Senior Manager, Travel and Expense

Job Summary The Senior Manager, Travel & Expense is responsible for the leadership, governance, and operational oversight of Otsuka's Travel & Expense (T&E) program. This role sits in the Otsuka Procurement function within the Corporate Services Strategic Services tower. The Senior Manager serves as the business owner for the Travel & Expense ecosystem, including SAP Concur, corporate card programs, expense compliance, travel operations, supplier management, and traveler support services.

The role is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective controls, driving process improvements, supporting business objectives, and delivering a positive end-user experience. This position partners closely with Finance, Compliance, Legal, Procurement, Human Resources, Information Technology, and business stakeholders to ensure the Travel & Expense program operates efficiently, remains compliant, and supports organizational goals. The ideal candidate combines strong program management, financial acumen, system ownership, and leadership skills with a continuous improvement mindset.

Disclaimer:
This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the people assigned to this position. It is not intended to include every job duty and responsibility specific to the position. Otsuka reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

• Travel & Expense Program Leadership Lead day-to-day operations of the Travel & Expense program. Ensure consistent application of policies, controls, and processes. Monitor program performance and identify opportunities for improvement. Resolve complex issues and escalations related to travel, expense, and payment activities. Support the development and execution of program strategies and initiatives.
• Financial Oversight & Governance Oversee approximately $30M in travel spend and $95M in corporate card spend. Maintain financial controls and governance across all Travel & Expense activities. Partner with Finance on reporting, forecasting, budgeting, and spend analysis. Identify cost‑saving opportunities and operational efficiencies. Support audit readiness and compliance objectives.
• Expense Operations, Audit & Compliance Oversee expense audit processes, including App Zen administration and governance. Monitor compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements. Identify risk trends and partner with stakeholders to implement corrective actions. Support internal and external audits as required. Manage escalations involving policy violations, audit findings, and compliance concerns.
• SAP Concur Ownership & System Governance Serve as the business owner of the SAP Concur platform. Lead system governance, configuration management, and enhancement activities. Partner with IT on integrations, upgrades, testing, and system improvements. Evaluate and prioritize enhancement requests. Drive automation and user experience improvements.
• Supplier Management & Travel Strategy Manage relationships with travel and expense‑related vendors, including airlines, hotels, car rental suppliers, card providers, travel management companies, expense technology providers, and duty‑of‑care partners. Conduct regular business reviews with vendors. Monitor service levels and vendor performance. Support contract negotiations and renewal activities. Drive supplier initiatives that improve traveler experience and program value.
• Training & Program Enablement Lead employee and manager training initiatives related to Travel & Expense programs. Promote policy awareness, compliance, and adoption of best practices. Develop communication strategies supporting program changes and enhancements. Reinforce manager accountability within the expense approval process. Continuously enhance training materials and user support resources.
• Cross‑Functional Leadership Partner with Finance, Compliance, Legal, Procurement, Human Resources, and IT. Support governance committees and stakeholder meetings. Lead cross‑functional projects and process improvement initiatives. Drive alignment across…