Senior Associate Sales Order Management

Pharmaron is seeking an experienced Senior Associate to join its Sales Order Management (SOM) team in Hoddesdon. Working closely with the Principal Associate, SOM, the role holder will help to provide day-to-day guidance and support to the SOM Associates.

The Senior Associate will act as the first point of escalation for complex SOM queries from the team, exercising independent judgement and approval authority within agreed limits, and will be responsible for the accurate and compliant administration of contracts, billing and revenue-related processes.

In the absence of the Principal Associate, the Senior Associate will deputise for the role, exercising such additional approval authority as is delegated.

The role covers the end-to-end management of client contracts through the sales order process, including the set-up and release of invoicing and revenue milestones and the tracking of project milestones. The role holder will also support the Finance team with budgeting and revenue recognition processes, prepare budgets for larger and more complex contracts, and undertake wider contract and order administration. This is a highly collaborative role, working closely with Business Development, Operations and Finance.

• Maintain accurate sales order (contract) and revenue records in the ERP system from project set-up through to completion, including the release of invoicing and revenue milestones, in line with client contracts and company and accounting policies.
• Resolve and, where appropriate, approve complex SOM queries escalated by the team, including (but not limited to) contract, project, finance and billing matters.
• Review and approve revenue recognition-related reporting and resolve associated queries.
• Translate contracts into sales orders and projects in the ERP system, including the set-up of invoicing and revenue recognition milestone profiles.
• Trigger sales invoice requests and revenue milestones accurately and on time – at contract signature, monthly, on achievement of milestones or at project completion.
• Work collaboratively with Business Unit Directors and Project Managers to agree and confirm invoicing and revenue milestones.
• Partner with the Finance team to ensure monthly revenue is accurately recorded and to support the budgeting process.
• Review contracts (quotations, work orders and purchase orders) for completeness, accuracy and compliance.
• Provide Project Managers with timely project reporting and analysis.
• Develop and maintain detailed Excel tracking tools for multi-site, complex and long-term projects.
• Review existing processes and procedures, and recommend and implement improvements that support the growing volume and complexity of contracts.
• Raise internal purchase order requests for multi-site projects.
• Provide guidance, support and on-the-job training to SOM Associates, and review the quality and accuracy of their work.

• Proven experience of interpreting complex contracts and translating them into accurate sales orders.
• Experience of using ERP systems; familiarity with Focal Point/Access Dimensions is not required, as training will be provided.
• Natural relationship builder, able to establish credibility and trust quickly with internal and external stakeholders.
• Able to influence a wide range of stakeholders and resolve challenges through clear and persuasive communication.
• Self-motivated and resilient, with the persistence to see issues through to resolution.
• Able to prioritise effectively, manage multiple tasks and work independently with minimal supervision.
• Adaptable and responsive to changing business priorities.
• Collaborative mindset, contributing to a positive and productive team environment.
• Acts with professionalism and…