Procurement Analyst – Supplier Research and Spend Reporting

The Elite Job; Houlton (ME); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Professional development opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

The Elite Job is seeking a procurement analyst to support supplier research, spend analysis, and reporting. You will collect data, compare suppliers, monitor spending, and present findings to stakeholders to drive cost savings and supplier performance.

The role involves cross-functional collaboration with procurement, finance, and operations. Strong analytical skills, detail orientation, and proficiency with Excel are essential. Entry-level candidates may be considered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a related field preferred.
• Strong ability to interpret purchasing data and identify trends.
• Proficiency with Excel/Sheets for data manipulation and reports.
• Familiarity with supplier research, quotation analysis, and expenditure tracking is advantageous.
• Excellent attention to detail and record-keeping.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Research potential suppliers and compare options to identify suitable purchasing choices.
• Collect and analyze purchasing data from invoices, POs, and reports to produce spend summaries.
• Maintain supplier records and prepare data-driven procurement reports and dashboards.
• Monitor supplier performance against pricing, delivery, and quality expectations.
• Collaborate with procurement, finance, and operations to align purchasing with budgets.
• Support process improvements in data collection, reporting workflows, and compliance.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Data analysis

Excel

Supplier research

Spend analytics

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Power BI

Job description

Job Summary

The Elite Job is seeking a detail-oriented, analytical, and motivated Procurement Analyst – Supplier Research and Spend Reporting to support procurement operations through supplier research, purchasing data analysis, expenditure monitoring, and reporting. The successful candidate will help the organization make informed purchasing decisions, identify cost-saving opportunities, improve supplier relationships, and maintain accurate procurement records.

This role is ideal for individuals who enjoy working with data, comparing supplier options, researching market trends, and preparing reports that support business decisions. The Procurement Analyst will collaborate with procurement, finance, operations, and other internal teams to evaluate supplier performance, monitor spending patterns, and ensure that purchasing activities align with organizational requirements and budgetary objectives.

The ideal candidate should possess strong analytical thinking, excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently. Candidates with experience in procurement, supply chain management, finance, business administration, data analysis, or vendor management are encouraged to apply. Entry-level candidates with relevant educational backgrounds, a willingness to learn, and strong computer skills may also be considered.

Key Responsibilities

1. Supplier Research and Evaluation

Research potential suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and service providers to identify suitable purchasing options.

Collect and compare supplier information, including pricing, product specifications, delivery schedules, service quality, payment terms, and minimum order requirements.

Maintain an organized database of approved, prospective, and existing suppliers.

Review supplier quotations and prepare comparison sheets to support purchasing decisions.

Monitor market trends, supplier availability, and pricing changes to identify potential sourcing opportunities.

Assist procurement teams in evaluating supplier capabilities, reliability, and overall value.

Document supplier research findings and communicate recommendations to relevant stakeholders.

2. Procurement Spend Analysis

Collect, organize, and analyze purchasing and expenditure data from invoices, purchase orders, expense reports, and procurement systems.

Prepare spend reports that summarize purchasing activity by supplier, department, category, location, or reporting period.

Identify spending patterns, unusual transactions, duplicate purchases, and potential areas for cost reduction.

Compare actual procurement expenditure against approved budgets and historical spending data.

Support the development of cost-saving initiatives through supplier comparisons, price benchmarking, and purchasing trend analysis.

Assist with tracking procurement performance indicators, including purchase costs, supplier delivery performance, and spending compliance.

Provide accurate data and supporting analysis for management reviews and financial planning.

3. Reporting and Documentation

Prepare regular procurement reports, supplier research summaries, spend dashboards, and data visualizations.

Maintain accurate records of supplier quotations, pricing agreements, purchase orders, invoices, and procurement-related correspondence.

Validate source data before preparing reports to ensure completeness, consistency, and accuracy.

Update procurement spreadsheets, databases, and reporting templates as required.

Highlight important findings, cost variances, and emerging trends in clear, easy-to-understand formats.

Support the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual procurement performance reports.

Maintain proper documentation to support internal reviews, financial reconciliation, and audit requirements.

4. Supplier Performance Monitoring

Track supplier performance against agreed pricing, delivery schedules, product quality, and service expectations.

Assist in maintaining supplier scorecards and performance evaluation records.

Identify recurring supplier issues and communicate findings to procurement managers.

Support periodic supplier reviews by collecting relevant performance data and feedback.

Research alternative suppliers when existing vendors experience pricing changes, service issues, or supply disruptions.

Help maintain professional communication with suppliers and internal stakeholders.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with procurement, finance, operations, inventory, and other departments to gather relevant purchasing information.

Coordinate with internal stakeholders to understand purchasing requirements and reporting priorities.

Support budget planning and forecasting by providing historical spend data and supplier pricing information.

Respond to internal requests for procurement data, supplier details, and purchasing comparisons.

Assist with process improvement initiatives designed to streamline procurement reporting and strengthen purchasing controls.

Protect confidential supplier information, pricing agreements, financial records, and other sensitive business data.

6. Process Improvement and Compliance

Identify opportunities to improve supplier research methods, data collection procedures, and reporting workflows.

Help standardize procurement spreadsheets, supplier databases, and reporting formats.

Follow established purchasing policies, approval procedures, and documentation requirements.

Assist in identifying discrepancies between purchase orders, invoices, quotations, and recorded expenditure.

Support responsible sourcing practices and contribute to supplier risk assessment activities where required.

Recommend practical improvements that enhance data quality, operational efficiency, and procurement transparency.

Required Skills and Qualifications

A bachelors degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Statistics, Data Analytics, or a related field is preferred.

Strong analytical and numerical skills, with the ability to interpret purchasing data and identify meaningful trends.

Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, including sorting, filtering, formulas, data validation, and summary reports.

Familiarity with supplier research, quotation comparison, purchasing processes, or expenditure tracking is an advantage.

Excellent attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate records.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Ability to organize information from multiple sources and present findings clearly.

Good time management and the ability to prioritize competing assignments.

Professional judgment when handling confidential financial and supplier information.

Willingness to learn procurement systems, reporting tools, and company-specific procedures.

Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a team.

Experience

Previous experience in procurement analysis, purchasing, supplier management, supply chain operations, finance, inventory control, accounts payable, or data reporting is beneficial.

Candidates with approximately 0–2 years of relevant experience may be considered for junior or entry-level opportunities, depending on the organizations requirements. Applicants with experience in supplier evaluation, spend analysis, cost comparison, purchase order administration, or procurement reporting may be well suited to the role.

Practical experience with Excel-based reporting, data cleaning, dashboard preparation, or enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems such as SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics is an advantage.

Fresh graduates and career changers with strong analytical abilities, computer proficiency, and an interest in procurement may also apply where entry-level hiring is available. The ability to demonstrate accuracy, structured thinking, and a willingness to develop new skills will be valuable.

Working Hours

Working hours will depend on the employment arrangement, business requirements, and assigned location.

Full-time: Typically 8 hours per day, 5 days per week, subject to the employers schedule.

Part-time: Reduced hours may be available for suitable positions.

Flexible arrangements: Remote or hybrid work may be considered where the role and company policies permit.

Reporting deadlines: Additional coordination may occasionally be required during monthly closing, budget reviews, supplier evaluations, or reporting periods.

Availability: Candidates should be able to attend scheduled meetings, communicate with relevant departments, and complete assigned reports within agreed deadlines.

The final working schedule, employment type, and work location will be confirmed during the recruitment process.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Procurement Knowledge

Understanding of purchasing procedures, supplier sourcing, quotation analysis, and vendor evaluation.

Awareness of procurement documentation, purchase orders, invoice matching, and purchasing controls.

Basic knowledge of cost management, supplier negotiations, and supply chain operations.

Data Analysis and Reporting

Ability to organize large volumes of purchasing data and identify patterns.

Competence in preparing structured spreadsheets, charts, summaries, and reports.

Ability to compare supplier prices, evaluate expenditure trends, and identify cost-saving opportunities.

Familiarity with pivot tables, lookup functions, conditional formatting, and other spreadsheet tools is desirable.

Exposure to business intelligence tools such as Power BI or Tableau is an advantage.

Communication and Collaboration

Ability to communicate analytical findings to both technical and non-technical colleagues.

Confidence in coordinating information requests with internal teams and suppliers.

Ability to write clear, professional emails and maintain organized documentation.

Problem-Solving and Organization

Ability to investigate discrepancies, verify information, and recommend practical solutions.

Strong organizational skills when managing multiple reports, supplier records, and deadlines.

A proactive approach to identifying inefficiencies and improving existing processes.

Professional and Digital Competencies

Ability to use office productivity tools and learn new procurement software.

Commitment to accuracy, confidentiality, ethical conduct, and responsible purchasing practices.

Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and business requirements.

Benefits

Depending on the employment arrangement and the benefits offered for the specific vacancy, eligible employees may receive:

• Competitive compensation based on experience, skills, location, and role responsibilities.
• Opportunities to develop practical expertise in procurement, supplier research, and spend analytics.
• On-the-job training in procurement processes, reporting systems, and supplier evaluation methods.
• Professional development opportunities in supply chain management, business analysis, and financial reporting.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams and contributing to operational decisions.
• Opportunities to develop advanced spreadsheet, dashboard, and data interpretation skills.
• Potential flexible working arrangements, subject to business needs and company policy.
• Performance feedback and opportunities to take on greater responsibilities.
• Potential career progression into senior procurement analysis, sourcing, category management, vendor management, or supply chain roles.
• Applicable leave and other employment benefits in accordance with the agreed employment terms and relevant local regulations.
• Specific salary details, benefits, and eligibility criteria will be communicated during the recruitment process.

Why Join The Elite Job?

Joining The Elite Job offers an opportunity to build valuable professional skills in procurement research, purchasing analysis, and business reporting. The Procurement Analyst role provides a platform for individuals who want to understand how organizations manage suppliers, control expenditure, and make data-driven purchasing decisions.

As part of the procurement and reporting function, you will have the opportunity to contribute to supplier evaluation, identify potential savings, improve the accuracy of purchasing information, and support better resource allocation. Your analysis can help decision-makers understand where money is being spent and where procurement processes can be improved.

The role is also suitable for professionals who want to strengthen their analytical abilities while developing a broader understanding of finance, operations, and supply chain management. Through practical assignments and collaboration with internal teams, you can build transferable skills that support long-term career development.

The Elite Job welcomes applications from individuals who demonstrate integrity, curiosity, reliability, and a commitment to continuous learning. Candidates who enjoy solving problems, working with structured data, and improving business processes are encouraged to explore this opportunity.