Forecaster jobs
It’s one thing to keep on top of all the activities a business has carried out – there’s a paper trail to create very precise reports - but it’s quite another to gauge events in the future. However, knowing as much as possible about the future financial direction of a company is just as important, and if it’s done well, it can allow spending and investment decisions to be made with confidence. It can even allow a company to steal a march on the competition.
The forecaster in a supply chain operation will be in charge of gathering as much data as possible to create accurate predictions of the direction of the company’s activities. This will be through a combination of internal factors, such as sales targets, staffing and investments and external factors such as government policy, infrastructural projects and general economic outlook.
The data will then be used to create forecasts which can be employed by the planning team to guide the company’s future direction. Of course, no plan survives first contact with the enemy, and forecasts may need to be constantly refined as more and more information becomes available. However the forecaster’s reputation will be determined by the accuracy and precision of his or her work.
The skills required
Analysis will be at the heart of the forecaster’s daily work. Knowing which data are relevant and applying them to the calculations in line with the event being forecasted will be key to his or her success. Some forecasters will have a team of data analysts, each with their own sectors, to help with the task, while others will be required to source the data themselves. Ongoing monitoring will be an important part of the job, too. All forecasting is really the abstraction of past and present data to seek out trends and patterns, so when these change, so will the forecasts. It is important that mechanisms are set in place to alert the forecaster to key events which will affect the predictions.
Most of the work will be done at the desk using various IT solutions from web browsers, databases and spreadsheets to gather data to forecasting software or spreadsheets to perform the projection calculations. Good IT skills will therefore be required.
Finally, as the predictions are worthless if they are not presented properly, interpersonal and communication skills will be the final element of the forecaster’s makeup.
Forecaster Jobs in Rotherham
Rotherham first came into bloom in the Middle Ages, when it became an important market town for the region. But it was the discovery of coal in the area that made it into an industrialised town in the 18th and 19th centuries. This helped the iron smelting works that sprung up, and Rotherham became well known for its cast iron, with its fireplaces, stoves and fencing being exported widely.
Later, the skills were used to develop steelworks, but although successful, it was neighbouring city Sheffield that became synonymous with quality steelware. Ironically, Rotherham is now a respected centre of high-tech steel components, and some of its local firms precision engineer steel for the aviation and motor racing industries. Rolls Royce have recently started work on a casting factory for their jet engine components, such is the expertise in the area.
One trade Rotherham also became well known for was milling (hence Rotherham United FC’s nickname “the millers”). Dozens of large mills were erected in the town, with grain being brought into the city from the surrounding areas. The link with the food industry remains today, as Premier Foods has a warehousing and distributions centre, which is in fact on the site of a mill. This is one of the reasons, along with good road, rail and industry links, that makes Rotherham a good place for Forecaster vacancies.
Rotherham is the home town of goalkeeper David Seaman (and referee Howard Webb), politician William Hague and, most importantly, Barry and Paul Elliott, also known as the Chuckle Borthers.
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Cast UK’s supply chain opportunities
Applicants approach Cast UK for many reasons, whether seeking more job fulfilment or simply relocating for personal reasons, so it’s good to know that we always have the complete range of positions available nationwide. Please see what’s available in your region and if you’ve seen something you’re interested in, do get in touch – whether it’s today or tomorrow, we might have the ideal position for you.
Cast UK’s founder members and consultants all come from the logistics, procurement and supply chain sectors, so we know what employers and candidates are looking for in their staff and careers respectively. Cast UK is growing in this part of the UK recruitment industry, mainly because these are the only sectors we deal with, which means that many employers come to us first to create a candidate shortlist because they know we’re tightly focused on delivering the best people to them.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Forecaster for your business or find you a job as a Forecaster then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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