Procurement Manager

Category Sourcing Manager - Professional Services

Location - London, Hybrid (3 days onsite)

Contract to perm after 6-12 months

Our client is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating more than 250 billion transactions annually across more than 200 countries and territories. As a trusted engine of global commerce, they connect consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments through one of the most advanced and secure payment networks in the world. They are driven by a mission to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable, and secure digital payment network—enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive. We are shaping the future of commerce by advancing financial inclusion, fostering innovation, and leading in digital transformation. With a strong commitment to ethical sourcing, operational excellence, and supplier diversity, their procurement and sourcing teams play a critical role in delivering value, ensuring compliance, and enabling sustainable growth.

Job Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated and strategic Category Sourcing Manager to lead the sourcing, negotiation, and supplier management activities for our Professional Services categories, with a particular focus on Management Consulting, Tax & Audit Services, Financial Advisory, and Legal Services. In this role, you will be responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies that drive value, ensure compliance, and build strong partnerships with internal stakeholders and external providers. You will lead strategic sourcing initiatives, manage vendor performance, and ensure alignment with business objectives and risk standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Category Strategy & Planning
• Develop and execute category sourcing strategies across Consulting, Tax, Audit, Financial Services, and Legal.
• Partner with internal stakeholders (e.g., Finance, Legal, Risk, Business Units) to understand current and future needs.
• Monitor industry trends, supplier capabilities, and market dynamics to inform sourcing decisions and risk mitigation.
• Sourcing & Contracting
• Lead end-to-end sourcing processes including RFPs, RFIs, evaluations, negotiations, and supplier selections.
• Structure, negotiate, and manage commercial and contractual terms for new and existing agreements.
• Ensure contracts comply with internal policies, regulatory requirements, and risk standards.
• Supplier & Stakeholder Management
• Build and manage strategic relationships with key external providers, including Big Four firms, legal panels, and boutique consultancies.
• Conduct regular supplier reviews and performance assessments; develop KPIs and SLAs to ensure value delivery.
• Act as a trusted sourcing advisor to internal clients, helping shape scopes of work, budgets, and sourcing approaches.
• Governance, Risk & Compliance
• Ensure adherence to procurement and sourcing policies, risk controls, and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with legal, compliance, and risk teams to address contractual risk, data privacy, and conflict of interest concerns.
• Support audit readiness and reporting on sourcing activities and outcomes.

Skills & Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in strategic sourcing or procurement, with a focus on professional services categories.
• Proven experience negotiating complex contracts with consulting firms, audit/tax providers, legal services firms, or financial advisors.
• Strong understanding of supplier economics, pricing structures, and engagement models in the services space.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across legal, finance, and executive-level stakeholders.
• Excellent negotiation, analytical, and communication skills.
• Proficiency in procurement tools (e.g., Ariba, Coupa, Oracle) and Microsoft Excel/PowerPoint.

Preferred Experience

• Degree in Business, Finance, Law, or a related field; MBA or JD is a plus.
• Familiarity with regulatory and risk considerations in financial services procurement.
• Experience working in or sourcing from Big Four, top-tier consulting, or legal firms.
• Experience in a global or matrixed enterprise environment.