Event Planning Procurement & Reconciliation Specialist

Job highlights
Identified by Google from the original job post
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in financial management, exceptional organizational skills, and proficiency in Cvent event management software
This can sit remote in MN
Professional maturity, business acumen and discretion are required in order to facilitate the appropriate response or escalation for a variety of questions/requests from event sponsors and vendor contacts
Requires ability to involve the right individuals and communicate effectively to resolve problems in a timely manner
3+ years applicable experience in finance or event planning supporting high volume and complex multi-tasking activities
Experience with purchase orders, payment processing, and/or procurement policies
Strong technical aptitude with MS Office including Teams and Outlook, with a focus on advanced Excel skills
Hyper attention to detail, strong organizational skills and ability to successfully meet critical deadlines
Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as part of a team
Take initiative in problem-solving
Expert prioritization in a high-volume, fast-paced environment
Must be based on the Twin Cities, Minnesota
Travel required: Less than 15%
Benefits
We accomplish this by offering a wide variety of market competitive compensation programs to attract, reward, and retain top talent
The applicable salary or hourly wage range for this full-time role is $65,765.00 - $88,+76.00 per year, which factors in various geographic regions
The base pay actually offered will be determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to, location, relevant experience, skills, and knowledge, business needs, market demand, and other factors Thrivent deems important
The following benefits may be offered: various bonuses (including, for example, annual or long-term incentives); medical, dental, and vision insurance; health savings account; flexible spending account; 401k; pension; life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance; disability insurance; supplemental protection insurance; 20 days of Paid Time Off each year; Sick and Safe Time; 10 paid company holidays; Volunteer Time Off; paid parental leave; EAP; well-being benefits, and other employee benefits
Eligibility for receipt of these benefits is subject to the applicable plan/policy documents
Responsibilities
The Procurement & Reconciliation Specialist position exists to provide sourcing support as well as financial and data excellence to the event planning department of Thrivent
This position is integral to managing and reconciling financial aspects of event planning, ensuring accurate budget tracking, and maintaining financial integrity throughout the event lifecycle
Supports the strategic sourcing process including creating requests for solicitation from vendors (RFPs), negotiating contracts under $50K with vendors who already hold MSA terms with Thrivent as well as facilitating post contract vendor relationship management in the selection and management of Thrivent’s Suppliers
Initiates the budget for each event by understanding the goals and objectives from the event sponsor and ensuring that the goals are met within the financials that were allocated
In conjunction with the event planner, determines and recommends event budget and aggressively manages to the approved event budget, deposit schedules, and final reconciliation
Responsible for updating the budget throughout the event planning lifecycle alongside the event planner
As necessary, finds and recommends areas of negotiation and savings to the event planners and stakeholders
Management of data in the Cvent platform
Tasks included importing event budgetary spend, maintaining accurate data in the platform, and investigating discrepancies
Creates cross-event reporting in the Cvent platform to show the event spend and savings for the department
Partners with the event planners to make deposits and final event payments
Will work directly with the hotel/vendor billing departments to set up direct bill accounts and process ACH, credit card, and wire payments
Responsible for implementing, and managing the requisition, purchase order and fulfillment processes within the assigned spend category
Works with accounting team on new vendor setup
Ensures compliance to applicable tax law through accurate reporting including but not limited to taxation, attendee supplemental expense allowance, and chargebacks to correct business units, event sponsors, and attendees
Liaison with internal departments such as Finance, Accounting, and Procurement to ensure internal processes and policies and being met
Travels on-site for large events to manage billing directly with the hotel team
Reviewing the daily invoices and tracking spend to ensure budgetary goals are met
Responsible for post-event tasks such as retrieving final billing from the hotel, final guestroom pick-up reports, and creating final budgetary and cost savings reporting for the stakeholders
Introduces innovation and improvement to existing or new events and/or programs
Embraces continuous improvement through continuous improvement in the Cvent event management software, benchmarking with peer groups, research, and other feedback
This position will interact and regularly communicate with event planners, individual contributors, and directors at Thrivent as well as external vendors, contractors and/or consultants
Problems are varied but similar; may require some clarification; use of basic fact finding and/or analytical techniques; selects best option from defined procedures/precedence
Job description
The Procurement & Reconciliation Specialist position exists to provide sourcing support as well as financial and data excellence to the event planning department of Thrivent. This position is integral to managing and reconciling financial aspects of event planning, ensuring accurate budget tracking, and maintaining financial integrity throughout the event lifecycle. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in financial management, exceptional organizational skills, and proficiency in Cvent event management software.
• This can sit remote in MN

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Supports the strategic sourcing process including creating requests for solicitation from vendors (RFPs), negotiating contracts under $50K with vendors who already hold MSA terms with Thrivent as well as facilitating post contract vendor relationship management in the selection and management of Thrivent’s Suppliers.
• Initiates the budget for each event by understanding the goals and objectives from the event sponsor and ensuring that the goals are met within the financials that were allocated.
• In conjunction with the event planner, determines and recommends event budget and aggressively manages to the approved event budget, deposit schedules, and final reconciliation. Responsible for updating the budget throughout the event planning lifecycle alongside the event planner. As necessary, finds and recommends areas of negotiation and savings to the event planners and stakeholders.
• Management of data in the Cvent platform. Tasks included importing event budgetary spend, maintaining accurate data in the platform, and investigating discrepancies. Creates cross-event reporting in the Cvent platform to show the event spend and savings for the department.
• Partners with the event planners to make deposits and final event payments. Will work directly with the hotel/vendor billing departments to set up direct bill accounts and process ACH, credit card, and wire payments.
• Responsible for implementing, and managing the requisition, purchase order and fulfillment processes within the assigned spend category. Works with accounting team on new vendor setup.
• Ensures compliance to applicable tax law through accurate reporting including but not limited to taxation, attendee supplemental expense allowance, and chargebacks to correct business units, event sponsors, and attendees.
• Liaison with internal departments such as Finance, Accounting, and Procurement to ensure internal processes and policies and being met.
• Travels on-site for large events to manage billing directly with the hotel team. Reviewing the daily invoices and tracking spend to ensure budgetary goals are met.
• Responsible for post-event tasks such as retrieving final billing from the hotel, final guestroom pick-up reports, and creating final budgetary and cost savings reporting for the stakeholders.
• Introduces innovation and improvement to existing or new events and/or programs. Embraces continuous improvement through continuous improvement in the Cvent event management software, benchmarking with peer groups, research, and other feedback.
• This position will interact and regularly communicate with event planners, individual contributors, and directors at Thrivent as well as external vendors, contractors and/or consultants.
• Problems are varied but similar; may require some clarification; use of basic fact finding and/or analytical techniques; selects best option from defined procedures/precedence.
• Professional maturity, business acumen and discretion are required in order to facilitate the appropriate response or escalation for a variety of questions/requests from event sponsors and vendor contacts. Requires ability to involve the right individuals and communicate effectively to resolve problems in a timely manner.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:
• College degree required – BS Finance, BA Event Planning or BS Hospitality Management preferred.
• 3+ years applicable experience in finance or event planning supporting high volume and complex multi-tasking activities.
• Experience with purchase orders, payment processing, and/or procurement policies.
• Strong technical aptitude with MS Office including Teams and Outlook, with a focus on advanced Excel skills.
• Experience with Cvent database software including Budget Management and Sourcing modules is strongly preferred.
• Hyper attention to detail, strong organizational skills and ability to successfully meet critical deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Take initiative in problem-solving.
• Expert prioritization in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
• Must be based on the Twin Cities, Minnesota
• Travel required: Less than 15%
Pay Transparency

Thrivent’s long-term growth depends on attracting, rewarding, and retaining people who are committed to helping others thrive with purpose. We accomplish this by offering a wide variety of market competitive compensation programs to attract, reward, and retain top talent. The applicable salary or hourly wage range for this full-time role is $65,765.00 - $88,+76.00 per year, which factors in various geographic regions. The base pay actually offered will be determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to, location, relevant experience, skills, and knowledge, business needs, market demand, and other factors Thrivent deems important.

Thrivent is unique in our commitment to helping people to be wise with money and live balanced and generous lives. That extends to our benefits.

The following benefits may be offered: various bonuses (including, for example, annual or long-term incentives); medical, dental, and vision insurance; health savings account; flexible spending account; 401k; pension; life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance; disability insurance; supplemental protection insurance; 20 days of Paid Time Off each year; Sick and Safe Time; 10 paid company holidays; Volunteer Time Off; paid parental leave; EAP; well-being benefits, and other employee benefits. Eligibility for receipt of these benefits is subject to the applicable plan/policy documents. Thrivent’s plans/policies are subject to change at any time at Thrivent’s discretion.

Thrivent provides Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, ****** orientation, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, marital status, citizenship status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable local, state, or federal law. This policy applies to all employees and job applicants.

Thrivent is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please let us know by sending an email to human.resources@thrivent.com or call 800-847-4836 and request Human Resources.