Purchasing Administrator - Greater London

Purchasing Administrator jobs

While the procurement managers and buyers go about their work sourcing raw materials and other goods to wring out the highest possibly levels of efficiency, the purchasing administrator will be tasked with much of the “paperwork” of the transactions they arrange. They will have to compare deliveries with the agreed orders, not only in terms of quantity and timeliness but also quality, as there can be great variation in many products.

The purchasing administrator will spend much of his or her time using spreadsheets to log all the gathered data and perform basic accounting tasks to make sure the figures tally up. There will also be extensive analysis of figures which will be fed back to the buyers and to head office to ensure the purchasing effort, particularly with regard to price, is running as planned.

Should the buyers successfully find deals with alternative suppliers that are better than the current deals in force, it will be up to the purchasing administrator to make contact with the potential supplier and ensure that the goods they intend to supply are exactly as required by the company in terms of quality, and that they can deliver on time.

The skills required

As with any administration role, a full understanding of the aims of the business, the particulars of the sector in which they operate, and quite possibly a good level of knowledge of the legal aspects of the sector will be required. whether these will be expected as entry requirements or given by the company will depend on the employer, but there can be no disadvantage in having some background experience that would help with the job.

Great analytical skills will be required for purchasing administrators who are required to perform more complex calculations on the figures, as they will be acting as intermediaries between the board and the buyers themselves, and thus their conclusions will carry great weight in any future forecasting performed by the company.

And finally, being able to gather data and deliver findings to both senior management and the buying team will require above average communication skills, be it verbally, electronically or graphically.

Purchasing Administrator Jobs in Greater London

An administrative area that was created in 1965, Greater London is often described as the region within the M25. It comprises the City of London, as well as the 32 boroughs, and is home to an array of businesses, making it an ideal choice for those seeking Purchasing Administrator opportunities.

For hundreds of years, London was known for its shipping and manufacturing, producing everything from textiles and food products, through to automobiles and ironwork.

In fact, a number of such facilities are still in operation today, such as the Tate & Lyle sugar refinery in Silvertown, Warburtons in Brimsdown and Nestle in Hayes. At the Ford factory in Dagenham, vehicle body panels and diesel engines are manufactured, while Fuller's Brewery operates out of Chiswick.

For the most part, however, London's economy is now based in the financial and service industries.

Around 70 per cent of the FTSE 100 are located within Greater London. In Canary Wharf, you'll find the headquarters of HSBC, Barclays, Citigroup and Reuters, while other big-name businesses in Greater London include the Guardian Newspaper, Balfour Beatty, GlaxoSmithKline, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Marks & Spencer, BP, British American Tobacco and Royal Dutch Shell.

What's more, transportation is a huge part of London's economy and day-to-day operation. Overground trains, underground trains, buses, coaches, taxis and trams all keep Londoners on the move, while the area is also home to a number of airports and the Port of London.

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Cast UK’s procurement opportunities

Cast UK was founded by logistics, procurement and supply chain specialists, and our consultants are all from these backgrounds too, so we have in-depth knowledge of what employers and candidates are looking for. Employers come to us to find candidates because they’re confident that we’ll help them find the most appropriate managers and executives.

We have jobs all over the UK, so are well placed to find you work in wherever you are located or plan to locate. If you’re moving house, please see if there are any positions available in the area you’re moving to; and if you’re simply looking for more fulfilment in your working life, there could be an employer looking for the skills you have.

Once we have your details, we’ll be able to start matching you with positions as soon as they arise, so do get in touch if you’re looking for a job in procurement.

To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Purchasing Administrator for your business or find you a job as a Purchasing Administrator then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.

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