How to hire a stock controller: valuation, receiving and stock records
What a stock controller does
A stock controller looks after the quality and records of goods: receives consignments from suppliers, checks them against the documents, verifies expiry dates and labelling, values the goods and keeps the stock records. In a pawn or second-hand shop the person also values the items, and in a chain of stores they check that the product range is correct.
This is a job where a mistake quickly turns into lost money. So the job request should say clearly which goods will pass through the person: jewellery, home appliances, food or clothes. Each area needs its own expertise.
How to find one on BlaBlaPrice
You write one job request in your own words, and candidates reply in the chat with their experience, software skills, shifts and expected pay. Before it goes live, the request is checked: no ads or contacts in the text. You also get hints on what is still missing.
Your phone number stays hidden, and only the candidate you choose gets it. The job request stays active for 7 days and can be extended. It is free for employers; more details in How it works.
What to put in the job request
- Goods — what the person will value and receive: jewellery, appliances, food;
- Duties — valuation, receiving, stock records, stock-taking, paperwork;
- Software — accounting software, Excel, warehouse systems;
- Pay — fixed salary and any incentive part;
- Shifts and place — six days a week or five, city and address;
- Terms — written appointment, liability for stock;
- Experience — how many years, in which line of business.
Example: “Stock controller needed for a jewellery loan shop in Durban. Duties: valuing and receiving gold items, paperwork, stock records in accounting software. Five-day week, salary R 4,900 per month, written appointment, at least 1 year of experience.”
How to choose a candidate
Ask about the specific goods the candidate has worked with, and about times they found a mismatch between the documents and the actual stock. It is good when a person can explain how they check quality, and does not just “judge by eye”.
Agree separately on liability for stock and how stock-taking is done. For valuing expensive items it helps to have a second pair of eyes or a shared procedure, to protect both the business and the employee.
If the goods are specialised, such as gold or electronics, agree in advance whether the business pays for training or certification. A stock controller who knows metal purity and the signs of fakes costs more, but rarely makes mistakes.
One more point: say whether the person works alone or has a manager to approve disputed valuations. This removes needless pressure and builds trust in the decisions.
If you are looking for a job
If you are looking for work as a stock controller, register on BlaBlaPrice as a service provider, choose this category and your area, and reply to job requests. There are also jobs for a cashier and others in the retail section.
