At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive cost savings in IT and indirect procurement while collaborating with key stakeholders.
- Company: Join Saffery LLP, a leading professional services firm with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hybrid working, 25 days leave, and a contributory pension scheme.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to inclusion and personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by optimising costs and building a new procurement function.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement and strong analytical skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: London/ Hybrid – 2-3 days required on site
Contract Type: Fixed-Term/day rate (6 months initially)
Function: Procurement
Company Type: Professional services organisation
Opportunity Summary
An opportunity for a commercially focused procurement specialist to deliver measurable savings and support the Head of Procurement in building a greenfield procurement function across IT and key indirect spend categories.
The Role
The role will focus on cost optimisation across IT, including SaaS, infrastructure and managed services, alongside broader indirect savings opportunities across Facilities, HR, Travel and Events. Working closely with Finance, IT and business stakeholders, the role will identify opportunities, execute sourcing and negotiation strategies, and improve value while maintaining service continuity and business requirements.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the Head of Procurement in delivering a focused savings programme across IT and priority indirect categories.
- Analyse spend, contracts and supplier opportunities to build and deliver a prioritised savings pipeline.
- Own cost optimisation initiatives end to end, from opportunity identification and analysis through to sourcing, negotiation, implementation and benefits tracking.
- Track, validate and report savings, benefits and key commercial decisions.
- Create practical procurement templates, renewal tracking and governance to support the build-out of the function.
- Strengthen commercial controls over supplier commitments, renewals, approvals and spend governance.
- Manage software licensing, renewals, compliance and true-up activity where relevant.
- Develop and execute sourcing, negotiation and renewal strategies with priority suppliers.
- Build effective relationships with IT, Finance and business stakeholders to support delivery and adoption.
Key Deliverables
- Prioritised savings pipeline with clear ownership, targets and evidence of delivery.
- Validated savings improved commercial terms and stronger supplier value.
- Improved governance over spend, supplier commitments and renewals.
- Practical procurement foundations, including templates, renewal tracking and simple governance.
Skills & Experience Required
- Strong generalist indirect procurement experience, with a track record of cost optimisation and measurable savings.
- Ability to self-deliver cost optimisation initiatives end to end, with limited support and clear accountability for outcomes.
- Good IT procurement understanding, including software, SaaS, telecoms, managed services or end-user technology.
- Comfortable operating hands-on in a lean, professional services or similar environment.
- Strong analytical capability, including spend analysis and commercial modelling.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
Personal Attributes
- Results-oriented with a strong focus on delivery and outcomes.
- Pragmatic, adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity.
- Commercially astute with a proactive mindset.
- Able to balance cost reduction with business needs and service continuity.
Success Measures
- Measurable cost savings delivered within the contract timeframe, with clear tracking, validation and stakeholder confidence in the benefits achieved.
- Effective stakeholder engagement and confidence in procurement delivery.
- Clear contribution to the build-out of a greenfield procurement function, including improved spend visibility, supplier control and renewal governance.
Reward and benefits
A 35 hour working week with a hybrid working policy with the flexibility to work from home for up to three days per week (our core hours are 10-4). Excellent benefits including; contributory pension scheme, 25 days annual leave, Life Assurance cover and great flexible benefits and family friendly policies.
About us
Saffery LLP is an adviser to individuals and businesses across a range of sectors, providing market-leading accountancy, audit, business advisory, tax and VAT services. Founded in 1855, we are the UK’s 15th largest accountancy firm. When you work with us at Saffery, you work with people who know your name, not just a job title. We’re a place shaped by friendly, intelligent people who are individually excellent and collectively exceptional. We’re committed to our clients, but also to our greatest asset – our people. As a proud member of Nexia, a leading, international network of independent accounting and consulting firms, we’ve got access to local insight on a global scale.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Equality, diversity and inclusion is a top priority for us. With our ED&I strategy, Everyone Belongs, we are building on our positive work culture and implementing initiatives to improve diversity and strengthen our equitable culture of inclusion, led from the top. We hope you will apply to us, whatever your background, ethnicity, gender, age, sexuality, disability or neurodivergence, because individual differences equal collective strength. Built on values of excellence, integrity, collaborative, progressive and responsible, Saffery is where Potential meets Personal.
IT & Indirect Procurement Specialist – Cost Optimisation (6-Month) in London employer: Saffery
Saffery is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With a flexible working week, generous leave policy, and comprehensive health benefits, employees are supported in achieving a healthy work-life balance while contributing to meaningful compliance efforts in the financial sector. The London location provides unique networking opportunities and exposure to a diverse client base, making it an ideal place for those looking to advance their careers in financial crime compliance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land IT & Indirect Procurement Specialist – Cost Optimisation (6-Month) in London
✨Get Involved in Local Procurement Meetups
Join local procurement and purchasing groups on platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite. These gatherings are great for networking with industry professionals, sharing insights, and potentially hearing about temporary roles that might not be widely advertised!
✨Seasonal Hiring Cycles are Your Friend!
Keep an eye on seasonal trends in procurement, as many companies ramp up hiring during certain times of the year – especially around end-of-financial-year periods when budgets are being utilised. Be proactive and reach out to companies directly during these windows.
✨Leverage Online Platforms for Temporary Roles
Don’t forget to browse specific job boards dedicated to temporary positions, such as Reed or Indeed. You can filter your search for procurement roles and set up alerts for when new jobs pop up, so you can apply immediately!
✨Showcase Your Skills on Professional Networks
Create short case studies or posts on LinkedIn showcasing your procurement experience or interesting projects you've tackled. This not only builds your visibility but can also attract recruiters looking for temporary talent like you!
We think you need these skills to ace IT & Indirect Procurement Specialist – Cost Optimisation (6-Month) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in procurement-purchasing, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Mention specific tasks like negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, or optimising inventory. This will show Saffery that you can hit the ground running!
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role, we recommend keeping your CV and cover letter concise. Focus on key achievements that showcase your procurement skills and any immediate impact you’ve made in past roles. Use bullet points for clarity—this way, Saffery can quickly grasp your capabilities!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any certifications that are relevant to procurement, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), don’t forget to mention them! This adds extra weight to your application and shows Saffery that you're serious about your professional development.
Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your availability and flexibility in your cover letter. Let Saffery know when you can start and that you’re ready to adapt to their needs, making your application even more appealing!
How to prepare for a job interview at Saffery
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Brush up on key procurement concepts and terms, like 'total cost of ownership' and 'supplier relationships'. We want to impress them with our knowledge! Being able to talk fluently about relevant techniques and tools specific to the procurement field will definitely lend credibility.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In a purchasing role, you might get thrown some real-world scenarios to assess how you’d handle supplier negotiations or cost-saving strategies. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills! Practising how you'd tackle these situations in advance will help us shine during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Adaptability
Since it’s a temporary role, emphasise how you can quickly adapt to new processes and environments. Share examples of past experiences where you’ve tackled new challenges with ease, showing they can rely on us to hit the ground running and contribute immediately!
✨Show Off Your Tech Savvy
Being well-versed in procurement software like SAP or Coupa can set us apart from other candidates. If you've got experience with these tools, be sure to mention it! Having a handle on data analysis and reporting will also demonstrate our capability to leverage technology effectively in procurement.
