Purchasing Assistant

Adecco; Thatcham; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a proactive Purchasing Assistant in Thatcham. This role is key in supporting the procurement team by managing purchase orders, maintaining stock levels, and ensuring timely deliveries. The ideal candidate will have purchasing experience, strong Excel skills, and excellent detail orientation. This position offers an opportunity to thrive in a fast-paced environment, contributing to an innovative and quality-driven company culture.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in purchasing or a similar role.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Excellent attention to detail with strong accuracy skills.

Responsibilities

• Raise, manage, and monitor purchase orders.
• Keep purchasing documentation accurate and well-maintained.
• Review inventory levels and identify when items need restocking.
• Assist with stock forecasting and maintaining appropriate reorder levels.
• Communicate with suppliers about order progress, delays, or discrepancies.

Skills

Attention to detail

Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables)

Communication skills

Collaborative approach

Job description

Location: Office‑based (Thatcham)
Working Hours: Monday‑Friday, 08:30‑17:00

Our client is seeking a proactive and detail‑oriented Purchasing Assistant to join their team. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced purchasing professional who thrives in a fast‑paced environment and enjoys working collaboratively across departments.

The ideal candidate will play a key role in supporting the procurement team, helping manage supplier interactions, processing purchase orders, overseeing stock levels, and ensuring materials reach the business when needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Raise, manage, and monitor purchase orders
• Keep purchasing documentation accurate and well‑maintained
• Review inventory levels and identify when items need restocking
• Assist with stock forecasting and maintaining appropriate reorder levels
• Monitor usage trends and highlight slow‑moving or critical items
• Work closely with warehouse staff to confirm deliveries and stock accuracy
• Communicate with suppliers about order progress, delays, or discrepancies
• Resolve issues such as missing items, damaged goods, or late deliveries
• Support internal teams by ensuring materials arrive in line with operational needs
• Compile monthly updates on purchasing activity and stock performance

Candidate Requirements

• Previous experience in purchasing or a similar role
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel (VLOOKUP and Pivot Table proficiency required)
• Excellent attention to detail with strong accuracy skills
• Confident communicator with the ability to build positive relationships
• Friendly, outgoing personality and a collaborative approach

If you have a passion for purchasing and want to be part of a company that values innovation and quality, we'd love to hear from you!

Adecco is a disability‑confident employer. It is important to us that we run an inclusive and accessible recruitment process to support candidates of all backgrounds and all abilities to apply. Adecco is committed to building a supportive environment for you to explore the next steps in your career. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know and we will be happy to support you.

Adecco acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and an employment business for the supply of temporary workers. The Adecco Group UK & Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

By applying for this role your details will be submitted to Adecco. Our Candidate Privacy Information Statement explaining how we will use your information is available on our website.