Objective / Purpose of Job
The Store Chief Security Officer (CSO) is responsible for leading the Security & Loss Prevention function within the store to safeguard company assets, employees, customers, inventory and cash while minimizing operational losses and shrinkage.
The role provides leadership in security operations, loss prevention, fraud detection, investigations, operational verification, compliance monitoring and emergency preparedness. The CSO partners with Store Operations, Finance, Supply Chain, Internal Audit and HR to identify risks, strengthen internal controls and improve profitability through proactive loss prevention initiatives.
The CSO serves as the store\'s primary custodian of operational integrity by ensuring that critical controls relating to receiving, stock movement, sales returns, cash handling and high-risk transactions are consistently verified and complied with.
Key Responsibilities
Security & Loss Prevention Leadership
- Lead the implementation of the Group Security & Loss Prevention Strategy within the store.
- Develop and execute the store\'s annual Loss Prevention Plan.
- Drive initiatives to reduce shrinkage, fraud, theft and operational losses.
- Build a proactive Loss Prevention culture across all departments.
- Lead and develop the Security & Loss Prevention team to achieve operational excellence.
- Conduct daily toolbox talks, shift briefings and operational reviews.
Loss Prevention Operations
- Ensure effective implementation of Loss Prevention controls across:
- Receiving Operations
- Delivery Counter
- Cash Office
- Shop Floor
- Stock Rooms
- Wine Section
- Electronics
- Customer Entrances & Exits
- Staff Entrances & Exits
- High-value merchandise
- Monitor operational risks and deploy preventive controls before losses occur.
Operational Verification
Own the store verification process by ensuring independent verification of:
- Purchase Orders
- Delivery Notes
- Goods Received Notes (GRNs)
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 receiving transactions
- Stock transfers
- Sales returns
- Vendor documentation
- Loss notes
- Inventory adjustments
- Daily receiving registers
- Cash Office reconciliation reports
- High-value merchandise movements
- Ensure all discrepancies are investigated and escalated within agreed Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
Shrinkage Management
- Analyse weekly and monthly shrinkage reports.
- Identify key drivers of inventory loss.
- Develop corrective action plans with Operations.
- Monitor implementation of agreed actions.
- Recommend process improvements to reduce future losses.
- Report shrinkage trends to the Group Head, Security & Loss Prevention.
Fraud Prevention & Investigation
Lead investigations relating to:
- Internal theft
- External theft
- Vendor fraud
- Receiving fraud
- Return fraud
- Cashier fraud
- Stock diversion
- Collusion
- Document falsification
- Operational negligence
- Ensure investigations are objective, evidence-based and completed within established timelines.
CCTV & Intelligence Management
- Oversee surveillance activities by ensuring:
- Critical operational areas are continuously monitored.
- Previous day\'s after-hours activities are reviewed before store opening.
- CCTV evidence is preserved for investigations.
- Intelligence reports are prepared and shared with relevant stakeholders.
- Camera downtime is reported and resolved promptly.
Compliance & Governance
- Ensure full compliance with:
- Company Policies
- Loss Prevention SOPs
- Security Procedures
- Health & Safety Standards
- Fire Safety Regulations
- Cash Handling Procedures
- Receiving Procedures
- Stock Movement Controls
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 transaction controls
- Conduct periodic compliance audits and close identified gaps.
Stakeholder Partnership
Work closely with:
- Store Manager
- Operations Control Managers (OCMs)
- Receiving Team
- Finance
- Internal Audit
- Human Resources
- Supply Chain
- Information Technology
- External Security Service Providers
- Law Enforcement Agencies where required
- Support operational decision-making through timely security and loss prevention insights.
Team Leadership & Capability Development
- Recruit, coach and develop Security & Loss Prevention personnel.
- Conduct regular performance reviews.
- Implement Individual Development Plans (IDPs) and Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs).
- Identify succession candidates for key positions.
- Build technical capability in verification, investigations and fraud detection.
Reporting & Analytics
- Prepare and submit:
- Daily Security Reports
- Daily Verification Reports
- Incident Reports
- Weekly Shrinkage Reports
- Monthly Loss Prevention Reports
- Investigation Reports
- Compliance Reports
- KPI Dashboard
- Risk Register Updates
- Provide actionable recommendations based on trend analysis.
- Decision-Making Authority
The role is authorised to:
- Stop receiving activities where procedures are breached.
- Reject non-compliant deliveries pending management review.
- Suspend high-risk operational activities where immediate loss is identified.
- Escalate fraud cases directly to the Group Head, Security & Loss Prevention.
- Recommend disciplinary action relating to security and loss prevention breaches.
- Recommend process improvements to reduce operational losses.
- Coordinate emergency response during security incidents.
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