Inventory work that matters includes attendance, not a spreadsheet review from Deira while the warehouse is in Jebel Ali. We attend counts, test cut-off, look at slow-moving stock, and reconcile to the ledger a zone or a bank inspector will still ask for.
Count day
Tell us the location, the date, and whether the stock is mainland, in a zone, or with a third-party warehouse. We observe the count, test a sample, and lock cut-off against invoices and goods-in-transit. After that, valuation and the provision are the conversation.
What usually breaks
Bonded stock that is not on the TB, consignment that is, and year-end goods that were invoiced in the wrong month. Those three explain most of the inventory surprises we have seen since 2024.
Questions we are asked
Can you attend a weekend count?
Yes, if it is in the letter. Warehouse reality is not a Sunday-to-Thursday desk.
Do you need a full statutory audit as well?
Stock audit can stand alone for an owner. If the statements will be signed, inventory is usually part of that file, not a second surprise.
What if there is no perpetual system?
Then the count is the system. We plan more attendance and a clearer cut-off. We do not pretend a spreadsheet is a warehouse.