Commercial Controller – FMCG
Reporting To: Managing Director
Location: Rainham
About the Role
We are looking for an experienced Sales Controller to join Wanis International Foods in a newly created, high-impact role. Reporting directly to the Managing Director, the Sales Controller will be responsible for monitoring and protecting margin performance across all trading channels, bringing rigour and accountability to both the sales and buying functions.
This is a commercially focused role that sits outside of finance. The successful candidate will have hands-on experience in sales or buying and will use that operational knowledge to drive performance improvement across the business.
Key Responsibilities
Margin Analysis & Performance Monitoring
- Monitor margin performance across Wanis's three trading channels: Delivered, Collection, and Export, understanding the specific dynamics and margin profiles of each
- Identify and investigate margin leakage, whether driven by buying costs, sales discounting, or product mix
- Analyse SKU-level profitability on the buying side and flag where incoming costs are eroding margin
- Track and report on sales rep discounting behaviour, customer profitability, and product mix decisions
- Provide regular reporting and insight to the Managing Director
Sales Accountability
- Partner with the Sales Manager to provide data-driven insight that enables effective performance management of the sales team
- Identify underperforming customers, products, or sales reps from a margin perspective
- Support the sales function in understanding the commercial impact of pricing and mix decisions
Buying Team Monitoring & Management
- Monitor and manage the buying team on a day-to-day basis, ensuring purchasing decisions are made with margin discipline front of mind
- Oversee the buying team with responsibility for ensuring sufficient margin is being achieved at SKU level
- Set clear expectations with the buying team on cost targets and hold regular reviews of buying performance against those targets
- Flag pricing and purchasing decisions that present a risk to margin and escalate to the Managing Director where necessary
- Embed a culture of best practice stock disciplines and commercial accountability within the buying function
Role Development
- In the initial period, the focus will be on analysis, reporting, and post-event accountability
- As the postholder develops their understanding of the business, the expectation is that they will move into a more proactive capacity, providing input and oversight before key commercial and buying decisions are made
About You
- Proven experience in a sales, buying, or commercial role, ideally with exposure to both functions
- Experience managing or closely overseeing a buying or purchasing team is highly desirable
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into clear, actionable insight
- Confident communicating with and challenging senior stakeholders
- Able to build credibility quickly with operational teams
- Experience within food wholesale, FMCG, or a comparable trading environment is highly desirable
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial business
What This Role Is Not
- This is not a forecasting or financial planning role
- Candidates from a purely finance background, without operational trading experience, are unlikely to be the right fit
Pay: £55,000.00-£60,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
