Job Summary
We are seeking a highly analytical and strategic Senior Inventory Accountant with a specialized background in fashion retail to take ownership of our global inventory finance functions. In this role, you will lead the financial management, valuation, and optimization of our inventory asset portfolio across all sales channels—including e-commerce, global third-party logistics (3PL) partners, and brick-and-mortar storefronts.
As a senior team member, you will not only ensure compliance and ledger accuracy but will also provide cross-functional leadership—collaborating with Merchandising, Supply Chain, and Operations to analyze gross margins, manage seasonal markdowns, and mitigate shrinkage.
Key Responsibilities
1. Financial Leadership & Month-End Close
- Own and manage the end-to-end month-end and year-end financial close process for all inventory assets, ensuring strict adherence to GAAP/IFRS.
- Review and approve complex journal entries, inventory reconciliations, and balance sheet accounts.
- Lead the calculation and analysis of the monthly Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) and gross margin variances across categories, channels, and regions.
- Design, model, and maintain financial reserves for seasonal markdowns, slow-moving styles, and obsolete inventory based on historic sell-through data.
2. Omnichannel & Global Supply Chain Governance
- Oversee financial data integrity across a complex, multi-location omnichannel retail network (e-commerce warehouses, wholesale, and retail boutiques).
- Develop and optimize cost-accounting methodologies for tracking inbound global shipments, managing capitalized landed costs (freight, duties, customs), and standard cost variances.
- Audit and establish governance over systemic stock movements, including cross-channel inventory routing, flash sales, customer returns, and vendor chargebacks.
3. Audits, Internal Controls & Loss Prevention Strategy
- Design, implement, and enforce robust internal control policies and procedures surrounding physical stock and digital records.
- Act as the primary point of contact for internal and external auditors regarding inventory valuation, cycle count validations, and testing.
- Lead the company-wide physical inventory audit strategy; manage variance analysis investigations and deliver strategic recommendations to executive leadership to reduce shrinkage (theft, damages, administration errors).
4. Business Intelligence & Strategic Partnering
- Develop, monitor, and report on critical inventory KPIs (e.g., Inventory Turnover, Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO), and Sell-Through Rates).
- Partner closely with the Buying & Planning teams to provide financial clarity on inventory health, helping to influence purchasing decisions, promotional depth, and pricing strategies.
Required Qualifications & Skills
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance required.
- Experience: 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 3 years explicitly focused on inventory and cost accounting within the retail/apparel/fashion industry.
- Systems Expertise:
- Advanced mastery of major retail enterprise ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics 365).
- Industry Accumen: Expert understanding of fashion retail lifecycles, global logistics/landed cost accounting, and multi-attribute SKU complexities.
