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Commercial Administrator – Position Overview
BD Group is seeking a detail-oriented Commercial Administrator to join their Commercial & Business Development team. This permanent, full-time hybrid position is based in London East (Dagenham, with at least 3 days per week at The Cube) and offers a competitive salary of up to £29,000 per annum.
In this crucial operational role, you will deliver precise administrative support across housing services, maintenance, repairs, and facilities management contracts. You will be responsible for maintaining tight commercial control by processing purchase orders, managing supplier quotations, facilitating subcontractor payment applications, and maintaining accurate commercial records in full alignment with governance, financial, and procurement guidelines.
Core Duties & Responsibilities
- Commercial Support: Raise purchase orders (POs), process vendor quotes, and maintain accurate financial and contract documentation.
- Subcontractor Management: Support the processing and administrative tracking of subcontractor payment applications.
- Compliance & Governance: Ensure all financial and administrative actions adhere to internal procurement standards, governance rules, and budget controls.
- Contract Administration: Assist with ongoing contract record-keeping within a fast-paced housing, maintenance, and facilities management environment.
About Us
BD Group (Barking and Dagenham Trading Partnership) is a dynamic, public-sector-aligned service provider delivering high-quality housing, facilities management, property maintenance, and educational support services across East London. Driven by community impact and operational excellence, BD Group combines public sector ethics with commercial agility. We foster an inclusive, accountable, and supportive work culture that values continuous improvement and precise operational control.
Website: https://bdtp.co.uk/
Career Guide & Key Industry Insights
A Commercial Administrator in housing and facilities management bridges the gap between field operations and corporate finance.
How to Excel in Commercial Administration
- Understand the Procurement Lifecycle: Familiarize yourself with how purchase orders, variations, and invoices move through housing and construction finance software (e.g., COINS, Simpro, or SAP).
- Focus on Cost Control: Pay close attention to quotes and subcontractor applications. Ensuring quotes match agreed schedule-of-rates (SoR) before raising POs prevents financial discrepancies later.
- Master Cross-Functional Communication: Build strong working relationships with project managers, quantity surveyors, and external subcontractors to ensure smooth approvals and dispute-free payment flows.
Benefits of the Role
- Competitive Salary: Structured compensation package of up to £29,000 per annum.
- Hybrid Working Model: Enjoy a balanced work environment combining home working with collaborative office days (at least 3 days/week at The Cube in Dagenham).
- Job Stability: Permanent, full-time position within a stable, growing public service organization.
- Career Growth: Direct exposure to commercial management, quantity surveying, and public sector procurement, paving the way for advancement into Commercial Officer or Junior Quantity Surveyor roles.
How to Prepare Your CV for This Position
To stand out for this role, tailor your resume to emphasize financial accuracy, procurement awareness, and relevant sector experience:
- Highlight Sector Experience: Explicitly showcase prior exposure to housing associations, facilities management (FM), construction, property repairs, or local authority/public sector services.
- Detail Specific Financial/PO Systems: List specific finance tools, ERP systems, or procurement platforms you have used (e.g., MS Excel, SAP, Oracle, COINS, or specialized housing management systems).
- Quantify Your Output: Demonstrate scale by using numerical metrics (e.g., “Processed over 150+ weekly purchase orders and reviewed subcontractor invoices totaling £50k+ with zero audit errors”).
- Emphasize Compliance & Accuracy: Emphasize your familiarity with procurement governance, auditing, and schedule-of-rates (SoR) verification.
Interview Preparation Guide
1. Technical & Process Questions
- Purchase Order Workflow: Be ready to walk through the lifecycle of a PO from quote request to invoice matching and project sign-off.
- Discrepancy Handling: How do you handle a situation where a subcontractor submits an application for payment that exceeds the value of the approved PO?
- Prioritization Under Pressure: How do you prioritize urgent repair POs alongside routine weekly supplier processing?
2. Behavioral & Governance Scenarios
- Governance Compliance: Prepare an example where you identified a missing approval or policy violation and took the right steps to correct it before releasing funds.
- Stakeholder Management: Be prepared to describe how you maintain positive relationships with contractors while enforcing strict commercial guidelines.
- Practice answering using the STAR Method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
How to Apply
- Update Your Resume: Tailor your CV to reflect commercial administration, PO processing, and housing/FM sector experience.
- Prepare a Cover Letter: Highlight your specific suitability for a hybrid role in Dagenham and briefly outline your background in commercial records management.
- Submit Application: Apply through the official BD Group careers page or via their designated portal link.
Application/ Career portal Link: Here
Disclaimer
This job summary and interview guide are generated independently for career guidance and informational purposes only. Position details, salary, and requirements are subject to change by BD Group. BD Group is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates should confirm exact submission requirements directly on the official employer listing.
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