Financial Advisory | Talent standards

VCS (Value Creation Services) – Sourcing and Procurement Senior Associate

Deloitte, established globally in 1845, is the world’s largest and leading professional services firm, providing audit and assurance, tax, consulting, financial advisory, and risk advisory services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. We are present in more than 150 countries, and as the world's largest management consulting business, Deloitte is distinct in its ability to help clients solve their most complex problems, from strategy to implementation.

Deloitte has a proud legacy in the Middle East region, with an uninterrupted presence since 1926, and is present across 29 offices in 15 countries. Over the last 96 years, we have served as trusted advisors for clients. Deloitte’s presence in the region has contributed to the advancement and growth of the professional services industry in the region.

We have received numerous awards in the last few years, such as Brand Finance’s strongest and most valuable "commercial services" brand in the world (2022), the Great Place to Work® and Best Workplaces™ in the UAE (2022), the Great Place to Work® and Best Workplaces™ in the KSA (2022), and "World’s Most Attractive Employers" (2022). These awards are a recognition of how Deloitte makes an impact that matters to its clients, talent, and society.

We invest in outstanding people of diverse talents and backgrounds and empower them to achieve more than they could elsewhere. Our work combines advice with action and integrity. We believe that when our clients and society are stronger, so are we. Our organization has grown in scale and diversity, providing services across the region, with our shared culture remaining the same. We aim to help clients realize their ambitions, make a positive difference in society, and maximize the success of our people. This drive fuels the commitment and humanity that run deep through our every action.

Deloitte’s Value Creation Services (VCS) team offers its clients cross-functional advisory services in business-critical situations. We help solve our client’s most complex business and performance challenges, whether they be in thriving or distressed business transformation situations, or the cut- and-thrust environment of M&A.

During your tenure with VCS, you will play a leading role in the Performance Improvement practice. We are pragmatic and deploy a private equity lens to deliver real, sustainable EBITDA and working capital improvements. The team helps clients with rapid revenue and market growth initiatives; cost reduction; working capital optimization; and business model transitions, transformations and modernization.

You will demonstrate and develop your capabilities in the following areas:

•       Supporting clients in the identification, quantification and delivery of performance improvement initiatives with a primary focus on procurement and strategic sourcing. Each engagement will involve assessing the client’s business performance and identification of areas of opportunity to improve EBITDA and working capital.

•       Actively involved in the end-to-end delivery of performance improvement projects for a range of high-profile clients across the Middle East region

•       Building strong client relationships through an in-depth understanding of their requirements and deploying a personable, empathetic manner that engenders trust

•       Drive business development in your area of expertise, be that a specific proposition / sector / set of client accounts / geography through a pro-active go-to-market approach

•       Engage with the team through projects, ensuring rapid progress and quality deliverables

•       Build a professional internal network to leverage the knowledge and skillsets of the Global Firm

Core Capabilities:

·       Procurement Strategy Development: Expertise in formulating and customizing procurement strategies aligned with clients' business objectives. Ability to design strategies that optimize cost savings, supplier relationships, and risk management.

·       Supplier Evaluation and Selection: Proficiency in evaluating and selecting suppliers through rigorous assessment processes. Capability to identify and recommend suppliers that best meet clients' quality, cost, and reliability requirements

·       Procurement Analytics: Strong analytical skills to analyze procurement data comprehensively. Proficient in using data-driven insights to uncover opportunities for cost reduction, process improvement, and performance enhancement.

·       Negotiation and Contract Management: Exceptional negotiation skills coupled with contract management expertise. Ability to negotiate favorable terms and conditions while ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory standards

·       Change Management: Skill in guiding clients through procurement process transformations. Proficiency in change management methodologies to facilitate seamless adoption of new procurement practices and technologies

·       Stakeholder Engagement: Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities to engage and influence various stakeholders within client organizations. Expertise in fostering collaboration among cross-functional teams to drive procurement excellence.

·       Continuous Improvement: Commitment to driving continuous improvement in procurement processes. Capability to identify areas for efficiency gains, implement best practices, and measure the impact of process enhancements

Qualifications:

·       6-8 years of total work experience, with a minimum of 2 years in an operations improvement role in a consulting / corporate / performance improvement / cost reduction implementation

·       Demonstrable experience and functional knowledge in the areas of strategic sourcing, spend analysis, accounts payable, working capital optimisation, supplier relationship management, contract management, and digital procurement transformation

·       Minimum education requirement: Bachelor’s degree from a reputable university (2.1 or above), preferably in Finance, Business or Engineering. Master’s degree and relevant qualifications / certifications preferred

·       Ability to digest and synthesize unstructured information quickly and forming viewing of key questions or hypotheses to test

·       Comfort discussing financial information in detail, e.g. impact of cost and working capital initiatives on financial statements

·       Demonstrable specialism in a specific sector(s), e.g. Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, transportation and logistics

·       Track record in driving initiatives through from conception to realisation