Commercial Assistant

Job Introduction

As a Commercial Assistant, you will be accountable for ensuring invoices & estimates (for Estates services) are paid and accurate and transactional commentary is up to date whilst challenging suppliers around value and driving the supplier to enhance that value through benchmarking and cost analysis.

• Ensure contractual compliance of 3rd party supplier invoices & estimates, complete value for money reviews of both reactive and Minor Works, challenging and making agreements as necessary on behalf of the client.
• Ensure that the supply chain is delivering the agreed standard of works and within budget constraints.
• Certify invoices for payment and facilitate those payments upon the client’s behalf.
• Provide knowledge and information based upon those desktop audits and highlight potential risk.
• Provide support to the Supply Chain Managers (internal/external), Head of Cost Management and other members of the team, aiding in the development of the account & function.

Role Responsibility

• Conduct desk-top audit checks on 3rd party suppliers; ensure they are contractually compliant and are generating value for money. Check, verify and review rates and costs (day rates, schedule of rates, other)
• Apply technical knowledge in analysing data, reporting and creating solutions
• Managing and negotiating supplier queries through to acceptance
• Progress escalations with Contractors to resolution or escalate as required to the Management Team
• Attend supplier meetings to conduct audits, resolve queries, and review best practice as required
• Provide “insight & feedback” reports following audits, capture supplier behaviours for inclusion in monthly reporting
• Review and report on-going performance of the Supplier against contractual obligations
• Identification of works which require an on sight audit
• Facilitate supplier payments
• Build and maintain effective relationships with client, suppliers and internal teams

The Ideal Candidate

Essential

• Demonstrable Commercial acumen
• Analytical with exceptional numerical skills
• Data analysis and trending skills – analysing Excel style data sets to identify trends
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail (create written/edit documents and run spread sheets)
• Motivated to continuously develop technical skills and knowledge
• Experience of using MS Office, including: Outlook – email and diary management, Excel – create and edit spread-sheets, Word – create and edit detailed documents

Desirable

• Demonstrable knowledge of Building Services
• Demonstrable knowledge of property, building fabric and M&E terminology
• Graduate/working towards degree in Construction (Quantity Surveying, Project Management, Supply Chain Management, or similar)
• Customer/supplier relationship management experience
• Experience of working within an M&E related role – heating engineer/electrician/similar
• Previous experience at working within an FM delivery model/Building services
• Experience of working with Verisae/Accruent

Package Description

• £22,000 - £26,000 per annum
• Bonus scheme
• Pension scheme
• Sodexo Discounts scheme

About the Company

In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs some 35,000 employees to deliver integrated facilities management services to clients at over 2,000 locations in the corporate, healthcare, education, leisure, defence and justice sectors. With an annual turnover of over £1bn, we provide everything from catering, cleaning and reception to security, laboratory and grounds maintenance services, enabling our clients to focus on their core business

Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults within a regulated activity. Certain roles will require applicants to undergo screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and/ or Disclosure Scotland.

This role sits within our Defence and Government services segment where we are trusted partner in providing a range of quality of life services to our clients