Commercial Assistant Manager

Job description

Commercial Assistant Manager (107856)

Base Location: London plus network of 20 offices nationally: www.kpmg88careers.co.uk/experienced-professional/#LeBlender.OfficeLocations

The KPMG People function is a cornerstone of our business.  Operating from London we do work that matters, serving the country with diligence and expertise.

KPMG is one of the world's largest and most respected consultancies.  We've supported the UK through times of war and peace, prosperity and recession, political and regulatory upheaval. We've proudly stood beside the institutions and businesses which make the UK what it is.

By encompassing a wide range of disciplines across a breadth of areas such as Customer Experience and Digital, Strategy, Forensic, Risk and Regulatory, People and Talent, and Operational and Financial Transformation, we become immersed in our clients' organisations, applying sector knowledge and technology solutions to deliver the best possible outcomes and get it right first time.

Why Join KPMG as a Commercial Assistant Manager

We offer an end-to-end learning service that combines advisory, specialist content, and learning delivery, building on the capability developed for clients. Our interdisciplinary Connected Learning department aims to create a culture of learning by delivering quality, innovative learning that is easily accessible, embedded to the learner’s role and has a measurable impact.

Connected Learning is an emerging, but integral part of our Consultancy practice and brings together KPMG's breadth and depth of subject matter expertise with our learning design and technology skills and capabilities to help improve individual and organisational performance. It is an exciting capability area that seeks to tackle the full breadth of clients’ learning needs.

Our work covers a whole spectrum of services at the scale and quality that the market is demanding. By closely monitoring market drivers and learning trends, we have combined a best of breed consortium led approach in the learning supply chain. A core part of our offering is to help clients make the connection between what their workforce has in terms of measurable skills, what they don’t have and what they need to have. This helps clients realise their immediate and future strategic business aims.

What will you be doing?

The role requires the ability / flexibility to work across learning clients where multiple programmes in the portfolio require a strong understanding of the sector. The Commercial Assistant Manager is primarily responsible for supporting the sourcing and competition of the appropriate supply chain to support relevant client engagements in the sector driving the commercial outcomes of particular supplier partnerships through effective procurement and relationship management. 

As a Commercial Assistant Manager, you will be part of a Commercial team who is responsible for managing day-to-day supplier relationships while ensuring that supply chain activities are undertaken in accordance with the firm’s policies and procedures, risks are managed, and third-party spending is contained, and profitability targets are met.

The Commercial Assistant Manager will have demonstrated knowledge of procurement and contract law, strong communication and negotiation skills, and an ability to drive team performance under tight deadlines. Strong prioritisation management and a keen eye for detail are essential.  A key strength required for this position is someone who is a strong stakeholder manager and thrives on developing and maintaining relationships with suppliers.

As a team member, the Supply Chain Assistant Manager must embody KPMG’s values, act as a role model, and build commitment and belief toward the accomplishment of the team’s goals.

• Sourcing and onboarding of new suppliers to support business needs- running open and fair competitions.  Setting evaluation criteria to demonstrate the best outcome for clients and ensuring the process is effectively managed end to end
• Manage external relationships with the client commercial teams
• As required by the Supply Chain Manager, manage commercial activity to support particular contracts
• Escalate issues to Supply Chain Manager and manages upward effectively. Knows when is appropriate to draw in support to ensure that firm is represented externally at the appropriate level of seniority.
• Ensures that Supply Chain Manager is briefed on issues, risks and matters which go beyond the ordinary course of business.
• Horizon scanning on the learning marketplace and development and stakeholder management of relationships with particular contract supplier chain
• Support the business to drive commercial outcomes through effective procurement and supplier management practices
• Ensure that all supply chain activity is in accordance with the firm’s policies and procedures
• Work day to day with suppliers and KPMG stakeholders
• Manage conflicts of interest and risk appropriately in order to protect KPMG
• Manage day to day learning supply chain relationship responsibilities
• Proactively manage Intellectual Property Rights and associated risks

Leadership & Management

Day-to-day responsibility supporting successful sourcing and procurement activities to support our client learning services business. The role will report directly to the Supply Chain Manager and needs clear articulation of any risks and mitigations.

Operating with other core services teams in the central MLS services (e.g. Finance, Service Centre, Technology).

Stakeholder Interaction & challenges:

Frequent client interaction to build trusted relationships as day-to-day point of contact, underpinned by a clear governance structure.

Impact, Risk, Accountability & Governance:

The role is important to the learning business as it ensures successful delivery of multi-year contracts. KPMG’s reputation in the market is essential for future MLS opportunities / extensions.

What will you need to do it?

• Demonstrable commercial acumen, ideally supported by formal study and exposure to contract law
• Able to manage risk in a complex environment
• Able to analyse data and draw out key messages
• Extensive knowledge of working with suppliers
• Organises and schedules workload effectively
• Seeks to improve service delivery on an ongoing basis
• Able to interpret and apply procurement process consistently
• Able to challenge assumptions and validate information within due process
• Willing to build a deep understanding of the business area and show a personal commitment to meeting business needs
• Willing and able to respond positively to demand and stretching tasks; bouncing back from any setbacks
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Stakeholder management and relationship-building skills; builds and develops positive constructive relationships across client teams
• Demonstrates that they actively engage with others in order to address views and concerns.
• Demonstrate curiosity and suggest new ideas, approaches and perspectives.
• Ability to problem solve and convey information to client members outside the commercial team
• Anticipates when others need support and offers help

To discuss this or wider Consulting roles with our recruitment team, all you need to do is apply, create a profile, upload your CV and begin to make your mark with KPMG.

Our Locations:

We are open to talk to talent across the country but our core hubs for this role are:

• London Canary Wharf

With 20 sites across the UK, we can potentially facilitate office work, working from home, flexible hours, and part-time options. If you have a need for flexibility, please register and discuss this with our team.

Find out more:

Within Consulting we have a range of divisions and specialisms.  Click the links to find out more below:

• Consulting at KPMG: www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/experienced-professional/consulting/
• ITs Her Future Women in Tech programme: www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/people-culture/it-s-her-future/
• KPMG Workability and Disability confidence: www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/experienced-professional/applying-to-kpmg/need-support-let-us-know/

For any additional support in applying, please click the links to find out more:

• Applying to KPMG: www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/experienced-professional/applying-to-kpmg/
• Tips for interview: www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/experienced-professional/applying-to-kpmg/application-advice/
• KPMG values: www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/experienced-professional/applying-to-kpmg/our-values/
• KPMG Competencies: www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/experienced-professional/applying-to-kpmg/kpmg-competencies/
• KPMG Locations and FAQ: www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/faq/?category=Experienced+professionals