Inventory Analyst

About Spendless Shoes

With a retail legacy spanning more than 30 years, Spendless Shoes has served millions of customers nationwide by providing affordable footwear for the entire family. The business operates over 200 stores throughout Australia and is expanding its online sales platform.

Role Overview

As an Inventory Analyst based at our Support Centre in Gillman, you will report directly to the Head of Planning. Your role will be pivotal in achieving profitable sales, optimizing gross margin, and managing inventory across our extensive retail footprint and eCommerce channels.

You will collaborate with multiple departments including Buying, Merchandise Allocation, Retail Operations, Finance, Marketing, eCommerce, Supply Chain, and Distribution to craft and execute merchandise plans. These plans will balance inventory investment with customer demand and strategic business priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and maintain merchandise financial plans on a seasonal, annual, and rolling basis.
• Forecast sales, units, gross profit, margin, inventory levels, stock turnover, coverage weeks, and markdowns.
• Manage open-to-buy activities aligned with budgets and merchandise strategies.
• Work in close partnership with Buyers to structure range architecture, assortment strategies, option counts, price-point decisions, and initial purchase plans.
• Analyze daily and weekly trading data across product lines, categories, stores, and online channels to spot trends.
• Identify risks and opportunities, advising on repeats, cancellations, stock transfers, promotions, pricing adjustments, and markdown initiatives.
• Design allocation and replenishment tactics based on demand patterns, store profiles, size requirements, and channel priorities.
• Monitor stock availability, aged and excess inventory, turnover ratios, and coverage periods carefully.
• Prepare comprehensive reports on planning, trading performance, and inventory status.
• Conduct post-season, campaign, and category analyses to inform and enhance next cycle planning.
• Participate in continuous improvement for planning methods, reporting accuracy, system tools, and data integrity.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be commercially driven with strong analytical abilities to interpret complex datasets and transform findings into actionable insights and commercial recommendations. You must be adept at cooperating within cross-functional teams, confidently challenging conventional approaches, and being accountable for commercial outcomes in a fast-moving retail environment.

Qualifications and Experience

• Demonstrated background in merchandise, demand or inventory planning or related retail planning roles.
• Hands-on experience in developing merchandise financial plans, sales forecasts, inventory management plans, and managing open-to-buy budgets.
• In-depth knowledge of assortment development, forecasting, allocation, replenishment, inventory turnover, sales velocity, and markdown management.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and ability to handle large data volumes.
• Experience in utilizing merchandise planning, reporting, or business intelligence solutions.
• Strong commercial acumen relating to sales, gross profits, margins, and inventory investment optimization.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and influence skills.
• Competency in effectively organizing priorities and managing deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset.

Experience in footwear, fashion, apparel, or specialty retail chains with multiple nationwide locations is highly desirable. While formal qualifications in Business, Commerce, Finance, Economics, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, or related fields are preferred, significant relevant experience will also be considered.

Why Join Spendless Shoes?

This role offers a unique opportunity to shape merchandise outcomes across a substantial retail network and collaborate with experienced teams in Planning, Buying, and Retail. You will be part of a supportive and collaborative environment where your analytical insights, commercial recommendations, and planning decisions will have a significant influence on sales performance, profitability, and customer satisfaction.