Purchasing Assistant jobs
Helping to keep company expenditure to an absolute minimum whilst ensuring delivery of orders on time are the main tasks of the purchasing assistant. As the name suggests, they might be working alongside purchasing managers or heads of procurement, and might be streamed into specific parts of the procurement operation, for example dealing with certain countries or certain materials, depending upon their expertise.
The role will involve a good deal of administration work too, as distinct from the work done by the more supplier-facing buyers. The purchasing assistant will usually need to collect the data on procurement quite regularly in order to keep on top of the reporting effort and maintain complete control over budgets and forecasts.
There could be some contact with suppliers in the job, perhaps chasing up invoices or keeping in communication to ensure things are running smoothly and that no issues threaten to jeopardise the constant supply should it be required by the employer.
The purchasing assistant is an important role in a procurement department, dealing with the paperwork and other admin work in order to allow the buyers to go about their work more efficiently.
The skills required
The buyers and purchasing management will be relying on the purchasing assistant to maintain a smoothly running procurement department, so independent-minded people who are able to work on their own initiative will be highly valued. They will need to understand the procurement process, and any specific knowledge of the sector that the position is in will certainly help, as it will increase the likelihood of awareness of specific documents and legal aspects of it.
The purchasing assistant may well have several or tens of buyers to process the work of, so they should be excellent at juggling many different sets of figures and lines of communication at once. The ability to collect and present information accurately will depend upon the purchasing assistant’s ability to communicate effectively, making this skill key to potential candidates.
Purchasing Assistant Jobs in the South East
As the most populous region of England, the South East stretches from Oxford to Southampton and from Reading to Dover, comprising some parts of the Greater London Urban Area and a number of the Home Counties, such as Buckinghamshire , Kent and Surrey.
The largest city in the in the South East is Brighton and Hove, while towns like Chatham, Gillingham and Strood make up the Medway conurbation, which has a similar population.
Over the years, the area has been an important part of the UK's economy and has been a centre for innovation - from the Enigma machine and Alan Turing's breakthroughs in computer technology, through to the development of Britain's space programme at Westcott.
Those looking for Purchasing Assistant jobs in the South East will have a range of options to consider, as the region is home to a number of large companies specialising in everything from car manufacture to pharmaceuticals, food and beverages to petrochemicals and packaging to retail.
The main branch of Amazon.co.uk is based in Slough, while other top-name brands in the South East include PepsiCo, Harley-Davidson UK, Vodafone, Hovis, Ben & Jerry's, Blackberry, Panasonic UK, HP UK, Virgin Media and ExxonMobil UK.
Of course, transport is also a major part of the South East's economy, with Gatwick Airport, South Eastern Rail and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and the Port of Dover all important elements.
Popular locations
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.
Cast UK have jobs all over the UK, so we are well placed to find you work in logistics, procurement or supply chain 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.
When 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 Assistant for your business or find you a job as a Purchasing Assistant then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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