Purchasing Support Specialist
ITV · Manchester
Workplace: MediaCity, Manchester + Hybrid (2 days per week in the office)
The team..
The Purchase to Pay (PTP) Compliance team operates at the heart of our Finance Shared Services hub, ensuring compliant, seamless, and efficient requisition-to-payment operations across ITV. We are a data-driven, continuous-improvement-focused function, mitigating financial risk, and fostering strong relationships across the business. Working closely with Accounts Payable, Procurement, and our Global Process Owner, we leverage data analytics and stakeholder education to drive behavioral change and policy adoption.
The role..
We’re looking for a Purchasing Support Specialist to join our team on a permanent basis. Reporting directly to the Purchase To Pay Compliance Manager, you will play a high-profile role in assisting with compliant, effective PTP operations and driving business user compliance against company policy.
In this analytical and influential role, you will be a key advocate for process compliance, conducting regular assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities and implementing corrective action plans. You will support the business with purchase order creation, deliver PTP compliance training, resolve complex invoice/PO/goods receipt discrepancies, and interrogate root causes to prevent recurring issues alongside our Global Process Owner.
Some of your key day to day responsibilities will include:
- Driving policy compliance through regular data analysis, auditing, and reporting, referencing company policy and PTP guidelines.
- Generating reports on supplier accounts, ageing schedules, and outstanding balances to actively drive down overdue claims and rejections.
- Supporting targeted business adoption plans alongside the Global Process Owner to improve compliance and challenge non-compliant activities.
- Delivering PTP compliance training programs and educating employees and management on policy requirements, best practices, and the benefits of a 'right first time' culture.
- Assisting the business with PO creation and reviewing orders in accordance with procurement guidelines and company policy.
- Investigating root causes of supplier and business inquiries, resolving discrepancies between invoices, POs, and goods receipts in collaboration with AP teams.
- Creating factual management reports for business areas, management, and Continuous Improvement teams to highlight vulnerabilities and support process enhancements.
- Maintaining team Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) notes and supporting the onboarding and training of new team members through active knowledge sharing.
Skills you’ll need (minimum criteria)
- Significant experience within Accounts Payable with a thorough understanding of the purchasing process steps and end-to-end requisition-to-pay (PTP) workflows.
- Proven evidence of analysing and presenting data across all levels of an organisation.
- Excellent proficiency using Excel or Google Sheets (ability to analyse and present data effectively).
- A basic understanding of general ledger concepts and double-entry accounting.
- Demonstrated process improvement mindset with strong analytical skills and meticulous attention to detail.
Other things we’re looking for (key criteria)
- Experience working with Finance ERPs, with Oracle Fusion being a distinct advantage.
- Preferred experience working within a Shared Service Center (SSC) or Global Business Services (GBS) environment.
- Excellent skills using Word/Docs, Spreadsheets/Sheets, and PowerPoint/Slides to communicate findings and present training materials.
- Ability to manage inquiries, resolve disputes professionally, demonstrate resilience, and adapt flexibly as business processes evolve.
- Risk and fraud awareness with strong organisational and time management abilities.
Potential Challenges
- Minimum of two office days per week required, with occasional increases depending on key meetings, training sessions, or ad-hoc operational requirements.
Please note, on occasion we may receive a very large volume of applications which means applications for a role may close earlier than the referenced closing date. We’d encourage you to apply as soon as possible if interested.