Inventory Control, Purchasing & Cost Accounting Specialist

Role Overview

The Inventory Control, Purchasing & Cost Accounting Specialist is a key plant-level position

responsible for inventory management, purchasing, cost accounting, operational reporting, and

business process support within a seafood processing facility. This role serves as a critical link

between Operations, Warehouse, Quality Assurance, Logistics, Finance, and plant to ensure

accurate inventory records, efficient procurement practices, reliable cost information, and

meaningful visibility into plant performance.

The Specialist plays an important role in connecting operational and financial data across the

facility, helping transform information into actionable insights that support plant leadership and

business decision-makers. This position will help develop, improve, and maintain systems,

processes, reports, and controls that support both plant operations and administrative functions

while driving efficiency, accountability, and continuous improvement.

This is a highly cross-functional role focused on coordination, execution follow-through,

operational visibility, and keeping the plant aligned and moving.

Key Responsibilities

Inventory Control

• Maintain accurate inventory records for operating supplies.
• Process inventory transactions, adjustments, transfers, and reconciliations.
• Perform cycle counts and assist with physical inventory counts.
• Investigate inventory discrepancies and implement corrective actions.
• Monitor inventory levels and communicate replenishment needs to support uninterrupted production.
• Track spoilage/waste, shrinkage, yield loss, and variances.
• Ensure proper inventory rotation utilizing FIFO methodologies.
• Maintain inventory traceability records in compliance with food safety requirements.
  
  

Purchasing & Procurement

• Create, maintain, and track purchase orders for materials, packaging, ingredients, sanitation supplies, office supplies and operating materials.
• Coordinate with suppliers to ensure timely delivery of materials and services.
• Monitor open purchase orders and resolve shortages, delays, and delivery issues.
• Maintain vendor pricing, contracts, and purchasing records.
• Assist with vendor sourcing, evaluation, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Collaborate with Production and Operations teams to forecast purchasing requirements.
• Support strategic sourcing efforts to improve quality, service, and cost performance.
  
  

Cost Accounting & Financial Support

• Maintain accurate inventory valuations and support product costing activities.
• Track yields, recovery percentages, trim loss, and production waste.
• Analyze material usage, labor utilization, and production variances.
• Support standard costing and bill of materials maintenance.
• Assist with month-end inventory reconciliation and financial close activities.
• Prepare inventory, yield, purchasing, and cost analysis reports.
• Reconcile inventory, purchasing, and accrual accounts.
• Support accounts payable processes through invoice, receiving, and purchase order matching.
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis initiatives.
• Prepare journal entries and supporting documentation related to inventory and cost accounting.
• Support annual audits and provide required inventory and purchasing documentation.
  
  

Business Systems, Reporting & Process Improvement

• Serve as a key resource in connecting inventory, purchasing, production, warehouse, logistics, and accounting data to provide meaningful operational and financial insights.
• Develop, maintain, and improve reports, dashboards, and KPIs that provide visibility into inventory levels, seafood yields, purchasing activity, labor efficiency, production performance, costs, and operational trends.
• Partner with plant leadership to provide accurate and timely information that supports operational and business decision-making.
• Collaborate with IT and software vendors to develop, improve, and maintain ERP, inventory management, purchasing, production, and reporting systems.
• Assist in identifying system gaps, process inefficiencies, and reporting needs and recommend practical solutions.
• Support implementation of new technologies, workflows, automation initiatives, and reporting tools.
• Ensure data integrity across inventory, purchasing, production, and accounting systems.
• Act as a liaison between Operations, Finance, Quality, Warehouse, and plant to ensure systems and processes effectively support business needs.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), process documentation, and user training materials.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on operational efficiency, inventory accuracy, cost control, and reporting effectiveness.
  
  

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations, or a related field preferred.
• 3 years of experience in inventory control, purchasing, cost accounting, manufacturing accounting, supply chain, or operations support.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and ERP systems.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both plant and office personnel.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in seafood processing, food manufacturing, protein processing, or cold storage operations.
• Knowledge of inventory valuation, standard costing, and manufacturing accounting.
• Experience supporting NOAA, FDA, HACCP, SQF, or customer audit programs.
• Experience with ERP implementation, system improvements, or reporting tools.
  
  

Ad Hoc Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Own or support cross-functional operational projects across the plant
• Help implement process improvements and system changes
• Support leadership in driving operational consistency and efficiency initiatives
  
  

What Success Looks Like (KPIs)

• Strong alignment across plant functions with minimal breakdowns in communication
• Production flow is smooth across shifts with fewer coordination delays
• Accurate and timely operational reporting and documentation
• Effective vendor and facilities coordination with reduced friction
• Inventory Accuracy
• Inventory Variance Reduction
• Successful execution of cross-functional projects
  
  

Why This Role

This position serves as a critical operational and financial support function within the plant. By

connecting inventory, purchasing, production, accounting, and business systems, the Inventory

Control, Purchasing & Cost Accounting Specialist helps provide the visibility, accuracy, and

insights necessary to support efficient operations, informed decision-making, cost control, and

sustainable business growth.