Category Analyst Jobs
Category analysis is a key strategic role, assisting with the profitability of the company by minimising waste and eliminating overstocking and under-ordering. The modern role involves a good deal of computer analysis but also plenty of interpersonal work with suppliers and those at the customer-facing side of the business.
Much of the work will be involved with identifying trends and predicting future events that will influence the needs of the categories under your control, particularly by identifying opportunities and threats. Just as important will be looking into your own past actions and judging whether or not they corrected the problem and if there was improvement, identifying areas where even more efficiency can be introduced into the system.
Regular contact with suppliers will be required as it is they who will ultimately determine whether your plans can be fulfilled. Since they will have their own supply needs, the accuracy and timeliness of your projections will be key to maintaining supply.
The category analyst will also need to keep abreast of new procurement technologies and systems as these might be able to provide long-term efficiencies to the company.
Depending on the size of the employer, the category analyst will report directly to senior management or to intermediated category managers.
The skills required
Superb analysis skills will be required for this role, and although much of the number crunching will be computerised, there’s a strong human element to the role. The category analyst will be required to keep in touch with national and global news and cultural events which could influence future opportunities negatively or positively. You must have the confidence in your results to take action in a timely and effective manner.
Experience of the specific sector in question is usually considered an advantage in category analysis, as some trends might be unknown to outsiders. Good Excel experience will usually be considered essential, and skills in SAP, Oracle and Business Objects are often required.
Category Analyst Jobs in Rochdale
Depending on your age and where you live, you might well associate Rochdale with Gracie Fields, Cyril Smith or Lisa Stansfield, all of whom have drawn attention to the town of the last century. Staff at Cast UK might well associate it with managing director Wayne Brophy - hopefully for all the right reasons! But for anyone in or around this town, it’s a fairly typical north-western market town that boomed during the milling and textile-making revolution of the 19th century. However, this industry did decline in the 20th century.
The town remains a large and thriving place, close enough to Manchester to be a commuter residence and trading partner, but far enough away to maintain its identity. It has excellent road and rail links with Manchester, with the M62 passing by Rochdale as is courses from the city to Leeds. The Metrolink tram line is due for completion in 2014. The town of Rochdale is home to about 100,000 people, but taking in all the settlements in the borough, the figure is over 200,000.
As with any large town, the population itself requires a large logistical effort to keep it fed, watered, clothed and stocked with life’s creature comforts. There’s a busy shopping area and a few trading estates dotted around the town. Many of the mill buildings are now used by small businesses or have been converted to living accommodation. Rochdale and Manchester do create Category Analyst positions, and both have important logistics, procurement and supply chain industries.
Popular locations
Discover category analyst opportunities with Cast UK
Cast UK are dedicated to filling roles in the procurement sector, so whether you are looking for promotion or moving home or just feel the need to try something different, please give us a call.
Because of the calibre of talent we provide, employers consider us a vital part in their recruitment process. Many employers trust us to provide a shortlist for interview, saving them time and money and ensuring the candidates we suggest are best suited to the roles.
We are always welcoming new candidates, so do get in touch and get yourself on our books, even if you’re not looking for work right now; you never know what opportunities will arise in the near future!
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Category Analyst for your business or find you a job as a Category Analyst then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
Contact us