SMBC Group is a top-tier global financial group. Headquartered in Tokyo and with a 400-year history, SMBC Group offers a diverse range of financial services, including banking, leasing, securities, credit cards, and consumer finance. The Group has more than 130 offices and 80,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) is the holding company of SMBC Group, which is one of the three largest banking groups in Japan. SMFG’s shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York (NYSE: SMFG) stock exchanges.
In the Americas, SMBC Group has a presence in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Backed by the capital strength of SMBC Group and the value of its relationships in Asia, the Group offers a range of commercial and investment banking services to its corporate, institutional, and municipal clients. It connects a diverse client base to local markets and the organization’s extensive global network.
The anticipated salary range for this role is between $122,000.00 and $136,000.00. The specific salary offered to an applicant will be based on their individual qualifications, experiences, and an analysis of the current compensation paid in their geography and the market for similar roles at the time of hire. The role may also be eligible for an annual discretionary incentive award. In addition to cash compensation, SMBC offers a competitive portfolio of benefits to its employees.
Role Description
As part of the Americas Division Sourcing and Procurement team, the Travel and Credit Card Program Manager will be responsible for establishing and building a global strategy and execution plan toward comprehensive and compliant use of the Travel & Expense Management System (Concur), Travel Agent, Corporate Cards, and Procurement-Cards across the Americas region. The Travel and Credit Card Program Manager will evaluate current-state adoption, set the strategy and direction for a desired future-state in collaboration with EMEA region counterparts considering spend, volumes, policies, procedures, local requirements, and costs to implement. The Travel and Credit Card Program Manager will then create implementation plans and lead execution of projects to deliver against the plan. The Travel and Credit Card Program Manager will also manage the credit card provider(s), travel agency, and other Suppliers providing travel-related solutions. Additionally, manage policy updates, monitor, and address compliance to policies, and work closely with the Travel Expense Operations team to maintain operational procedures and manage Concur system-related changes.
Role Objectives
Strategy and Planning
- Establish and manage to a strategy and plan for the Travel & Credit Card program. Develop a plan to expand the current travel, Corporate Card, and Procurement Card offerings to additional subsidiaries and geographic locations within the Americas Division. Evaluate, then enable or improve solutions for travel and credit card programs for end users while ensuring compliance with policies. Leverage industry knowledge to identify best-in-class solutions to implement, and work with Information Technology and service providers as needed to implement. Partner with business stakeholders to define Supplier requirements, then source Suppliers including conducting or participating in RFXs, risk assessments, supplier selection activities, and contract negotiations.
Operational Activities
- Partner with the EMEA Travel team to manage our Travel Agency offerings and implement cross-regional contracts. Manage credit card providers, and the Procurement Card operational procedure (applications, governance, and reporting). Manage enhancements to the Concur travel and expense management system. Be responsible for the Americas Division Travel and Procurement Card policies and procedures. Work with employees across the region to understand pain points and deliver solutions that meet their needs while remaining compliant with policies. Maintain strong partnerships with business stakeholders and act as an advisor on travel and credit card related matters. Partner with travel agents and other vendors to promote seamless delivery of end-to-end travel requirements including reservations, payment, ticketing, and change requests.
Customer Focus
- Forges relationships with customers and uses knowledge about their needs as the basis of problem-solving, decision-making, and departmental action. Promotes a strong customer-centric culture within the department and enhancement of internal processes to improve satisfaction. Displays a passion for excellence that energizes others to deliver high levels of service to internal and external clients without creating unrealistic expectations or pressure on teams/colleagues. Promotes SMBC Americas’ reputation positively to customers. Communicates customer needs across SMBC Americas and seeks collaborative efforts to best leverage all offerings, making cross-business introductions as appropriate.
Driving Change
- Draws on their expertise and external inputs to propose solutions to improve current processes. Synthesizes the views and perspectives of their stakeholders. Builds engagement through continuous consultation and involvement with others from across SMBC Group Americas to promote the benefits of new ideas and changes. Demonstrates patience and composure under pressure to make change happen, and champions timely adoption of improvements to processes.
Driving Results
- Initiates work to maximize the value their team or function can bring to meeting business challenges. Strikes a good balance between responding to the needs of stakeholders and ensuring a continued and relentless focus on the timely delivery of high-priority projects. Holds self and others accountable, supporting team members and ensuring they have the appropriate skills for delivering high-quality results on time and within budget. Proactively addresses and reports problems.
Embraces Diversity
- Proactively seeks to include diverse perspectives and backgrounds in network, adapting communication style to build effective relationships. Encourages others to collaborate across teams. Incorporates inclusion and diversity initiatives into unit communications. Supports, through action, inclusion and diversity initiatives.
Qualifications and Skills
- 5-10 years’ industry experience required. Direct experience with the SAP Concur Travel and Expense Management system.
- Demonstrate an understanding of corporate travel and credit card policies through implementation and support of a best-in-class program, and timely and accurate guidance to business travelers. Leverage experience with travel suppliers (airlines, hotels, car services) to ensure optimal cost efficiency and delivery against business traveler requirements and preferences.
- Demonstrate a deep understanding of business requirements in the purchasing, negotiation, and maintenance of supplier contracts. Apply subject matter expertise to continuously curate a list of suppliers and preferred suppliers in the covered category and advise business stakeholders on opportunities for optimization. Stay current on the supplier landscape to inform RFXs, purchasing, and supplier negotiations. Leverage internal and external networks to drive optimal delivery against business requirements.
- Experience managing Concur travel and expense system enhancements in partnership with IT, implementing and testing configuration changes, and effectively training and communicating changes.
Additional Requirements
D&I Commitment
Responsible for fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion, holding leaders accountable for creating an inclusive environment through awareness and practice of equity in recruiting, developing, and promoting diverse talent.
SMBC’s employees participate in a hybrid workforce model that provides employees with an opportunity to work from home, as well as, from an SMBC office. SMBC requires that employees live within a reasonable commuting distance of their office location. Prospective candidates will learn more about their specific hybrid work schedule during their interview process.
We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. SMBC provides reasonable accommodations for employees and applicants with disabilities consistent with applicable law. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please let us know at accommodations@smbcgroup.com.
