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- Tasks: Support project controlling and ensure effective oversight of capital projects.
- Company: Join a dynamic team in Solihull focused on strategy and transformation.
- Benefits: Gain valuable experience, develop skills, and work in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make an impact by ensuring projects run smoothly and efficiently.
- Qualifications: Strong organisational skills and financial awareness; SAP and Excel proficiency preferred.
- Other info: Opportunity to engage with senior leadership and enhance your professional network.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Duration: 12 Month Contract
Location: Solihull
What to Expect
The Strategy & Planning Assistant plays a central role in supporting the Site Strategy & Transformation department, with a strong emphasis on project controlling as a core part of the role. This position ensures that capital projects are accurately set up, monitored, and governed from approval through to completion. The role also provides essential administrative, analytical, and organisational support to strategic forums such as SIC and MIC, helping maintain strong financial discipline and effective project oversight.
Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities
- Be cost/spend conscious
- Set up new projects in SAP and act as the first-line approver for orders raised by project owners
- Monitor all SCs (shopping carts), including value, purpose, timing, and expected invoicing
- Track project spend against budget from initiation to closure, ensuring accurate forecasting and timely updates
- Support capex processes, ensuring compliance with internal standards and cost-conscious decision-making
- Ensure all spend is accounted for, documentation is complete, and reports are updated
- Support leadership team discussions by providing data, insights, and structured updates on project performance
- Attend Solihull Investment Committee (SIC) and Manufacturing Investment Committee (MIC) meetings, capturing minutes, actions, and decisions
- Organise and support strategic planning meetings, prepare agendas, circulate materials, and ensure follow-up actions are tracked
- Support regular reviews of project progress, risks, and financial performance
Skills
- Competent in all Microsoft office products
- Experience of system use and understanding of data
- Presentation skills, appropriate to all levels of the organisation and applicable to different cultures; the ability to produce professional presentations with appropriate and carefully targeted messaging
- Strong financial awareness with a cost-conscious mindset
- Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- High attention to detail, especially in tracking spend, commitments, and documentation
- Confident communicator able to work with project owners, finance, engineering, and leadership teams
- Proactive and structured approach to managing tasks and deadlines
- Comfortable with governance environments and supporting senior-level meetings
- Proficiency in SAP and Excel (or willingness to learn quickly)
Strategy & Planning Assistant employer: Sumitomo Electric
Contact Detail:
Sumitomo Electric Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategy & Planning Assistant
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their values and how your skills can contribute to their goals. This will help you stand out and show that you're genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your presentation skills! As a Strategy & Planning Assistant, you'll need to communicate effectively with various teams. Mock interviews or presentations can help you feel more confident when it counts.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategy & Planning Assistant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Strategy & Planning Assistant role. Highlight your experience with project controlling, financial awareness, and any relevant software skills like SAP and Excel. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your skills align with our needs. Be sure to mention your organisational skills and ability to manage multiple projects – we love that!
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since this role involves a lot of data and project tracking, make sure to include examples of how you've successfully managed budgets or tracked project performance in the past. We’re looking for someone who can keep a close eye on spend and ensure everything runs smoothly.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a seamless application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get to know you better. Don’t forget to double-check everything before hitting send!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sumitomo Electric
✨Know Your Numbers
Since the role involves a lot of financial oversight, brush up on your budgeting and forecasting skills. Be ready to discuss how you've managed project costs in the past and any tools you've used, like SAP or Excel.
✨Showcase Your Organisational Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Think about times when you successfully organised meetings or tracked project progress, and be ready to share those stories.
✨Communicate Confidently
This position requires strong communication skills, so practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve interacted with different teams and how you’ve presented data or insights in a professional manner.
✨Be Proactive and Structured
Demonstrate your proactive approach by discussing how you prioritise tasks and meet deadlines. Share specific strategies you use to stay organised and ensure that all documentation is complete and accurate.
