VACANCIES

A fast growing retail company in Malawi is inviting applications from suitably qualified candidates to fill the following vacant positions in the Operations and Finance Departments:

1. Visual Merchandizer/Category Management Officer

Reporting to the Group Operations Manager

Tenable in Blantyre. The Visual Merchandizer is responsible for improving sales, customer experience, and stock performance by ensuring products are correctly grouped, displayed, priced, and promoted.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Visual Merchandizing

• Develop and implement store display plans, planograms, and merchandising standards.
• Ensure shelves, displays, promotional areas, and end caps are neat, attractive, and customer-friendly.
• Ensure products are correctly faced, grouped, labelled, and price-marked.
• Maintain clear signage for promotions, new products, and special offers.
• Monitor display standards across stores and recommend improvements.
• Ensure fast-moving and high-margin products receive appropriate display space.
• Work with store teams to ensure shelves are replenished and displays remain in good condition.
• Ensure displays follow company standards, seasonal campaigns, and promotional calendars.

2. Category Management

• Analyse sales, stock movement, margins, and customer demand within assigned categories.
• Recommend product ranges, new products, discontinued lines, and promotional opportunities.
• Monitor stock availability and work with buyers and stores to reduce stock-outs and excess stock.
• Ensure category layouts reflect customer shopping patterns and product relationships.
• Review product performance and recommend changes to shelf allocation and display space.
• Work with suppliers on promotional displays, category plans, and product launches.
• Monitor competitor pricing, promotions, product ranges, and merchandising practices.
• Prepare category performance reports and present recommendations to management.

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in Marketing, Retail Management, Business Management, Merchandising, or a related field.
• At least 10 years’ experience in retail merchandising, category management, sales, or store operations.
• Experience using retail, inventory, or sales reporting systems is an advantage.
• Good knowledge of product displays, stock management, pricing, and promotions.

2. Lead Buyer

Reporting to the Group Operations Manager

Tenable in Blantyre. The Lead Buyer is responsible for planning, sourcing, negotiating, and purchasing products that meet the company’s quality, availability, profitability, and customer-demand requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement buying plans in line with sales targets, customer demand, and stock requirements.
• Source reliable suppliers and negotiate prices, payment terms, delivery schedules, and product quality standards.
• Analyse sales trends, stock levels, margins, and supplier performance to make informed buying decisions.
• Prepare, review, and approve purchase orders in line with company procedures and delegated authority.
• Ensure products are purchased at competitive prices while maintaining required quality and profitability.
• Monitor stock availability and work with stores, warehouses, and merchandising teams to prevent stock-outs or overstocking.
• Manage supplier relationships and resolve issues relating to pricing, shortages, damages, delayed deliveries, and returns.
• Review market trends, competitor activity, and customer preferences to identify new product opportunities.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records, supplier files, pricing information, and procurement reports.
• Ensure that all purchases comply with company policies, budgets, and approved supplier procedures.
• Coach and guide junior buyers or procurement staff where applicable.
• Prepare regular reports on purchasing performance, stock status, cost savings, supplier performance, and key risks.

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in Procurement, Purchasing and Supply, Business Management, Retail Management, or a related field.
• Professional procurement qualification is an added advantage.
• At least 10 years’ experience in buying, procurement, merchandising, or supply chain operations, preferably in retail/ FMCG.
• Experience negotiating with suppliers and managing purchase orders.
• Good knowledge of inventory management, pricing, margins, and product sourcing.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and retail or inventory management systems.

3. Merchandize Analyst

Reporting to the Lead Buyer with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Visual Merchandizer/Category Management Officer

Tenable in Blantyre. The Merchandize Analyst is responsible for analysing sales, stock, pricing, margins, promotions, and product performance to support profitable merchandising decisions

Key Responsibilities

• Analyse daily, weekly, and monthly sales performance by store, department, category, and product.
• Monitor stock levels, stock movement, stock-outs, overstocking, slow-moving items, and expired products.
• Prepare reports on sales trends, gross margins, stock turnover, product profitability, and promotional performance.
• Identify underperforming products and recommend corrective action, including price changes, promotions, transfers, markdowns, or discontinuation.
• Support the buying and merchandising teams with demand forecasts, range reviews, and purchasing recommendations.
• Analyse the effectiveness of promotions, discounts, and special offers, and recommend improvements.
• Monitor selling prices, cost prices, mark-ups, and margins to identify pricing errors or margin risks.
• Review store-level performance and highlight opportunities to improve product availability and sales.
• Work closely with buyers, category managers, visual merchandisers, warehouse teams, and store management.
• Maintain accurate merchandising data, product records, sales reports, and dashboards.
• Assist with stock take analysis, variance investigations, and shrinkage-control reporting.
• Monitor competitor pricing, promotions, product ranges, and market trends.
• Prepare presentations and recommendations for management meetings.
• Ensure that all reports are accurate, timely, confidential, and compliant with company policies.

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in Business Management, Economics, Statistics, Marketing, Retail Management, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
• At least 5 years’ experience in merchandising analysis, retail operations, category management, buying, finance, or stock control.
• Experience working with retail, inventory, point-of-sale, or enterprise resource planning systems.
• Strong experience using Microsoft Excel for data analysis and reporting.
• Experience with dashboards, reporting tools, or data visualisation software is an added advantage.

4. Chief Accountant

Reporting to the Group Head of Finance

Tenable in Blantyre. The Chief Accountant is responsible for taking lead in the handling of all Finance / Accounting functions for FMCG units including Controls, Compliance, Reconciliation and any related matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and manage the Finance / Accounts team for the FMCG units including supervising and supporting the Finance / Accounting staff in the execution of their duties.
• Financial operations input and recommendations to the Head of Finance / Head of Operations and Shop Managers
• First payments requests review and approval for FMCG units
• Oversee the financial planning and forecasting including Budget consolidation (Budgets, Projections)
• Assist in the development of FMCG units short-, medium- and long-term financial goals
• Financial and Management reporting and records management
• Key Reconciliations oversight (Inventory, Bank and Cash, Accounts Receivables and Accounts Payables, Non-Current Assets, General Ledger)
• Key point of contact on all Finance / Accounting, Reporting and Auditing matters
• Set KPIs and handle performance reviews for his subordinate Finance / Accounting staff
• Training / Capacity building and coaching of Finance / Accounts and Non-Finance Staff
• Annual Statutory audit preparation and successful and timely conclusion
• Implementation of financial best practice and Audit recommendations.
• Ensure Taxation matters for FMCG Units are compliant and professionally handled (current and up-to-date)
• Identify and address potential risks for the company including monitoring the business financial performance.
• Oversee the development, review and improvement of policies and guidelines for key business areas and oversee their implementation and adherence to minimize business risks.

Qualifications and Experience

Applicants must have:

• Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Management or its related fields.
• At least 5 years’ relevant experience in a similar senior position.
• Professional Qualification such as ACCA, CIMA or its equivalent or progression towards these qualifications
• Experience in using ERP systems, preferably Sage Accounting system and MS Excel.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and leadership skills
• Good business acumen and experience in internal controls design, implementation, and monitoring
• Finance and budgeting skills

Application Method

Interested candidates who meet the above requirements should send their application letters together with a detailed Curriculum Vitae, and names of three traceable referees (preferably previous employer) to vacancies@renaissanceholdingsmw.net by Monday 7th September 2026.

Kindly note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.