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 Staffordshire
A county in the West Midlands, Staffordshire shares borders with a number of other counties, including Cheshire, Derbyshire, Warwickshire and Shropshire.
If you're searching for Forecaster opportunities, the region has a range of options that you might want to consider - these can be found in places like Burton upon Trent, Cannock and Newcastle-under-Lyme, as well as the county town Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent, which is also the largest city in the area.
Since the 17th century, the region has been known for its pottery production, and this became a major part of the economy during the Industrial Revolution. In the 19th century, a number of ceramics companies were founded that are still in existence today. These include Wedgwood, Spode, Burleigh, Aynsley and Dudson.
Historically, other major industries were hat making, textiles, brewing, mining, brick making, ironwork and engineering.
These days, the region is home to a number of breweries, including Coors, Carling and Marstons. Meanwhile, other companies based in Staffordshire, or with large facilities, include The Britannia Building Society and JCB, as well as Unilever, which makes Marmite and Bovril. There's also a Pirelli factory that manufactures tyres.
What's more, the Alton Towers theme park draws in visitors from around the country, as well as tourists from further afield.
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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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