Jo Baker

My current role is predominantly to procure goods for Marketing, Creative & Graphics stakeholders within Selfridges, as well as the range of In-store Packaging. Alongside this, I am working as a key stakeholder in the implementation of Ethical Trading and Sustainability processes to ensure a responsible supply chain within all categories of spend. My key duties within this role are outlined below. • Negotiating contract terms with both potential and existing suppliers. • Holding regular continuous improvement meetings in order to investigate and reduce spend, environmental issues and supply chain discordance. • Sourcing the most economical facilitators of products, while ensuring exacting quality standards are met. • Responsible for negotiating retrospective rebate schemes with current suppliers. • Managing product production from concept through to in-store distribution. • Range planning and product development of merchandised goods. • Analysis of data relating to product price, store sales and stock management. • Responsible sourcing, with emphasis on environmental impact, human welfare and global working conditions as part of key Ethical Trade Requirements. • Completed courses on Emotional Intelligence and Influencing and Assertiveness in order to progress professional conduct. • To ensure that my expert knowledge of my category is extended by researching product and production innovation. My CSR work has included the following: • Working with external customers in order to engage them with the companies Ethical Trading Requirements, and ensuring that these are upheld by looking at audit and NC issues. • Writing policies and procedures to ensure that the implementation process can be embedded successfully throughout all areas of spend within the business. • Analysing current purchasing habits and researching ways in which to change habits and products to provide a more sustainable solution.

Researching, analysing and purchasing GNFR goods for the food hall and restaurants at Selfridges. Working with the chefs and department managers to ensure that the products in use are both cost and environmentally efficient. Role includes: -Day to day orders where productivity and efficiency are key. -Project managing tenders and critical paths of bespoke products. -Raising purchase orders. -Forecasting sales to aid stock control.

In this position, I was responsible for collecting outstanding balances due to Selfridges from other Businesses. Due to the nature of this role, I was required to be extremely professional, firm yet understanding, and ensure that I create strong relationships with all parties involved. Also, it enabled me to develop strong negotiation skills which are vital to my current role. KPI’s: • Reduced the aged debt (60days+) by 60% in 9 months. • Implemented formal credit control procedures, including sign off sheets, practice manuals and legal structures. • Presented monthly reports for two companies to the financial manager with all debtor statistics including bad debt write offs, figures and cases for legal action. • Created and presented a lecture on how to reduce bad debt in a retail environment to heads of department. • Training and handover to new members of staff. • Additional Duties: • Recovering aged debts from commercial suppliers both domestic and international. • Administrative Duties such as allocating & posting payments, reconciling statements and writing regular correspondence. • Creating monthly debtors schedules to be communicated to multiple departments within the business including marketing, buying, logistics and finance. • Negotiating payment plans with suppliers where credit checks had been completed and approved. • Actively manage 600+ accounts split over two companies within the Selfridges group. • Raising invoices for marketing, Markdown and Supplier contributions. • Completing legal paperwork in relation to CCC’s against debtors, including claim forms, particulars, allocation questionnaires, defence forms and certificates of service. • Attending court hearings on behalf of my employer in CCJ cases.

Freelance lingerie designer providing made to measure Corsetry and lingerie for clients, specialising in bridal wear.

My prior position to this was also within Selfridges Head Office in the Brown Thomas accounts payable department. My responsibilities include processing, matching and authorising payments, dealing with queries until resolved, ensuring that suppliers are paid in a timely manner, reconciling accounts and other day to day office based tasks. I have also implemented several processes to ensure that my time is used efficiently as possible such as post logs and user manuals for temporary staff. While within this role, I was able to progress my position rapidly, starting as an admin assistant to the whole team and within 6 weeks being responsible for the entire expenses of the Brown Thomas accounts while a member of staff was on extended annual leave. On their return, I was entrusted to be responsible for the cosmetics brands expenses as a permanent role. I unfortunately had to leave this role due to last year academic commitments.

Work experience placement based in the buying office of Brown Thomas.

My role at Lush was a seasonal performance based sales associate position, an area in which I excelled. My duties included stocking and arranging visual displays, demonstrating products to customers and ensuring that they understood the brand ethos. While working here, I hit my sales targets consistently. I was able to understand the customers needs and present them with relevant options for their purchases. I was unable to pursue my employment here due to academic commitments.