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 Runcorn
It might be difficult to imagine it now, but Runcorn was once a celebrated spa town and health retreat right up to the Industrial Revolution, whereupon its prime location made its industrialisation rapid. The town is located on the south bank of the River Mersey just before it flows east to the Wirral peninsula and Liverpool. The last bridge over the Mersey passes between Runcorn and Widnes; it is a railway bridge directly adjacent to the impressive steel-arch bridge that takes advantage of a natural outcrop, but still has a single span of 330m. For a time there were three crossings, including a transporter bridge, but this was dismantled in 1961. A brand new crossing has been planned which will ease congestion on the roads.
Runcorn’s main industry has always been, and remains, chemicals. Chlorine, caustic soda, hydrogen and polymers have been produced there for over a hundred years. The town is served by a mainline railway (Liverpool to London) and no fewer than three canals – the Manchester Ship, the Bridegwater and the Weaver Navigation. The town had a busy dockyard up until the post-war period, when it fell into decline.
The town remains an industrial and commercial hub in the immediate vicinity, with several large industrial estates, trading estates and retail parks in and around the town, thanks to massive regeneration efforts in the 1970s and 1980s. Runcorn has a large new town that was built to house the overspill from Liverpool. With the M56 to Manchester, links to Liverpool and Chester and a good rail and waterway network, there are several distribution centres in and around the town, making Runcorn an excellent place to look for Purchasing Administrator work.
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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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