Diageo

Stock Controller

Isipingo, South Africa Full time

Job Description :

Job Shot: Stock Controller.

Functions:

Our Supply Chain and Manufacturing team are problem-solvers, sourcing, producing, and delivering our much-loved brands to delight customers around the globe. Over half of Diageo’s 30,000+ people work in Supply Chain and Manufacturing. It’s an intricate and sophisticated operation that’s the product of logistical, manufacturing, and technical collaborations.

Our teams in 100 sites in over 30 countries cover production facilities, supplier relationships, customer collaborations and third-party agreements. We’re committed to realising our ‘Society 2030: Spirit of Progress’ goals, to protect the environment and support our farmers and suppliers. Whatever your skills and experience, we’ll help you to thrive in our inclusive culture.

About the role:

The Stock Controller is responsible for ensuring end-to-end inventory accuracy and control within the inbound warehouse to support uninterrupted production.

The role manages all system and physical stock movements, ensuring materials are received, stored, issued, and reconciled accurately in SAP while maintaining compliance with company governance, quality standards, and inventory control procedures.

Operating within a 24/7 shift-based production environment, the Stock Controller plays a critical role in ensuring materials are available to production at the right time, in the right quantity, and with full system integrity.

This is a hands-on operational role requiring strong system discipline, attention to detail, and proactive problem solving. The position offers a strong development pathway toward warehouse leadership roles.

Role Responsibilities:

1. Inventory Accuracy & Control

  • Maintain accurate real-time inventory records in SAP for all inbound warehouse materials including raw materials, packaging, consumables, and finished goods.

  • Ensure all stock movements are correctly captured and validated in SAP (receipts, transfers, issues, adjustments, returns).

  • Monitor stock levels and ensure system stock always aligns with physical inventory.

  • Maintain strict adherence to inventory governance, SOPs, and internal controls.

  • Ensure correct batch/lot control, traceability, and stock status management.

  • Identify risks to stock integrity and implement preventative controls.

2. Production Material Issuing

  • Issue materials to production in line with the production plan and shift requirements.

  • Ensure timely availability of materials to prevent production stoppages or line disruptions.

  • Validate material requests against production orders in SAP.

  • Confirm correct material, batch, quantity, and storage location during issuing.

  • Work closely with production and warehouse operators to ensure accurate and efficient material flow.

3. Goods Receipt (GR) Management

  • Perform and validate SAP goods receipt transactions for inbound materials.

  • Ensure received goods match purchase orders, delivery documentation, and physical quantities.

  • Confirm that all goods receipts meet quality inspection requirements before release to stock.

  • Work closely with procurement, quality, and suppliers to resolve GR discrepancies, including:

    • Quantity variances

    • Damaged goods

    • Missing documentation

    • Non-conforming materials

  • Ensure timely posting of receipts to maintain accurate inventory visibility.

4. Stock Reconciliation & Variance Management

  • Conduct daily, weekly, and monthly stock reconciliations between physical inventory and SAP records.

  • Execute cycle counting programs in line with inventory control procedures.

  • Investigate all stock discrepancies and perform root cause analysis.

  • Implement corrective actions to prevent repeat errors.

  • Escalate significant inventory variances through appropriate governance channels.

  • Maintain detailed documentation of investigations, adjustments, and corrective actions.

5. Warehouse System & Data Integrity

  • Maintain high levels of SAP transactional accuracy and discipline.

  • Ensure all stock transactions are completed in real time.

  • Support system-based stock control processes including:

    • Bin/location management

    • Batch tracking

    • Inventory adjustments

    • Production consumption postings

  • Assist in system audits and ensure compliance with internal and external audit requirements.

6. Operational Coordination

  • Act as a key link between warehouse operations, production, procurement, and quality teams.

  • Communicate proactively regarding:

    • Material shortages

    • Stock anomalies

    • Delivery delays

    • Production supply risks

  • Support inbound logistics planning and warehouse execution.

  • Assist with coordination of co-packers, suppliers, and inbound deliveries where required.

7. Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

  • Identify opportunities to improve warehouse processes, stock accuracy, and material flow.

  • Support initiatives related to:

    • Inventory reduction

    • Process standardization

    • Warehouse efficiency improvements

    • Waste reduction

  • Contribute to root cause problem solving and corrective action implementation.

  • Lead and support the forklift drivers to effectively deliver as per production plans in accordance with the set KPI’s 

Experience / skills required:

Essential

  • 3–5 years’ experience in stock control, warehouse operations, or materials management within FMCG, manufacturing, or high-volume distribution environments

  • Relevant degree/diploma, preferably in the field of Supply Chain Management. 

  • Experience working with ERP/WMS systems (SAP strongly preferred)

  • Strong understanding of inventory control processes and warehouse operations

  • Experience conducting cycle counts and high-volume stock reconciliations

  • Ability to investigate and resolve stock discrepancies and system issues

  • Strong numerical accuracy and attention to detail

  • Good Excel and computer literacy

Working Environment

  • Fast-paced FMCG manufacturing site

  • 4-shift rotational environment supporting 24/7 production

  • Operational warehouse environment requiring high system accuracy and strong collaboration with production teams

Desirable

  • Experience supporting production supply environments

  • Exposure to batch-controlled inventory

  • Knowledge of barcoding or automated warehouse systems

  • Experience working in shift-based operations

  • Exposure to lean, continuous improvement, or operational excellence initiatives

Functional Skills  

  • Incident Investigation 

  • Emergency Preparedness 

  • Environmental awareness 

  • Teamwork Fundamentals 

  • Run the business 

  • 3 Tiers of Problem solving 

Technical Skills  

  • GRN completion 

  • SAP Migo 

  • Stock Rotation 

  • Tier Meetings 

  • Downtime Management 

  • Block stock management 

  • PO Queries 

  • Transfers to Blending 

  • Transfers to 2100 

  • Variance Investigation 

  • Inventory Accuracy 

  •  Disposal Process

Dial up behaviors

  • Be externally curious 

  • Collaborate efficiently 

  • Experiment and learn 

  • Act decisively 

Leadership Capabilities:

  • Win through Execution - Lead bold execution in a fast-moving world. 

  • Inspire through Purpose - Amplify our purpose internally and externally. 

  • Shape the Future - Create focus and ownership for shaping Diageo’s future ambition. 

  • Invest in Talent - Harness the full extent of Diageo’s talent and diversity. 

Diversity statement:

Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. And creating an inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and that they can belong, is a crucial part of this.

We embrace diversity in the broadest possible sense. This means that you’ll be welcomed and celebrated for who you are just by being you. You’ll be part of and help build and champion an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, mindsets, and more.

Our ambition is to create the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world. Join us and help transform our business as we take our brands to the next level and build new ones as part of shaping the next generation of celebrations for consumers around the world.

Feel inspired? Then this may be the opportunity for you. 

Worker Type :

Regular

Primary Location:

Isipingo

Additional Locations :

Job Posting Start Date :

2026-03-17