Supplier Dispute Focal

Introduction
At IBM Finance & Operations, we are the backbone of IBM’s transformation driving efficiency, transparency, and smart decision-making across the business. Our teams provide the insight and discipline that guide strategy, ensure financial strength, and enable IBM to invest in innovation and growth. Working in Finance & Operations means combining analytical skills with collaboration and curiosity. You’ll partner with colleagues across functions and geographies, using data, technology, and process excellence to create solutions that improve performance and deliver measurable impact. IBM offers continuous learning, career development, and a culture that values diverse perspectives. Join us and be part of a global team that keeps IBM moving forward, while building your own future in a dynamic and evolving environment.
Your role and responsibilities
The Supplier Dispute Focal owns supplier‑facing dispute resolution and commercial negotiations arising from contract compliance activities. This role is responsible for converting identified contract variances and non‑compliance into realized financial recovery, while strengthening supplier adherence, preventing recurrence, and protecting client relationships.Acting as the commercial interface between Procurement, Finance, Legal, Accounts Payable, and suppliers, this role ensures disputes are resolved efficiently, professionally, and in line with contractual rights—moving the program from identified leakage to realized value.

Key Responsibilities:

Supplier Dispute & Negotiation Leadership:

Lead supplier discussions and negotiations related to pricing discrepancies, unauthorized charges, rebates, credits, and other contract non‑compliance identified through 4‑way matching.
Serve as the primary escalation point for complex, high‑value, or sensitive supplier disputes.
Communicate contractual positions clearly and confidently to suppliers, supported by structured evidence and dispute packs.
Negotiate credit notes, refunds, or future invoice adjustments to recover identified variances within agreed SLAs.

Commercial & Contractual Enforcement:

Partner with Contract Analysts and Finance Analysts to translate compliance findings into commercially sound recovery strategies.
Ensure supplier disputes are grounded in contract terms, pricing schedules, service scope, and commercial clauses.
Work closely with Legal and Procurement to align negotiation approaches, particularly for contentious or precedent‑setting disputes.

Stakeholder & Governance Management:

Engage cross‑functionally with Procurement, AP Operations, Finance, Legal, and Engagement Leads to align on dispute priorities, negotiation strategy, and outcomes.
Provide clear status updates on dispute progress, recovery value, aging, and risks.
Support supplier governance forums and performance reviews with fact‑based compliance and dispute insights.

Value Realization & Prevention:

Track and report recovery outcomes versus identified leakage to ensure financial value is realized, not just reported.
Identify repeat patterns of supplier non‑compliance and feed insights back into contract design, supplier onboarding, and compliance rules.
Recommend preventive actions such as supplier education, contract clarifications, pricing rule adjustments, or system controls.

Process & Capability Improvement:

Help define standard dispute resolution playbooks, escalation paths, and negotiation templates.
Support continuous improvement of dispute workflows, handoffs, and documentation standards within the Contract Compliance program.
Contribute to audit and compliance reviews by explaining dispute resolution decisions and outcomes.
Required education
Bachelor's Degree
Required technical and professional expertise
5+ years of experience in procurement, supplier management, contract management, finance, or commercial roles with supplier‑facing responsibility.
Proven experience leading supplier disputes, commercial negotiations, or claims management.
Strong understanding of contract structures, pricing models, rebates, and commercial terms.
Experience working with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle) and CLM platforms (Sirion, Icertis, Coupa, Ariba).
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with confidence engaging senior suppliers and internal stakeholders.
Ability to balance firm contract enforcement with professional relationship management.
Preferred technical and professional experience
Experience in procurement BPO, shared services, or GBS environments.
Exposure to contract compliance, 3‑way / 4‑way matching, or audit‑driven recovery programs.
Familiarity with SOX or audit requirements related to recoveries and dispute documentation.
Experience working in multi‑entity, high‑volume, global supplier environments.

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT:

The IBM Finance organization is responsible for driving enterprise performance and transformation.  We are the financial stewards of IBM, delivering IBM’s financial strategy, developing new business models, and mitigating enterprise risk. Do you have a passion for creating business value? Join our team in accounting, financial planning, pricing, business controls, tax, treasury, business development (acquisitions & divestitures), and global financing.
YOUR LIFE @ IBM
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Being an IBMer means you’ll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you’ll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.
Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.
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ABOUT IBM
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IBM is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILS:

For additional information about location requirements, please discuss with the recruiter following submission of your application.
Job Title

Supplier Dispute Focal:

Job ID
114494
City / Township / Village
BUDAPEST
State / Province
Budapest
Country
Hungary
Work arrangement
Hybrid
Area of work
Enterprise Operations
Employment type
Regular
Position type
Professional
Travel required
Some travel may be required based on business demand
Company
(0812) IBM Hungary International Shared Services Center LTD.
Shift
General (daytime)
Is this role a commissionable/sales incentive based position?
No
Application Info
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