Assistant Manager – Vendor Management

Key ResponsibilitiesVendor Payment Governance & CoordinationTake ownership of monitoring vendor invoice and payment cycles to ensure consultants and vendors are paid within the expected billing cycle.Partner closely with Project Managers, PMOs, Finance, and Accounts Payable teams to ensure purchase orders and invoices are reviewed and approved on time.Track invoice status and proactively identify risks that may delay vendor payments.Coordinate with consultants, vendors, and internal stakeholders to resolve invoice discrepancies or missing approvals.Drive proactive follow-up and escalation when payment timelines or SLAs are at risk.Maintain clear tracking of invoice approvals, payment progress, and issue resolution.Contract & Commercial CoordinationSupport coordination of vendor agreements including MSAs, NDAs, and SOWs, ensuring proper documentation and timely execution.Partner with Legal and Procurement teams for contract reviews, approvals, amendments, and renewals.Maintain organized and audit-ready contract documentation and records.Support contract governance to ensure vendor engagements follow agreed commercial terms.Vendor Cost & Financial TrackingTrack vendor related costs and provide visibility into vendor spend across engagements.Support cost reconciliation across vendor programs including Talent, Billing Services, and Training & Development.Assist with vendor cost planning and budgeting inputs.Monitor vendor costs against approved budgets and highlight potential variances or risks.Coordinate with Finance during accrual cycles and financial reporting processes.Vendor Operations & AdministrationCoordinate vendor setup and updates within procurement and financial systems.Oversee work order creation, amendments, and closures aligned with contractual scope.Ensure vendor related processes follow internal compliance and SLA requirements.Support vendor onboarding and offboarding processes including documentation and system updates.Vendor Relationship & Issue ResolutionServe as a key operational contact for consultants and vendor partners regarding payment status and operational coordination.Work with project teams and internal stakeholders to resolve operational issues affecting vendor engagement.Support vendor related commercial coordination when required.Build strong working relationships with vendor partners and internal teams to ensure smooth collaboration.Vendor Performance TrackingMonitor vendor operational metrics including invoice cycle timelines and SLA adherence.Support tracking of vendor OKRs and performance metrics.Provide leadership with periodic updates on vendor operations, risks, and payment status.Support reporting that provides visibility into vendor financial and operational performance.Required Skills & CompetenciesExperience in vendor management, vendor governance, procurement operations, or finance operations roles.Experience coordinating across multiple stakeholders including Finance, Project Management, and Procurement teams.Strong understanding of invoice lifecycle management and vendor payment coordination.Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.Strong documentation, tracking, and organizational skills.Ability to proactively identify issues and drive resolution across cross-functional teams.Strong communication and stakeholder management capabilities.High level of ownership and accountability.Preferred Qualifications & Experience46 years of experience in vendor management, procurement operations, finance operations, or commercial coordination roles.Experience working within outsourced service delivery environments.Exposure to procurement, finance, or legal coordination processes in corporate environments.Experience with procurement or financial systems such as SAP, Oracle, Coupa, Ariba, or similar tools.Background in operations, finance, procurement, or vendor governance functions.Success MeasuresVendor invoices are tracked and moved through approval and payment cycles within the expected billing period.Strong coordination with Project Management, Finance, and approval authorities to proactively resolve payment delays or exceptions.Clear visibility and tracking of vendor invoices, payment status, and financial reconciliation.Contract documentation remains organized and audit ready.Vendor operational issues are identified early and resolved with minimal escalation.Positive feedback from consultants, vendors, and internal stakeholders.