Cost and Procurement Manager (Agile)| S3 | CFO | Multiple Locations in Milton Keynes

Country: United Kingdom

IT STARTS HERE

Santander (www.santander.com) is evolving from a global, high-impact brand into a technology-driven organisation, and our people are at the heart of this journey. Together, we are driving a customer-centric transformation that values bold thinking, innovation, and the courage to challenge what’s possible. This is more than a strategic shift. It’s a chance for driven professionals to grow, learn, and make a real difference.

Our mission is to contribute to help more people and businesses prosper. We embrace a strong risk culture and all our professionals at all levels are expected to take a proactive and responsible approach toward risk management.

CFO (Cost & Procurement) - Santander UK is increasingly reliant on the third parties which underpin our operations. The Cost & Procurement team are undertaking a multi-year transformation focused on creating a platform to drive significant incremental value through the creation of an operating model with the capability to maximise the potential of this supplier ecosystem via connection & delivery of the right external expertise to meet the future demands of Santander and in turn, to drive best value whilst complying with regulation and Santander risk appetite.

THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE

The Cost Management and Procurement is looking for a highly passionate, forward thinking and driven Cost and Procurement manager, to manage a suite of Agile Categories and workstreams based out of Milton Keynes, Bradford or Glasgow. This is an expert role at the heart of Santander UK’s cost and procurement agenda. You will lead complex sourcing and cost management initiatives that help the bank achieve its cost-to-income targets, unlock value from our third-party ecosystem and support key strategic programmes, including merger and acquisition (M&A) activity. Working across the Cost and Procurement function, you will provide analytical, commercial and strategic leadership to senior stakeholders, ensuring we get the best value from our suppliers while managing risk and regulatory obligations.

We’re shaping the way we work through innovation, cutting-edge technology, collaboration and the freedom to explore new ideas. To succeed in this role, you will be responsible for:

• Leading end-to-end strategic procurement and sourcing activity across key categories, from demand shaping and market engagement through to contract execution and close, ensuring that total cost of ownership and value-for-money are optimised.
• Supporting the organisations transformation plans, supporting key business activity such as mergers, acquisitions and other strategic transactions, including cost due diligence, analysis of standalone and combined cost bases, synergy identification, and the design of supplier and contract integration or separation plans.
• Driving cost transformation activity across Santander UK by designing, improving and embedding cost reporting, management information such as dashboards that give senior leaders clear insight into cost performance, cost drivers and levers to improve the cost-to-income ratio.
• Analysing complex spend and cost data across suppliers, contracts, categories and business areas to perform cost driver analysis, benchmark external markets and develop robust business cases and options for executive decision-making.
• Partnering with senior business stakeholders and strategic suppliers to develop sourcing and commercial strategies that unlock cost efficiencies, innovation and risk reduction, including value-sharing and performance-based commercial models.
• Ensuring that all procurement and M&A-related supplier decisions comply with third-party risk, legal, regulatory and policy requirements, including robust due diligence, onboarding, ongoing monitoring and exit planning.
• Coaching and constructively challenging stakeholders through the sourcing and transaction lifecycle so that specifications, commercial structures and business cases reflect realistic cost assumptions, risks and benefits.
• Contributing to financial planning and forecasting by tracking budgets, challenges, risks, opportunities and benefits across your portfolio, and clearly articulating the cost impact of sourcing decisions and M&A activity.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

Our people are our greatest strength. Every individual contributes unique perspectives that make us stronger as a team and as an organisation. We’re enabling teams to go beyond by valuing who they are and empowering what they bring. The following requirements represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for success in this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Significant experience leading high-value, high-risk strategic sourcing and cost optimisation initiatives in a regulated financial services environment, with a strong understanding of how cost drivers impact the cost-to-income ratio. (Required)
• Demonstrable experience of managing complex cost bases in a large financial services organisation, including deep understanding of key cost drivers such as third-party spend, technology, change, property and headcount, and how these translate into budgets and financial performance. (Required)
• Hands-on experience leading or supporting procurement and cost workstreams on mergers, acquisitions and/or large strategic transactions, including cost due diligence, synergy sizing, one-off cost assessment and post-deal integration or separation of suppliers and contracts. (Preferred)
• Proven track record of using data and financial MI to perform detailed cost driver analysis, scenario modelling and total cost of ownership assessment, and turning these insights into clear recommendations and business cases for senior and executive stakeholders. (Required)
• Experience of supplier relationship management and performance management for strategic suppliers, with a focus on driving cost, service and innovation benefits across the contract lifecycle. (Required)
• Experience of operating in an agile, fast-paced change environment and influencing across multiple business areas, functions or entities (including Group/Global). (Preferred)

Hard Skills

• Strong understanding of strategic sourcing, category management and supplier relationship management, including the ability to link sourcing strategies directly to cost outcomes and business strategy. (Required)
• Advanced cost analysis and financial modelling skills, including cost driver analysis from source-to-pay, total cost of ownership, scenario and sensitivity modelling, and the ability to link operational drivers to P&L and cost-to-income performance. (Required)
• Knowledge of UK contract law and extensive experience negotiating complex commercial contracts (including IT and services), with a focus on optimising cost, managing risk and creating flexible structures that support M&A, integration and separation activity. (Required)
• Strong understanding of third-party risk management and UK financial services regulation as it relates to outsourcing and suppliers, and how this interacts with cost, value and speed of delivery. (Required)
• Proficient in using procurement, cost management and portfolio tools (e.g. Ariba, Cost Plan, Planview or similar) to track spend, cost initiatives, benefits and compliance. (Preferred)
• Experience designing, tracking and reporting M&A cost synergies, dis-synergies and integration/separation costs, including building clear, auditable MI that can be used in approvals and post-deal reviews. (Preferred)

Soft Skills

• Commercially astute and highly cost-focused, able to balance cost, risk and value in complex sourcing, budgeting and decisions, and to challenge constructively where proposals do not optimise the bank’s cost base.

WE VALUE YOUR IMPACT

At Santander, your contribution matters. We recognise the difference you make every day, and we make sure you feel valued, supported and rewarded in return. Here, recognition goes beyond pay. It’s about the pride you feel in your work, the impact you have on customers and communities, and the opportunities you have to grow and thrive — personally and professionally.

Salary Range: £53,500.00 - £70,000.00 per annum (depending on experience)

This salary range represents the expected remuneration for the role. Annual salary is based on a standard 35-hour working week. Actual salary offered will depend on skills, experience, qualifications and location.

30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, which increases to 31 days after 5yrs service, with the option to purchase up to 5 contractual days per year.

£6,000 car allowance per year.

Company funded individual private medical insurance.

Protection for you and your family, with company-funded death-in-service benefit and income protection insurance, and the option to take advantage of discounted rates for additional life assurance and critical illness cover.

Share in Santander’s success by saving or investing in our share plans. As a Santander UK employee, you are able to request staff versions of our products like our Edge Current Accounts and Credit Cards with no fees, as well as apply to many other deals and discounts in Santander products and services.

Competitive rewards that reflect the real impact you make and the value you bring.

Wellbeing that goes beyond work — we work with a range of wellbeing partners across our 4 pillars of wellbeing (physical, mental, social and financial) to give you access to a suite of apps, discounted gym and fitness access, weekly online classes, flexible healthcare and mental health support.

Support for every life stage — from menopause and pregnancy to parenthood and beyond, with enhanced family leave, childcare options and tailored wellbeing support.

Time to give back through volunteering opportunities that let you make a difference in the communities we serve.

Global growth opportunities to shape your career, learn new skills and explore what’s possible across our international network.

LOCAL COMPLIANCE

At Santander, we’re proud to be an inclusive organisation that provides equal opportunities for everyone — regardless of age, gender, disability, civil status, race, religion or sexual orientation. We’re committed to creating a recruitment experience that’s accessible, fair and welcoming for all candidates. We want our people to thrive — at work and at home — while delivering the best outcomes for our customers and supporting each other to grow.

To make this possible, our roles are site-based with a hybrid working pattern, where colleagues are expected to attend the office at least 12 days per month (pro-rata for part-time roles). When applying, please consider the travel distance, time and cost to your chosen office location(s).

Right to work in the UK

All candidates must have the right to work in the UK to commence employment with Santander.

WHAT TO DO NEXT

If this sounds like a role you are interested in, then please apply. If there’s anything we can do in the recruitment process to help you achieve your best, get in touch. Whether it’s a copy of our application form in another format or additional assistance, we’re available through email. You can contact us at resourcing@santander.co.uk.