Purchase to Pay Buying Support Manager
Purchase to Pay Buying Support Manager

Purchase to Pay Buying Support Manager

Hartley Wintney Full-Time 36400 - 52000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a team to deliver efficient Purchase-to-Receipt services and improve procurement operations.
  • Company: Serco delivers essential public services globally, impacting healthcare, transport, justice, and more.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, discounts, pension scheme, and career development opportunities.
  • Why this job: Join a dynamic team making a real difference in public services while growing your career.
  • Qualifications: 3+ years in P2P or shared services, leadership experience, and strong analytical skills required.
  • Other info: Hybrid role with a supportive culture focused on diversity and inclusion.

The predicted salary is between 36400 - 52000 £ per year.

Hybrid – 3 days per week in our Hook office

Full Time, Permanent

Salary - Up to £52,000 dependant on experience

At Serco, we are proud to deliver essential public services across the globe, from healthcare and transport to justice and defence. With over £1.6bn spent annually with third-party suppliers, procurement is at the heart of what we do - delivering value, mitigating risk, and ensuring operational excellence across all sectors and regions.

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced P2P Buying Support Manager to join our P2P Operations team. You will be responsible for leading a team of Buying Support Administrators and delivering high-quality, efficient, and compliant Purchase-to-Receipt (P2R) services. This role is critical to the day-to-day success of our procurement operations across the UK and Europe, ensuring strong governance, high customer satisfaction, and continuous process improvement.

As part of this you will:

  • Lead the delivery and continuous improvement of P2R services including Supplier Onboarding, Helpdesk, and Data Management.
  • Manage the Buying Support Team, ensuring effective allocation of workload and delivery against SLAs.
  • Drive adoption of global P2R processes tailored to regional needs.
  • Monitor service performance using data insights, escalating or resolving issues as needed.
  • Act as the first line of escalation for operational and supplier performance issues.
  • Collaborate with Accounts Payable and Procurement stakeholders to enhance end-to-end P2P efficiency.
  • Oversee the development and maintenance of SOPs and training materials.
  • Lead implementation of small-scale process and systems changes and support transition of contracts onto Serco’s P2R systems.
  • Ensure compliance with Serco Procurement Policy, operating procedures, and delegated authority limits.
  • Represent P2P Operations with credibility and foster a culture of continuous improvement and service excellence.

What you’ll need to do the role:

  • Minimum 3 years of experience in a complex P2P or shared service environment.
  • Proven leadership experience managing operational teams in procurement or finance.
  • Deep knowledge of the end-to-end Procure-to-Pay process and systems such as SAP SRM (or equivalent).
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
  • A customer-focused mindset with a track record of driving service improvements.
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
  • Experience working with third-party service providers in a high-volume transaction environment.
  • Professional resilience and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, change-oriented setting.

Why Serco:

Serco’s purpose is to impact a better future - we bring together the right people, the right technology, and the right partners to create innovative solutions that deliver positive impact and address some of the most urgent and complex challenges facing governments globally. Our services are powered by more than 50,000 colleagues working across multiple sectors including defence, space, migration, justice, healthcare, transport, and customer services in four regions: UK & Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East.

In this position, your work is vital to the business, in terms of decisions and growth. You will gain a world of opportunity working for a globally operating business delivering essential services across 5 vital sectors, personal growth, achievement, and development won’t be hard to find. You’ll also work with great people. You’ll find yourself working in a highly motivated, supportive environment where no two days are the same, with experienced colleagues who strive for excellence.

What we offer:

  • 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
  • Annual leave purchase scheme.
  • Up to 6% contributory pension scheme.
  • Free onsite parking.
  • Serco discounts which include cinema, merlin entertainment and online shopping discounts, and discounts on mobile phone plans and leisure centre memberships.
  • A range of benefits to support the health and wellbeing of you and your family such as Employee Assistance Programme, Health Cash Plans, free flu jabs and more.
  • A wealth of career development training to suit your future aspirations.
  • A safe and supportive culture.
  • A company passionate about diversity and inclusion.

About Serco:

At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.

Purchase to Pay Buying Support Manager employer: Serco

At Serco, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in our Hook office where collaboration and innovation thrive. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide extensive training opportunities and a supportive culture that values diversity and inclusion. Our competitive benefits package, including generous annual leave and a contributory pension scheme, ensures that our team members are well taken care of while making a meaningful impact in delivering essential public services across the globe.
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Contact Detail:

Serco Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Purchase to Pay Buying Support Manager

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the end-to-end Procure-to-Pay process, especially if you have experience with systems like SAP SRM. Understanding the nuances of these systems will help you speak confidently about your expertise during interviews.

✨Tip Number 2

Highlight your leadership experience by preparing specific examples of how you've managed teams in a procurement or finance setting. Be ready to discuss how you drove service improvements and handled operational challenges.

✨Tip Number 3

Research Serco's values and recent projects to understand their commitment to public services. This knowledge will allow you to align your answers with their mission and demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.

✨Tip Number 4

Prepare to discuss your analytical and problem-solving skills by thinking of scenarios where you've used data insights to improve service performance. Being able to articulate these experiences will set you apart from other candidates.

We think you need these skills to ace Purchase to Pay Buying Support Manager

Leadership Skills
Procurement Knowledge
End-to-End Procure-to-Pay Process Expertise
SAP SRM or Equivalent Systems Knowledge
Analytical Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Decision-Making Capabilities
Customer-Focused Mindset
Stakeholder Engagement
Service Improvement Experience
Data Management Skills
Operational Performance Monitoring
Compliance Knowledge
Training and Development Skills
Adaptability in Fast-Paced Environments

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in procurement and leadership. Use specific examples that demonstrate your knowledge of the Procure-to-Pay process and any systems you've worked with, such as SAP SRM.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Mention how your skills align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description, particularly your experience in managing operational teams and driving service improvements.

Highlight Key Achievements: When detailing your work history, focus on quantifiable achievements. For instance, mention any successful projects where you improved efficiency or customer satisfaction within a P2P environment.

Prepare for Potential Questions: Think about common interview questions related to procurement and team management. Be ready to discuss how you've handled challenges in previous roles and how you can contribute to Serco's goals.

How to prepare for a job interview at Serco

✨Understand the P2P Process

Make sure you have a solid grasp of the end-to-end Procure-to-Pay process. Be prepared to discuss your experience with systems like SAP SRM and how you've applied this knowledge in previous roles.

✨Showcase Leadership Skills

As a Buying Support Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your leadership capabilities. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams, allocated workloads, and driven service improvements in a procurement or finance environment.

✨Prepare for Data Insights Discussion

Since monitoring service performance using data insights is crucial, be ready to talk about how you've used analytics to resolve issues or improve processes in past positions. Highlight specific metrics or outcomes where possible.

✨Emphasise Customer Focus

Serco values a customer-focused mindset. Think of instances where you've gone above and beyond to enhance customer satisfaction or resolve stakeholder concerns, and be ready to share these during your interview.

Purchase to Pay Buying Support Manager
Serco

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  • Purchase to Pay Buying Support Manager

    Hartley Wintney
    Full-Time
    36400 - 52000 £ / year (est.)

    Application deadline: 2027-07-10

  • S

    Serco

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