Chanel Senior Process Owner, Travel & Expense
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Senior
- Department
- Finance, Accounting & Revenue Management
- Posted
- Aug 25, 2026
About Chanel
Chanel is one of the world’s most revered luxury houses, founded by Gabrielle Chanel and distinguished by an enduring vision of elegance, freedom, and modernity. As an employer, the House brings together métiers ranging from haute couture, fashion and leather goods to fragrance, beauty, watches, and fine jewelry, offering employees the opportunity to contribute to a legacy defined by exceptional craftsmanship and creative audacity. Chanel values excellence, discretion, collaboration, and long-term development, fostering an environment where talent is nurtured and heritage is continually reinterpreted for contemporary clients. Its teams are united by a commitment to quality, innovation, and the timeless spirit of the brand.
Chanel seeks Senior Process Owner, Travel & Expense in London, UK — lead global T&E optimization, manage teams, drive automation and compliance.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead the global functional Travel and Expense team and manage direct reports in the Continuous Improvement function
- Develop and implement T&E reporting frameworks at global, regional, and market levels; coordinate travel management operations and activities
- Serve as subject matter expert and escalation point for T&E process change requests, business change assessments, testing, and go-live support across Chanel divisions and regional markets
- Define, monitor, and report key performance indicators (KPIs) and performance targets; establish risk and control matrices in collaboration with Internal Audit and Global Process Owners
- Drive automation, simplification, and elimination initiatives using robotics and emerging technologies to increase process efficiency and deliver measurable value
- Author, review, and approve process documentation, SOPs, and market-specific localizations; maintain ownership of T&E process streams and training materials
- Establish and animate a T&E process community comprising regional and market subject matter experts to ensure cross-functional alignment and best practice sharing
- Review local process variations against the standard global model; propose, analyze, and recommend process improvements aligned with governance board principles
- Conduct Travel Agency and Travel Management Provider implementations, including supplier business reviews and SLA compliance monitoring
- Build and maintain strong stakeholder relationships across regional leadership to drive change adoption and build confidence in global systems
Qualifications
- Proven experience in a complex, matrix organization with global scope and multi-regional responsibilities
- Advanced expertise in T&E processes, platform implementations, and compliance requirements
- Demonstrated proficiency with Tier 1 T&E platforms (Concur, Coupa, D365) and Travel Management Providers (Amex GBT preferred)
- Strong background in Finance, Internal Control, or Travel operations with process compliance knowledge
- Expertise in influencing change across global and local environments
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel with strong data analysis capabilities
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with confidence presenting to senior and large audiences
- Demonstrated ability to think strategically, work independently with minimal supervision, and manage competing priorities
- Detail-oriented mindset with proactive time management and strong customer focus
Skills
Experience
Minimum 8 years of progressive experience in travel and expense management, finance operations, or internal controls within a global organization; proven track record leading T&E platform implementations, managing cross-functional teams, and driving process improvement initiatives in a matrix environment.
Education
Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or equivalent professional qualification. Relevant certifications in process management, internal audit, or compliance are advantageous.
Workplace
This position is based in London, England, UK.
Culture
Chanel fosters a culture of timeless creativity, exacting craftsmanship, and quiet excellence, where employees are encouraged to uphold the house’s heritage while contributing to its continued innovation. The workplace environment is refined, collaborative, and deeply committed to quality, offering professionals the opportunity to grow within a globally respected maison that values discretion, artistry, and long-term vision.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Chanel, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Travel & Expense Process Manager», «Global Travel Operations Manager», «Process Lead, Travel & Expense», «Travel Management Specialist», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.