Manager of Inventory Control

JD Sports is a sports-fashion retail company with the incentive to inspire the emerging generation of globally minded consumers through a connection to the universal culture of sport, music and fashion. Established in 1981, the JD Group is a leading global omnichannel retailer of Sports, Fashion, and Outdoor brands. With our retail stores expanding and evolving throughout Canada, The Group is continuously finding and developing talent that adds to the inclusive and diverse work culture. JD continuously and successfully sets the global standard for retail experience best through the unique delivery of the world’s most authentic brands to the market. Our commitment to showcasing brands in a premium environment and stores remain a key part of the JD strategy.

The Role

The Inventory Control Manager is the owner of the company-wide Inventory Control Program. This role is responsible for defining the program components, measuring business compliance, monitoring performance, and ensuring that inventory movements, adjustments, and balances are accurate and aligned with accounting principles.

This role sets the inventory control standards, audits execution, analyzes deviations, and partners with business owners to address risks. The ideal candidate has strong knowledge of inventory accounting practices, deep understanding of inventory movement flows, and the analytical ability to identify and mitigate control gaps across a multi-location retail store and warehouse network.

The ideal candidate brings strong analytical ability, proven experience in inventory operations, and the leadership capability to coordinate cross-functional teams across Retail, Supply Chain, Loss Prevention, Merchandising, E-commerce, Operations and Finance.

Key Responsibilities

Program Ownership & Governance

• Own the company Inventory Control Program, including framework, standards, audit components, and performance measurement methodologies.
• Develop and manage the cycle count program, physical inventory audits, and targeted investigations.
• Align and define compliance expectations with business departments across cycle counting, transfers, receiving, RTVs, adjustments, shrink controls, general inventory handling and financial integrity checks.
• Partner with Store Operations, Supply Chain Operations, and Loss Prevention to communicate and refine inventory control standards.

Compliance Measurement & Audit

• Lead ongoing compliance audits for stores and warehouses against established program standards.
• Identify control gaps, systemic risks, and non-compliance trends using both quantitative and qualitative assessment tools.
• Present audit results and recommended corrective actions to operational leadership teams.
• Ensure that inventory movements, quantities, and adjustments align with inventory accounting principles.
• Partner with Finance on month-end reconciliation, shrink, accruals, discrepancy reconciliation and variance investigations.
• Monitor the financial impacts of transfers, write-offs, markdowns, RTVs, and other movement types.
• Support internal and external audit requirements related to inventory controls and valuation.

Data Analysis & Reporting

• Owns inventory control KPIs, including accuracy %, shrink %, cycle count compliance, audit scores, and exception-based reporting.
• Deliver regular (bi-weekly, monthly and quarterly) business performance analyses, highlighting risks, drivers, and targeted recommendations.
• Build and refine exception reporting (e.g., negative inventory, inventory adjustments, inventory processing compliance).

Leadership and Cross-Functional Partnership

• Lead and support an Inventory Control team of specialists and coordinators
• Collaborate with Operations, Supply Chain, Loss Prevention, IT, Merchandising, Allocations, and Finance to address root causes of discrepancies or systemic failures.
• Work with Operations to validate system controls, inventory flow logic, and data integrity.
• Collaborate with Operations and IT on system enhancements or integrations.
• Represent Inventory Control in cross-functional projects that involve inventory governance or financial integrity.
• Act as subject-matter expert for inventory during business projects.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, a related field or an equivalence of applicable experience
• 5+ years of experience in inventory control, retail finance, inventory accounting, operations or similar roles within a multi-location retail environment.
• Knowledge of inventory auditing practices, cycle count programs, and shrink reduction techniques and best practices.
• Strong understanding of inventory accounting principles, cost flows, and financial implications of inventory movements.
• Experience working with ERP platforms, experience with POS, Back Office and WMS platforms an asset
• Advanced analytical capability with proficiency in Excel and reporting/BI tools.
• Audit mindset with the ability to identify risks, analyze discrepancies, and provide data-driven recommendations.
• Excellent communication, documentation and governance skills
• Strong communication skills and ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.

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