Retail financial audit

Inventory variance review

On-floor stock sampling against the location file to explain shrink, late transfers, and phantom overstock.

Inventory variance review

Focus of the review

We do not attempt a full annual stocktake. Instead we sample categories that drive most of your variance — fragrance testers, phone accessories, seasonal apparel, or other high-risk lines — and compare counts to the stock file timed to the visit.

Common findings

Late warehouse transfers booked after the stock report ran, unrecorded staff purchases, damaged goods left in “pending write-off,” and display units never removed from sellable inventory.

Deliverable

A variance pack listing sampled SKUs, counted quantities, system quantities, and likely process causes for the largest gaps.