills and Qualities Do You Need to Work in a Warehouse?

2. There are computer literacy and technology skills. Employers expect skilled warehouse workers to have a basic understanding of how to use a computer and knowledge of Microsoft Word, spreadsheets and other applications.

There are 4. Problem-solving skills are needed. You will make a good employee if you can solve problems.

Even if you are expected to solve problems at work, you still need to have the skills to do it. The type of employees most employers look for are those who can use analysis and reasoning skills. 5.

Dependability is dependent. You will be seen as being dependable when you do some things as a warehouse worker. Because your employer needs someone who can be more productive to their company, you don't need to socialize during your shift, endanger your fellow workers, or make an unnecessary mistake so that you can gain the trust of your employer.

6. There is flexibility. You need to be flexible and work across many departments for you to succeed as a warehouse worker.

ShipBob: Inventory Auditing Software for E-Retail Stores

An inventory audit is a process of checking a company's actual inventory levels against their financial records to ensure accurate inventory accounting. An inventory audit can be performed by the company or an outside auditor to find out if there are any problems with the accounting methods. They can be as simple as counting physical stock levels and cross checking against records, or as complex as hiring a third party auditor to assess all of your inventory procedures.

If there are discrepancies in your inventory audit, you may want to reconcile items to find the root cause. You should keep an eye on the error-prone SKUs in the future. An efficient inventory management process can help reduce the number of audits.

Physical retail stores are different from e-retail stores as sales can take place anywhere across the globe and are more unpredictable. If you don't have an accurate method for keeping track of your inventory's value, you can't budget for the next batches of inventory Inventory audits can help you budget better and more accurately when you know the exact inventory count you have and how much safety stock you should keep.

It is very difficult to audit physical inventory. If you sell 500 SKUs and you check actual inventory levels against the amount of inventory you have listed on hand electronically or in an inventory sheet, that can take days to complete. If you have one or more units, you will spend a while on a manual task.

It is important to go electronic with inventory reports to save time. 3PLs like ShipBob help with this. When the system marks the product stock as zero, it can prompt a spot check to make sure there are no more units in hand.