Inventory and Cost Analyst

Job Description Reports to: Manager, Finance Operations (once hired) / Managing Principal (interim) Type: Full-time We are looking for an Inventory and Cost Analyst to own all inventory-related accounting and verification work across our client portfolio. This role combines desk-based inventory accounting with physical field verification at client sites in Lagos. You will be the firm's inventory specialist. For every client with stock, products, raw materials, or food and beverage inventory, you are the person who ensures the numbers in the system match reality — and who investigates when they don't. This is not a stock counting role. You will be reconciling inventory records to financial systems, analysing cost of sales, scrutinising purchase transactions, reviewing production inputs and outputs, tracking shrinkage and wastage, and preparing the reports our oversight team uses to hold clients accountable. You will also physically attend client sites on a regular schedule to verify stock, observe receiving processes, and provide the independent verification layer that gives our clients' numbers credibility. What you will do: Desk-based (all inventory clients across the portfolio): Reconcile physical stock counts to inventory records in Zoho Books Maintain inventory ledger entries and ensure the accounting system reflects operational reality Calculate and verify cost of sales using the appropriate cost-flow method (FIFO, weighted average) for each client Scrutinise purchase transactions — match supplier invoices to purchase orders to goods received, flag discrepancies, duplicate payments, and pricing errors For manufacturing and production clients: review raw material usage against production output, track conversion costs, identify yield issues and wastage Track shrinkage, wastage, and dead or slow-moving stock across the portfolio Prepare inventory schedules, variance reports, and exception summaries for the associate to review Flag anything that does not reconcile or does not make sense — patterns, anomalies, unexplained movements Field-based (Lagos client sites): Attend client sites on a fixed fortnightly schedule to oversee and conduct physical stock counts Verify that what is physically present matches what the system says should be there Observe and verify receiving processes — confirm deliveries against purchase orders For hospitality and restaurant clients: verify food and beverage stock, monitor wastage, check portion control and storage practices Document findings with evidence (photos, count sheets, variance notes) and submit a structured report after every visit Requirements Qualifications and Experience: OND/HND or degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline Currently pursuing or completed ICAN or ACCA qualification is an advantage Minimum 2 years of practical experience involving inventory management, cost accounting, or stock control Experience in retail, manufacturing, food production, or hospitality is a strong advantage Experience with physical stock counts and inventory reconciliation Skills and Attributes: Strong understanding of how inventory flows through a business — from procurement to storage to sale or production, not just as a number on a balance sheet Comfortable working in accounting software, specifically Zoho Books or similar. Experience with inventory modules and point of sales systems are a plus. Analytical and detail-oriented — you notice when the numbers don't add up and you dig until you find out why Physically reliable — you show up to site visits on time, every time, regardless of Lagos traffic Can write a clear, structured report that someone who wasn't at the site can understand and act on Proactive — when you spot a problem, you flag it immediately, you don't wait for the next scheduled visit Comfortable working independently — much of this role is self-directed, particularly the desk-based work between site visits Benefits A specialist role where you own a critical area of the firm's service delivery end to end Exposure to a diverse range of industries — retail, manufacturing, food production, hospitality A professional practice that values accuracy and takes inventory seriously, not as an afterthought The ability to shape how the firm delivers inventory services as the client base grows Hybrid working — field visits on a fixed schedule, remote for desk-based work Paid annual leave Transport support for client site visits in Lagos