Stock Controller

Key Responsibilities

Start date: August/September 2025

As Stock Controller, you will be responsible for maintaining physical stock and inventory records, including receiving deliveries, unpacking, auditing deliveries, applying barcodes, conducting cyclical counts, and creating inventory reports. You will also ensure the efficient storage of stock and management of stock rooms. Ultimately, your work will contribute to increasing profitability and sales by maintaining accurate stock records and improving accessibility of quality products.

Physical Stock Management

• Ensure all physical stock is cared for and monitored during its journey from source to sale.
• Improve stock control through well-organized stock areas and accurate, up-to-date records.
• Receive, unpack, check all deliveries, and register stock.
• Inform the Merchandising Team of discrepancies, breakages, or shortages for incoming stock.
• Enable sales by ensuring products are correctly labelled and easily accessible.
• Provide up-to-date product and stock information to the REA team for confident engagement with customers both physically and online.
• Organize and optimize stock areas with labelled shelves for easy access.
• Ensure all products in stock have correctly applied barcodes.
• Be responsible for the security of stock, working with the Retail and Security Teams.
• Carry out regular cyclical counts, update stock records, report discrepancies to Finance and Retail Managers, and propose actions to reduce discrepancies.
• Liaise with the Retail Services Manager for the execution of the end-of-year stocktake.
• Manage stock for exhibitions, window displays, or marketing purposes, ensuring proper monitoring, return, and accounting for stock used.

Inventory Record Maintenance & Product Information

• Monitor all stock systems for accuracy.
• Update stock systems appropriately, investigating any shortfalls.
• Register new product information into the retail system for sale in TheShop and online.
• Work with the REA team to process loss reports and maintain accurate inventory data, highlighting issues to the Merchandising Team.
• Prepare inventory reports at the beginning and end of each month.
• Manage relationships with external storage providers, coordinate incoming and outgoing stocks, and update records accordingly.

Risk Management

• As an employee of Japan H.L. Limited, you are responsible for your personal safety and that of colleagues under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and must cooperate with the company to fulfill its responsibilities.

Key Relationships

Internal

• Merchandising Team
• Retail Experience Team
• Retail Services Manager
• Retail Marketing Team
• Finance Team
• Operations Team
• Other Japan House London team members

External

• Japan House's contracted merchandiser (based in Japan), product suppliers, makers, producers, and craftspeople.
• Third-party security contractors
• Other external service providers

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• At least 2 years of experience as a stock controller in high-end retail.
• Experience using an inventory management system.
• Excellent English skills; additional languages, including Japanese, are advantageous.
• Proficient in MS Office, especially Excel.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize effectively.
• Strong attention to detail and time management skills.
• Understanding of Japanese culture and history is a plus.
• Commitment to service excellence internally and externally.

Work Environment

• Most duties are performed in the back-of-house spaces at Japan House London.
• Role involves moving stock and products physically.
• Standard hours are 8 per day, with a rolling rota including weekends and evenings.
• Occasional after-hours work for projects and events.

Benefits

• Living Wage Employer with progressive pay rates.
• Up to 36 days of holiday annually, including public holidays.
• Group life insurance scheme.
• Access to a remote GP app, physiotherapy, and mental health support.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Employee discounts at Japan House Shop and Stand.
• Discount platform for high street shops.
• Local perks and discounts in Kensington High Street, London.
• Personal development budget after 3 months of service.