Assistant Manager/Manager - Operations and Cost Excellence (Business)

Roles and Responsibilities

• Maintain a holistic understanding of audit programs, operational processes and cost saving initiatives to support effective audit execution and assessments

• Contribute to the refinement of the audit framework, SOP process standardization and enhancement initiatives by providing an operational and commercial perspective

• Liaise with local offices, RHQs, GHQ business teams, offshore stakeholders and process owners to obtain clarifications, supporting evidence, and business context for cases under review

• Conduct audit trainings and knowledge-sharing sessions for relevant stakeholders (including RHQs and local offices) to improve understanding of audit requirements and SOP expectations

• Leverage business and operational expertise to support audit activities, monitor audit progress and coordinate with other OCE team members throughout the audit life cycle

• Translate issues identified into clear business insights, including cost leakage risks, process weaknesses, vendor governance concerns, and improvement opportunities

• Recommend practical remediation actions and operational improvement initiatives based on audit findings, collaborating closely with project Neptune, global process management team and business owners to support operational excellence

• Resolve complex operational issues by coordinating with relevant stakeholders and driving the execution of corrective actions

• Support prioritization of vendors, invoice scenarios, and recurring themes for future review cycles

• Prepare clear summaries of findings, root causes, and recommended actions for management reporting and stakeholder discussion

• Support the OCE Team Leader in coordinating review activities, managing stakeholder communication, and driving continuous improvement initiatives across all audit programs

• Manage assigned activities independently with appropriate supervision and support ad hoc tasks as assigned

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Logistics, Maritime Studies, Operations Management, or a related field

• At least 4 to 5 years of experience in shipping, logistics, terminal operations, agency or operations finance/ accounts payable

• Practical knowledge of vendor billing and invoice handling processes in shipping, terminal, or logistics operations

• Deep familiarity with shipping related terms, agreements, rate structures and billing logic (eg, storage terms, free days, tiered rates, and service-based charging

• Proven experience driving SOP improvement, process standardization and operational excellence initiatives

• Proficiency in ERP systems, data extraction, and strong Excel and analytical skills to handle large volumes of invoice and system data.

• Prior exposure to invoice validation, accounts payable controls, audit, and cost governance activities

• Ability to connect operational facts, commercial logic, and financial impacts to drive practical improvements and resolve time-sensitive issues.

• Experience working cross-functionally with local offices, regional teams, offshore/shared-service teams, or business stakeholders across multiple geographies

• Ability to perform under tight deadlines and thrive in a fast pace environment

• Strong communication skills with the ability to engage stakeholders to clarify issues and resolve them.

• Flexibility in working hours to align with global stakeholders, along with a willingness to undertake occasional travel for training, stakeholder engagement, or process reviews