Assistant Manager

Experience  4-6 years’ total experience in Loss Prevention, Inventory Control, Internal Audit or Store Operations, preferably in Retail / FMCG / Consumer Businesses.  Hands-on exposure to stock audits, shrinkage analysis, RCA & ATR, insurance claims, store investigations, and store visit audits.  Other Leadership experience in managing teams and reducing losses. Education  Graduate / Post-Graduate in Commerce / Business Administration / Finance / Retail Management or equivalent.  Nice to have: Certifications in Risk Management/Forensics; Advanced Data Analysis Job Purpose To own and drive shrinkage control and loss prevention across assigned stores/regions by:  Leading stock audit processes and shrinkage analytics,  Conducting RCA and ensuring timely ATR/CAPA closure,  Overseeing insurance-related documentation and claims,  Conducting store visits, investigations, and LP compliance checks. The role closely partners with Operations, Finance, Audit and HR to protect company assets and reduce losses. Key Responsibilities A. Shrinkage Control & LP Governance  Track and own shrinkage KPIs (e.g., % shrinkage) for stores/regions/warehouses.  Analyze store-wise /region-wise /category-wise shrinkage trends and identify high-risk locations and patterns.  Implement shrinkage control plans with Store Managers /Regional Managers  Support development and periodic revision of Loss Prevention SOPs, checklists and control frameworks for stores and DCs.  Conduct risk assessments for existing and new stores/warehouses and recommend preventive controls. B. Stock Audit & Report Management  Plan and support cycle counts, surprise audits and periodic stock take at stores and warehouses.  Ensure accurate and timely Stock Audit Report generation, including variance analysis and commentary.  Reconcile stock differences and highlight abnormal losses, negative stocks, and process breakdowns.  Maintain shrinkage and audit MIS/dashboards; provide inputs for management reviews and regional meetings.  Use ERP/POS data (e.g., Ginesys or similar) and Advanced data analytics to generate and act upon exception reports and analytics. C. RCA & ATR Closure  Conduct Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for high shrinkage, repeated audit observations and major incidents.  Prepare Action Taken Reports (ATR) in consultation with store/operations teams.  Follow up rigorously to ensure time-bound closure of key action items; escalate chronic non-compliances.  Document learnings and contribute to preventive controls and process improvements. D. Insurance & Risk Coverage Support  Coordinate insurance documentation and coverage for stores/warehouses (stocks, assets, burglary/fire etc.).  File, track and follow up on insurance claims arising from shortages, theft, fire or other insurance events.  Liaise with insurers/brokers and internal stakeholders for timely processing and settlement of claims.  Capture claim trends and feed them back into shrinkage and risk mitigation strategies. E. Store Visits, Compliance & LP Tools  Conduct regular store and warehouse visits to review compliance with LP SOPs and physical security standards.  Review adequacy and usage of CCTV, EAS, access control, locking systems and other LP tools.  Develop & Use exception-based reports to detect and prevent losses.  Recommend corrective and preventive actions and track their implementation. F. Incident Management & Investigations  Ensure timely recording and escalation of incidents related to theft, fraud, misconduct and major process violations.  Conduct / support investigations – evidence collection, CCTV review, interviews, documentation of findings.  Work with Law Enforcement Authorities, HR, Legal and Operations on disciplinary actions or legal recourse, where required.  Maintain an incident & investigation register; analyze patterns and propose systemic fixes. G. Training, Awareness & Stakeholder Management  Conduct training and refreshers for Store & Warehouse teams on shrinkage control and LP SOPs.  Run awareness campaigns on ethics, code of conduct and financial impact of shrinkage.  Act as a business partner to Operations/Finance, providing insights and recommendations on LP issues.  Where applicable, guide field LP executives/auditors on audit quality, investigation standards and reporting. Core Deliverables  Store/region-wise Shrinkage reports with RCA and action plans.  Stock Audit Reports, variance analyses and closure status.  RCA & ATR trackers with on-time closure of critical issues.  Insurance claim documentation and tracking files.  Store visit reports with LP compliance scores and recommendations.  Incident & investigation reports with clear findings and actions. KPIs / KRAs (Role-Linked)  Shrinkage Performance: Shrinkage within or better than target for assigned stores/regions.  Audit & Action Closure: ≥95% of critical audit points closed within agreed timelines.  Visit Coverage & Compliance: 100% of planned store/DC visits completed; improved LP compliance scores quarter-on-quarter.  Incident & Investigation Quality: Incidents logged and closed with complete documentation; repeat incidents minimized.  Insurance Efficiency: Claims filed and closed within defined TAT; minimal rejections due to documentation gaps.  Training & Awareness: Targeted store teams covered; improvement in shrinkage and LP audit findings post training. Interfaces  Internal: Operations, Finance, Internal Controls, Legal, HR, Warehouse, IT Team.  External: Insurance companies/brokers, security vendors, investigation agencies, local Law enforcement authorities (where required). Skills & Attributes Must Have  Strong understanding of shrinkage drivers, stock audit processes and retail store operations.  Analytical skills with ability to work on large data sets and generate actionable insights.  Proficiency in Data Analytics and comfort with ERP/POS systems.  Investigative mindset with attention to detail and thorough documentation.  Clear written and verbal communication; stakeholder management skills.  High integrity, discretion and ownership; comfort handling sensitive information. Good to Have  Prior experience in value/fashion retail chains.  Exposure to CCTV and LP technology tools.  Knowledge of basic forensic/fraud investigation techniques.  Familiarity with internal controls / Investigation concepts. Behaviors  Ownership for shrinkage outcomes, not just reports.  Strong compliance and ethical orientation.  Collaborative and reliable under deadlines; closes loops and follows through.  Learner’s mindset; continuously looks for ways to improve controls and reduce losses. Mobility Travel up to 8–10 days/month (or as business requires) for store and warehouse visits, audits and investigations.