Senior Manager - Supply Chain and Inventory Optimisation - London

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The Opportunity

In an economic landscape of relatively high interest rates, legacy and enduring supply chain disruption and uncertain demand, cash and the proactive management of inventory levels are key skills. EY’s cash and working capital team supports businesses in improving the effectiveness of their processes and commercial arrangements in order to free cash that is tied up on the balance sheet. Focusing on sustainable change underpinned by Cash Forecasting and Reporting, they deliver value through measurable improvement. The team has significant experience supporting the complete spectrum of listed and privately owned companies across multiple sectors or geographies, whether a successful business seeking to enhance shareholder value, or an organisation experiencing a cash crisis. The team also advises on broader treasury matters, including use of technology such as data analytics, cash management solutions and treasury management systems. The team is one of the market leading advisers in this space and part of the world’s largest specialist cash and working capital advisory practice. There are opportunities to become a part of this group, specifically across inventory management and supply chain optimisation.

Your Key Responsibilities

• As a Senior Manager within the Working Capital Team, you will work with clients to diagnose, design and implement improvements in their inventory and supply chain operations.
• Key areas include inventory optimisation (e.g. safety stock, obsolete & slow-moving inventory), supply chain planning (e.g. demand forecasting, replenishment, S&OP), logistics/warehousing, procurement and end-to-end process transformation.
• You will take a role in all aspects of project delivery and business development and contribute to team management and practice and methodology enhancement.
• You will take responsibility for the management of engagements, reporting to engagement leaders and project managing the delivery team.
• You will input knowledge and subject matter expertise, coordinating and driving the production of deliverables to the agreed timescales and communicating progress and any issues requiring escalation to the Partner.
• You will actively establish, maintain and strengthen internal and external relationships, leveraging these relationships to identify and pursue potential new engagement opportunities.
• As an influential member of the team, you will help to create an inclusive culture and will coach and counsel junior team members and help them to develop.

Skills and Attributes for Success

• Displays a deep understanding of the drivers of inventory and working capital performance and the potential opportunities that can be implemented to deliver sustainable performance improvement.
• Has a strong awareness of and experience in working through sales and operations planning (IBP/ SI&OP) processes.
• Understands / is familiar with a range of demand forecasting, supply planning, replenishment and re-ordering processes and systems.
• Understands, and is able to apply, statistical inventory analysis and other techniques including assessing target inventory and excess stock levels and determining related root causes and potential fixes.
• Design and implement inventory management policies and solutions: safety stocks, reorder points, min/max, SKU rationalisation, warehousing layout, stock categorisation, spares management and other optimisation tools.
• Experience of working on procurement/supplier management where relevant to inventory and supply chain.
• Use data analytics and digital tools to support insights and able to present solutions, issues and findings in both a concise written and oral format.
• Experienced at providing detailed practical advice on overcoming business issues/ challenges, including the implementation of working capital opportunities.
• Good project management skills, ensuring the quality and consistency of performance in every task, whilst working to tight deadlines.
• Develops and maintains productive working relationships and manages the communication with day-to-day client contacts.
• Manage the financial aspects of engagements by preparing a budget, organizing resources, monitoring engagement economics and communicating the status to the engagement leaders.
• Understands the capabilities of the firm, looking for opportunities to bring in other specialists and service lines to broaden engagements and achieve the best possible solution.
• Identifies potential sell-on opportunities and support the engagement leaders in pursuing these to broaden and extend live engagements.

To qualify for the role you must have

• Demonstrable consulting experience, or experience in a role within industry, leading on day-to-day supply chain operations or planning with a focus on inventory management.
• Proven experience in inventory optimisation, supply chain planning (demand/supply), warehousing/logistics.
• The ability to build strong relationships across the firm and can actively participate in business development.
• Appreciation of the risks inherent in advising businesses and their stakeholders.
• The ability to support business development activities, leveraging internal and external contacts to identify and pursue potential new client engagements.
• A passion to drive improvement in team capability through methodology development and coaching.

Ideally, you may also have

• A relevant qualification in supply chain operations and planning or six sigma/ similar methodology.
• Broader working capital experience.
• European language skills, experience of visualisation tools (e.g. PowerBi, Qlik, Tableau etc).
• Own network of contacts with work providers, or will understand how to build one.
• Understands adjacent skills such as supplier and customer contracting, accounts receivable and payable management, cash-flow forecasting, factoring and supply chain finance.

What we look for

We are looking for candidates who are highly motivated, driven, and have a passion to be part of a fast-paced, successful transaction team. Being a strong team player is also important as well as someone who is happy to work flexibly throughout a period of growth within the cash and working capital team.

What working at EY offers

We offer a competitive remuneration package where you’ll be rewarded for your individual and team performance. Our comprehensive Total Rewards package includes support for flexible working and career development, and with FlexEY you can select benefits that suit your needs, covering holidays, health and well-being, insurance, savings and a wide range of discounts, offers and promotions.

Plus, we offer:

• Support, coaching and feedback from some of the most engaging colleagues around.
• Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career.
• The freedom and flexibility to handle your role in a way that’s right for you.

About EY

As a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services, we’re using the finance products, expertise and systems we’ve developed to build a better working world. That starts with a culture that believes in giving you the training, opportunities and creative freedom to make things better. Whenever you join, however long you stay, the exceptional EY experience lasts a lifetime. And with a commitment to hiring and developing the most passionate people, we’ll make our ambition to be the best employer by 2020 a reality.

If you can confidently demonstrate that you meet the criteria above, please contact us as soon as possible. Join us in building a better working world. Apply now.