Senior Manager, Travel and Expense

About the Role

The Senior Manager, Travel & Expense is responsible for the leadership, governance, and operational oversight of Otsuka's Travel & Expense (T&E) program. This role sits in the Otsuka Procurement function within the Corporate Services Strategic Services tower and serves as the business owner for the Travel & Expense ecosystem, including SAP Concur, corporate card programs, expense compliance, travel operations, supplier management, and traveler support services.

The ideal candidate combines strong program management, financial acumen, system ownership, and leadership skills with a continuous improvement mindset. This position partners closely with Finance, Compliance, Legal, Procurement, Human Resources, Information Technology, and business stakeholders to ensure the Travel & Expense program operates efficiently, remains compliant, and supports organizational goals.

Responsibilities

• Travel & Expense Program Leadership
  • Lead day-to-day operations of the Travel & Expense program.
  • Ensure consistent application of policies, controls, and processes.
  • Monitor program performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
  • Resolve complex issues and escalations related to travel, expense, and payment activities.
  • Support the development and execution of program strategies and initiatives.
• Financial Oversight & Governance
  • Oversee approximately $30M in travel spend and $95M in corporate card spend.
  • Maintain financial controls and governance across all Travel & Expense activities.
  • Partner with Finance on reporting, forecasting, budgeting, and spend analysis.
  • Identify cost-saving opportunities and operational efficiencies.
  • Support audit readiness and compliance objectives.
• Expense Operations, Audit & Compliance
  • Oversee expense audit processes, including AppZen administration and governance.
  • Monitor compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
  • Identify risk trends and partner with stakeholders to implement corrective actions.
  • Support internal and external audits as required.
  • Manage escalations involving policy violations, audit findings, and compliance concerns.
• SAP Concur Ownership & System Governance
  • Serve as the business owner of the SAP Concur platform.
  • Lead system governance, configuration management, and enhancement activities.
  • Partner with IT on integrations, upgrades, testing, and system improvements.
  • Evaluate and prioritize enhancement requests.
  • Drive automation and user experience improvements.
• Supplier Management & Travel Strategy
  • Manage relationships with travel and expense-related vendors, including airlines, hotels, car rental suppliers, card providers, travel management companies, expense technology providers, and duty-of-care partners.
  • Conduct regular business reviews with vendors.
  • Monitor service levels and vendor performance.
  • Support contract negotiations and renewal activities.
  • Drive supplier initiatives that improve traveler experience and program value.
• Training & Program Enablement
  • Lead employee and manager training initiatives related to Travel & Expense programs.
  • Promote policy awareness, compliance, and adoption of best practices.
  • Develop communication strategies supporting program changes and enhancements.
  • Reinforce manager accountability within the expense approval process.
  • Continuously enhance training materials and user support resources.
• Cross-Functional Leadership
  • Partner with Finance, Compliance, Legal, Procurement, Human Resources, and IT.
  • Support governance committees and stakeholder meetings.
  • Lead cross-functional projects and process improvement initiatives.
  • Drive alignment across stakeholders to support program objectives.
  • Act as a key resource and subject matter expert for Travel & Expense matters.
• Executive Support
  • Provide support for executive travel and expense-related needs.
  • Manage high-touch requests and escalations.
  • Build strong relationships with executive assistants and leadership teams.
  • Ensure timely resolution of executive-related issues.
• Continuous Improvement
  • Identify and implement process improvements.
  • Leverage reporting and analytics to drive decision-making.
  • Evaluate emerging technologies and industry trends.
  • Support program modernization and operational excellence initiatives.
  • Develop scalable processes that support organizational growth.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree required. Finance, Engineering, or Business discipline preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in Finance Operations, Shared Services, Procurement, or related areas.
• Experience managing complex programs and stakeholder relationships.
• Strong knowledge of strategic sourcing process flows preferred.
• Must have SAP Concur or similar expense management platforms experience.
• Strong understanding of financial controls, compliance requirements, and governance practices.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and analytical skills, especially with benchmarking and summarizing insights.
• Excellent creative thinking skills with emphasis on developing innovative solutions to complex problems.
• Ability to effectively create and implement business processes and related metrics across organizational boundaries.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience serving as a business owner for SAP Concur or similar enterprise systems.
• Experience managing corporate card and travel programs.
• Vendor management and contract negotiation experience.
• Experience working with Compliance, Audit, Legal, and Information Technology functions.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Proven ability to build scalable processes and operational frameworks.

Pay

Minimum $150,034.00 - Maximum $224,250.00, plus incentive opportunity. The range shown represents a typical pay range or starting pay for individuals who are hired in the role to perform in the United States. Other elements may be used to determine actual pay such as the candidate’s job experience, specific skills, and comparison to internal incumbents currently in role.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• Company-provided basic life, accidental death & dismemberment, short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Tuition reimbursement and student loan assistance.
• Generous 401(k) match.
• Flexible time off, paid holidays, and paid leave programs.
• Other company-provided benefits.

Competencies

• Accountability for Results: Stay focused on key strategic objectives, be accountable for high standards of performance, and take an active role in leading change.
• Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving: Make decisions considering the long-term impact to customers, patients, employees, and the business.
• Patient & Customer Centricity: Maintain an ongoing focus on the needs of our customers and/or key stakeholders.
• Impactful Communication: Communicate with logic, clarity, and respect. Influence at all levels to achieve the best results for Otsuka.
• Respectful Collaboration: Seek and value others’ perspectives and strive for diverse partnerships to enhance work toward common goals.
• Empowered Development: Play an active role in professional development as a business imperative.