Praveen Kumar S
Procurement SME
Bangalore
Summary
Results-driven Business Professional experienced in project management, process improvement, and financial analysis. Streamlined business operations and reduced costs through data analysis and strategic development. Focused on leveraging time management and problem-solving skills to enhance team performance and support organizational growth.
Overview
5
5
Languages
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Subject Matter Expert
Koch Business Solutions India
Bengaluru, India
06.2023 - Current
- Led the successful transition of procurement operations from Wipro to Koch via virtual knowledge transfer (KT) sessions and process alignment meetings.
- Managed end-to-end indirect procurement operations for MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) components across 23+ manufacturing plants, overseeing $8M in annual spend and processing 15,000+ purchase orders per year, while ensuring timely sourcing, supplier coordination, and material availability.
- Developed and implemented category strategies for MRO commodities, achieving 8–12% cost reductions through supplier consolidation and competitive sourcing.
- Built and maintained strong supplier relationships with 40+ vendors, improving on-time delivery performance from 86% to 96%.
- Conducted cost–benefit analysis and supported the implementation of Fairmarkit, which streamlined purchasing workflows, reduced manual sourcing effort by 35%, improved RFQ cycle time by 25%, and delivered 9–20% sourcing cost savings.
- Strengthened supply risk management by identifying alternative suppliers and diversifying the vendor base.
- Monitored key procurement KPIs and prepared reports to track cost savings, supplier performance, and sourcing effectiveness.
- Led continuous improvement initiatives to optimize procurement workflows and advance strategic sourcing maturity.
Procurement Operations Senior Analyst
Accenture Solutions Pvt. Ltd
06.2014 - 05.2023
- Managed a team of 5 members, overseeing daily tasks, allocating responsibilities based on individual strengths, and ensuring timely, high-quality output.
- Handled end-to-end software license renewals following a structured 5-phase approach: Gathering renewal requirements and license details, Coordinating with suppliers for quotes while initiating the Approval Request Form (ARF) process, Creating Purchase Requisitions in Ariba and issuing invoicing instructions to suppliers, Validating and tracking invoices to ensure accuracy and timely payment, Setting up activities in ServiceNow (SNOW), generating Project IDs and Placeholders.
- Proactively monitored software license forecasts for upcoming fiscal years and followed up with stakeholders on renewals or new purchases.
- Generated and maintained procurement-related reports including PR and P104 pending reports, invoice validation logs, and exception trackers.
- Demonstrated strong proficiency in SAP for procurement processes, data validation, and reporting.
- Created and maintained Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and ensured timely updates based on process changes, subject to managerial approval.
- Led stakeholder and vendor communication, strengthening client relationships and driving issue resolution effectively.
- Championed new initiatives and process improvements to enhance team productivity and service delivery.
Ariba PR(PO) Creation
Accenture Solutions Pvt. Ltd
05.2017 - 05.2023
- Created Purchase Requisitions (PRs) and Purchase Orders (POs) in Ariba by validating all required documents, and ensuring compliance with procurement policies.
- Processed goods receipts in SAP Ariba, maintaining accurate inventory and procurement records.
- Responded to and resolved business user inquiries related to product delivery schedules and pricing issues.
- Coordinated with suppliers to guarantee on-time delivery of goods, monitoring, and following up as needed.
- Tracked shipment status by reviewing dispatch reports, and updated stakeholders accordingly.
- Managed end-of-life product identification and collaborated with suppliers to source replacement items or updates.
- Facilitated invoice approval by working with requestors, ensuring accuracy, and compliance before processing payments.
- Investigated and resolved PO-related discrepancies by collaborating with internal teams, and taking corrective measures.
Risk Assessment
Accenture Solutions Pvt. Ltd
05.2017 - 05.2020
- Conducted comprehensive risk assessments during the onboarding process of new suppliers, ensuring compliance with corporate and regulatory standards.
- Validated vendors’ financial health, financial crime checks, corporate social responsibility (CSR) status, regional risks, and commodity-related risks to mitigate potential exposures.
- Managed the creation of new supplier profiles in Ariba, ensuring accurate and complete data entry.
- Executed Ariba engagement activities aligned with the assessed risk levels to maintain appropriate oversight and controls.
- Issued final confirmation communications to requestors and the Vendor Master team, facilitating timely and compliant vendor setup in SAP.
Supply Chain Management
Accenture Solutions Pvt. Ltd
08.2016 - 05.2017
- Expedited materials based on production planning and work order requirements to ensure seamless operations.
- Managed both international and domestic logistics, coordinating shipments to meet project timelines.
- Conducted root cause analysis to identify and address supply chain issues, implementing preventive measures to ensure on-time delivery of shipments.
- Forecasted material demand, prioritized critical work order components, and ensured timely procurement and delivery to the site ahead of maintenance schedules.
AP - Invoice Processing
Accenture Solutions Pvt. Ltd
06.2014 - 08.2016
- Processed PO and Non-PO invoices, ensuring accuracy and timely payments to support cash flow management.
- Performed detailed audits on high-priority, credit, high-value, and duplicate invoices to prevent errors and ensure compliance.
- Coordinated with suppliers to recover refunds for duplicate or excess payments, reinforcing financial integrity and stakeholder trust.
- Handled price variance reports, pay-group discrepancies, routing issues, flags, and package closings to support smooth financial operations.
- Prepared daily dashboard reports to monitor and analyze the inflow and outflow of invoices for effective financial tracking.
- Executed detailed audits on high-priority, credit, and high-value invoices to prevent errors and ensure compliance with financial regulations.
Education
Master of Commerce - Accounting And Finance
KLE’s S Nijalingappa College
Bangalore 04.2001 -
Bachelor of Commerce - Accounting And Finance
Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College
KGF 04.2001 -
Skills
Strategic Sourcing & Procurement
Procurement strategy
Supplier Relationship Management
MRO purchasing
P2P process management
Process improvement
Market Analysis
Financial Analytics
Data analysis
SAP S/4 HANA
SAP ARIBA
Oracle R11 and R12
VIM solution
SRM tool
ServiceNow Administration
MS Excel
Data Visualization
Strong analytical skills
Analytical thinking
Decision making
Process analysis
Root Cause Analysis
Operational efficiency
Performance Metrics
Risk management
Project Coordination
Time management
Attention to detail
Teamwork and collaboration
Cross-functional Collaboration
Team development
Mentorship Development
Customer focus
Client Engagement
Continuous improvement
Strategic thinking
Innovative mindset
Deep expertise
Adaptability and flexibility
Organizational skills
Organizational skills
Written communication
Excellent communication
Effective communication
Active listening
Teamwork
Problem-solving
Leadership Development
Exception Management
Performance Metrics
Stakeholder management
Leadership Development
Exception Management
Accomplishments
- Delivered USD 410,000 cost avoidance by applying strategic thinking and effective sourcing decisions.
- Collaborated with the automation/VBA team to create an allocation macro for open PRs, saving approximately 1 hour per day in manual effort.
- Shining Star Award from clients for outstanding contributions.
- Star Innovator Award
Timeline
Subject Matter Expert
Koch Business Solutions India
06.2023 - Current
Ariba PR(PO) Creation
Accenture Solutions Pvt. Ltd
05.2017 - 05.2023
Risk Assessment
Accenture Solutions Pvt. Ltd
05.2017 - 05.2020
Supply Chain Management
Accenture Solutions Pvt. Ltd
08.2016 - 05.2017
Procurement Operations Senior Analyst
Accenture Solutions Pvt. Ltd
06.2014 - 05.2023
AP - Invoice Processing
Accenture Solutions Pvt. Ltd
06.2014 - 08.2016
Master of Commerce - Accounting And Finance
KLE’s S Nijalingappa College
04.2001 -
Bachelor of Commerce - Accounting And Finance
Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College
04.2001 -
PROFILE
- Currently working as a Subject Matter Expert at Koch Business Solutions India Pvt. Ltd., with a focus on end-to-end P2P operations and process optimization.
- Managed a team of 5 at Accenture, overseeing daily procurement and payables activities, ensuring compliance and process efficiency.
- Bringing 11 years of hands-on experience in Procurement Operations, Accounts Payable, and Vendor Management across diverse industry sectors.
- Proven track record in stakeholder management and handling software maintenance renewals, including contract review, negotiation, and timely execution.
- Strong understanding of Supply Chain Management principles with direct involvement in sourcing, purchasing, and supplier coordination.
- Conducting thorough risk assessments during supplier onboarding, ensuring adherence to company and regulatory requirements.
- Proficient in invoice processing, discrepancy resolution, and payment follow-ups, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance in financial operations.