Inventory Analyst
- Influence inventory performance across more than 200 stores nationally and our online channel
- Partner across Planning, Buying and Supply Chain to optimise inventory, availability and stock flow
- Join an established Australian retail business with a national footprint
About Spendless Shoes
For over 30 years, millions of customers have walked through our doors to find great-value footwear for the whole family. With more than 200 stores across Australia and a growing online presence, Spendless Shoes is one of Australia’s leading footwear retailers.
We are now looking for an experienced and commercially focused Inventory Analyst to join our Support Centre team in Gillman.
About the Role
Reporting to the Head of Planning, the Inventory Analyst will support the delivery of profitable sales, gross margin and inventory outcomes across the Spendless Shoes retail network and online channel.
Working closely with Planning, Buying, Merchandise Allocation, Retail, Finance, Marketing, eCommerce, Supply Chain and the Distribution Centre, you will analyse inventory, sales and demand data, forecast inventory requirements and identify opportunities to optimise stock availability, inventory investment and product flow across the network.
You will combine strong analytical capability with commercial judgement to identify inventory and supply risks, recommend actions and help ensure the right product is available in the right quantity, size, location and channel at the right time.
The role will also contribute to the ongoing improvement of inventory planning, allocation, replenishment, reporting and stock-flow processes.
Key Responsibilities
- Analyse inventory, sales, demand and supply-chain data across stores, eCommerce and the Distribution Centre to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
- Develop and maintain seasonal, annual and rolling inventory and merchandise plans.
- Plan and forecast sales, units, demand, gross profit, margin, inventory, stock turn and weeks of cover.
- Monitor stock availability, stock movements, aged and excess inventory, stock turn and inventory imbalances across the national network.
- Identify current and emerging inventory and supply risks and recommend actions to optimise stock availability and inventory investment.
- Develop and review allocation and replenishment strategies based on demand, store profiles, product performance, size requirements and channel priorities.
- Analyse inventory and product flow across stores, online and the Distribution Centre and recommend opportunities to improve stock positioning and utilisation.
- Manage open-to-buy within approved budgets and inventory strategies.
- Partner with Buyers to provide inventory and demand analysis supporting range architecture, assortment planning, option counts, price-point strategies and initial-buy recommendations.
- Analyse daily and weekly performance across products, categories, stores and online and recommend appropriate inventory and trading actions.
- Recommend repeats, cancellations, transfers, stock rebalancing, promotional activity, pricing changes and markdowns based on inventory and performance analysis.
- Prepare clear and accurate inventory, planning and performance reports to support commercial and operational decision-making.
- Complete seasonal, campaign and category post-analysis to improve future forecasting and inventory decisions.
- Work collaboratively with Supply Chain and the Distribution Centre to identify and resolve inventory-flow issues.
- Identify and contribute to improvements in inventory planning processes, systems, reporting, workflows and data quality.
About You
You are commercially minded, highly analytical and comfortable turning complex inventory, sales and demand data into clear recommendations and actions.
You enjoy working collaboratively across different functions, constructively challenging decisions and taking ownership of inventory and commercial outcomes in a fast-paced retail environment.
You will bring:
- Previous experience in inventory planning, demand planning, merchandise planning, supply-chain analysis or a related analytical role.
- Experience in inventory analysis, demand forecasting, sales forecasting, allocation and replenishment.
- Strong understanding of inventory management, stock availability, stock turn, weeks of cover, sell-through and excess inventory.
- Experience developing inventory and merchandise plans and managing open-to-buy budgets.
- Strong knowledge of forecasting, assortment planning, allocation, replenishment and markdown management.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience analysing large data sets.
- Experience using merchandise planning, inventory, reporting or business intelligence systems.
- Strong commercial understanding of sales, gross profit, margin, inventory investment and profitability.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder-management and influencing skills.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
- High attention to detail and a proactive, solutions-focused approach.
- Experience within footwear, fashion, apparel, specialty retail or another national multi-site retail environment will be highly regarded.
A tertiary qualification in Supply Chain Management, Business, Commerce, Industrial Engineering, Data Analytics or a related discipline is highly regarded, together with demonstrated practical experience in inventory, demand, merchandise or supply-chain analysis.
Why Join Spendless Shoes?
This is an opportunity to influence inventory and merchandise performance across a large national retail network and work closely with experienced leaders across Planning, Buying, Retail and Supply Chain.
You will join a collaborative Support Centre environment where your analysis, recommendations and inventory-planning decisions will have a direct impact on product availability, sales, profitability and the customer experience.
Apply Now
If you are an experienced inventory, demand or merchandise planning professional who enjoys combining data, commercial thinking and collaboration to optimise inventory and deliver results, we would love to hear from you.
Please submit your application, including your current résumé and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant inventory, demand, merchandise planning or supply-chain experience.