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Stock takes and reconciliation

Inventories (stock takes) are helpful to:

  • know what is in stock, by quantity, value and quality
  • agree corrective actions in case of discrepancies or poor quality of stock
  • update reporting tools.

Stock takes should follow two separate patterns:

Cycle counting

It is good practice to have five per cent of stock, or a minimum of ten stock cards, checked each month.

This process should be led by the warehouse manager or team, with a stock spot check report prepared and shared with the finance team member in charge of stock and balances, and with the stock owner.

All differences must be recorded on the stock spot check report and investigated and explained within one month or before the next stock spot check takes place. This should be done by the warehouse manager, under the supervision of the logistics delegate.

All boxes/pallets that are counted can be sealed and strapped after the finance and programme business partner have accepted the spot check, so they don’t need to be counted again during the 100 per cent stock takes.

Cycle counting can also be done on a predetermined cyclical schedule. Effective cycle counting requires the counting of a pre-set number of items every workday and should result in the counting of all warehouse stock twice a month (refer to the below section on cycle counting procedure).

Cycle counting procedure

The number of stock cards determines the frequency of the cycle count.

To calculate the number of items to be counted daily in order to permit a complete count of all warehouse stock twice during the month, multiply the number of stock cards by two and divide the result by the number of workdays in the month.

For example:

30 stock cards in warehouse: 30 x 2 = 60
20 workdays in month: 60/20 = 3
In this example, the items listed on three stock cards are to be counted each day.

A schedule for conducting cycle counts is then established and integrated into the daily or weekly routine. Bin cards, stock cards and the documents certifying receipt or dispatch (waybills, GRN) of the supplies being controlled are verified.

The latest global stock report is crosschecked against the stock cards. A physical count is performed for the selected items and crosschecked with the stock cards and bin cards. When variances are found, the cause (e.g., count error, recording error, unrecorded dispatch, theft) is identified and appropriate corrective actions are taken.


100 per cent stock audit

It is mandatory to conduct at least one 100 per cent stock take each year.

It is good practice to conduct two 100 per cent stock takes per calendar year.

All counted quantities should be reported on a stock take report, with all discrepancies recorded and investigated, and the report approved by relevant authority (usually head of logistics or head of delegation) and shared with all stock owners and the head of logistics or delegation within one month of the stock take.

Before a stock take:


Stock spot check
(monthly)
100% stock check
(twice yearly)
-90 daysInvite finance and programme business
partners to join the count
Inform all stakeholders about service
interruption
-30 daysInform stock owner of items to be counted and
the date of the stock spot check
Ask for no movement of these items on selected
date (provide 'last order' deadline)
Confirm counters' attendance
-15 daysEnsure all orders for items included in the next
spot check are in and ready for preparation -
they must be delivered before the stock take
date
Remind stock owners of warehouse closure
Prepare stock take brief
Prepare the counting document
-5 daysPrepare the counting documentUpdate stock report with latest stock
movements
Prepare stationary items needed for stock take
-1 dayUpdate stock report with latest stock
movements of counted items
Ensure all units of same items are stored
together (group same items together)

Available to download here.


During a stock take:


Stock spot check
(monthly)
100% stock check
(twice yearly)
Locate items to be countedEnsure no order preparation is pending
Update stock reports with latest stock movements
if necessary
Record a physical count on the stock take sheet
(theoretical stock not included)
Brief counters on their role
Allocate counting responsibilities
Mark up all counted boxes
(colour code or date-stamp)
Distribute counting sheets
Theoretical stock should not be visible on stock
take sheet
Blank lines should be added to record additional
items if needed
Reconcile physical count with stock cards
Highlight and investigate discrepancies
Use GRNs, donation certificates, waybills and stock
request forms
Ensure counters open every box they are asked to count
unless contents of a box have been counted during
a stock spot check
Fill out a stock spot check report and submit to
warehouse manager and stock owner
Ensure all counting sheets are handed to warehouse
manager and signed off by counters

Available to download here.


After a stock take


Stock spot check
(monthly)
100% stock check
(twice yearly)
Same dayRecord physical count on stock card
(report in red or other identifiable format)
Invite finance and programme business
partners to join the count
Inform all stakeholders about service
interruption
Within 1 weekUpdate stock report with confirmed physical
quantities
Seal and strap counted boxes/pallets
Agree required corrective actions and record in
stock spot check report
File stock spot check report
Reconcile physical count with stock cards
Highlight and investigate discrepancies
Use GRNs, donation certificates, waybills
and stock request forms
Within 2 weeksAgree required corrective actions and
record in stock take report
Prepare stock take report, submit to head
of logistics and stock owners
File stock take report

Available to download here.

Note: stock audits can be conducted by internal or external auditors, outside of scheduled stock takes. The warehouse manager will have to produce the necessary documents to conduct a four-way match between physical stock, stock cards, stock report and GRN/waybill/donation certificates/PO.

A diagram shows what is needed for a stock audit: physical stock, stock cards, stock report and stock documentation including waybills, goods received note, purchase orders and donation certificates

Stock reporting

The stock report

The summary of all stock cards is the stock report or stock movement report, which is used for reporting and overall stock management.

The stock report should be in a simple format, capturing the opening balance, quantities received (split between purchases and donations) or issued (split  between requests, losses, donations or disposal), and closing balance for each item in stock.

Stock reports are usually updated on a monthly basis and shared with stock owners as a snapshot of the available quantities in the warehouse, though finance and UKO-based logistics coordinators may also request to receive them. In emergency operations, this report can be required to be shared on a weekly or a daily basis.

In addition to the above, the periodic stock report should ideally highlight:

  • the 20 per cent fastest-moving goods in the warehouse
  • the 20 per cent slowest-moving goods in the warehouse
  • where items are perishable, those quantities expiring within the next six an three months must be highlighted and actions to avoid wastage agreed.

Annexes to the stock report

  • The monthly warehouse checklist must be completed and attached to the stock report.
  • Quarantined items must either be reported against separately or visually identifiable in the report, with the reason for placing the items in quarantine clearly.
  • A warehouse dashboard can be put together and shared with stock owners and other clients to give a measure of the activity level in the warehouse and inform of any upcoming changes (such as deep cleans, training events or stock counts).
  • The value of any stock donations (received or issued) must be known by the warehouse team and included in the report for Finance to record. If requested, donation certificates must be produced.
  • Ideally, the total value of stock losses (due to expiry, theft or damage) must be known and included in the report for finance to record. If requested, disposal or loss certificates must be produced.

Always consult with the stock owner to be informed of any specific donor requirements. Donors will usually want to know the value and content of the stock balance at the end of a project they fund.


Read the next section on disposing of and writing off stock here.



Download the full section here.

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