Director, Travel & Expense Management

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('Versant') comprised of most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed during 2025.

The Director of Global Travel & Expense will lead the strategic and operational management of Versant’s end-to-end global Travel & Expense Management, as well as Commercial Card programs. This role is responsible for overseeing global provision of company-wide employee travel operations for Versant businesses, including the re-design of in-source, co-source and out-source operational models to ensure cost effective, efficient operations. The Director will drive policy compliance, ensuring accurate and timely expense processing, maintaining internal controls, and support employees globally through a consistent and efficient travel and expense experience. Reporting to the SVP of Accounting Operations, the Director will manage cross-functional teams and multi-national vendor relationships (e.g., BCD Travel, Concur, CitiBank, BPO) and will play a critical role in ensuring operational readiness for Day 1 and beyond as Versant launches as a newly independent company.  The key purpose of this role is to provide essential travel, commercial card, and compliance operational and strategic leadership serving the needs of Versant’s traveling employees on a global basis.

Key Responsibilities

Service Delivery

• Lead the design and execution of global T&E processes including card issuance, expense reporting, auditing, exception handling, and reimbursement.
• Ensure seamless integration between Concur, CitiBank, and SAP, while coordinating with BPO provider and internal teams for operations and support.
• Oversee recurring and one-time T&E workflows, ensuring timely audits, approvals, and payments across domestic and international entities.[R(1] [J(2] [CC3] 
• Provide strategic direction to and ongoing management of commercial and charted airlines, hotels, and transportation vendor contracts.
• Manage and track spending against the T&E budget to ensure efficient reporting, resource allocation, cost-effectiveness, and compliance with company policies.
• Manage the transition and continuity of T&E service delivery during TSA periods and oversee eventual hand-off or in-house migration.
• Actively nurture business executive and employee relationships and demonstrate excellence in client service.
• Manage global CitiBank card relationship to monitor performance, ensure SLA and contract compliance and resolve operational issues as they arise.
• Responsible for global business travel contract negotiation and relationship management for all lines of travel.
• Responsible for overall Concur business relationship including contract management and oversight of the internal audit process.

Standards and Controls

• Own and enforce global T&E policies and compliance including receipt thresholds, audit protocols, and exception workflows (e.g., personal expenses on corporate cards).
• Ensure 100% audit coverage via Concur AI and manual reviews, and implement continuous control monitoring for policy breaches.
• Partner with Legal, Internal Audit, and Compliance to maintain alignment with regulatory requirements, tax implications, and risk management practices.
• Coordinate with Payroll and Accounting for cross-charging, reimbursements, and exception journal entries.

Performance

• Define and track key T&E performance metrics (e.g., compliance rates, turnaround times, exception volumes, policy violations).
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and process automation improvements leveraging AI-driven auditing and exception workflows.  Drive consistent year on year cost reduction initiatives.
• Own vendor performance and relationship management (e.g., banking partner for cards, Concur for systems, BPO partner), including contract oversight and vendor negotiation to secure favorable corporate terms.
• Drive periodic reviews and continuous improvements based on employee feedback, data insights, and benchmarks.

People

• Build and lead a global T&E team across regions (e.g., US, Amsterdam, Manila) aligned with the Versant shared services and controllership model.
• Serve as a point of escalation and expertise for T&E-related queries and exceptions from business units.
• Drive training, awareness, and user adoption for new systems and policies across SpinCo's employee base.
• Ensure smooth onboarding of T&E responsibilities post-separation and manage change effectively across teams.
• Develop and actively oversee employee professional and career development efforts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, or related field;  MBA strongly preferred.
• 15+ years of experience managing global T&E operations at large multinational organizations. Travel industry expertise is essential.
• Deep knowledge of Concur, SAP, and global commercial card (T&E, P-Card, Virtual Cards, Department Card, etc.,) programs (Citibank preferred).
• Experience standing up new operational capabilities in a transformation or spin-off environment.
• Proven track record of managing third-party service providers and driving cross-functional alignment.
• Strong leadership, communication, and analytical skills with a bias for action and process improvement.
• Travel industry expert and working knowledge of airline / hotel reservation, commercial card programs, industry regulations, and related systems.

Knowledge & Skills

• System Proficiency: Expertise in Concur, SAP, and corporate card platforms (e.g., CitiManager).
• Policy and Compliance: Strong understanding of global T&E policies, audit protocols, and regulatory requirements.
• Operational Excellence: Skilled in automation, exception handling, and third-party vendor oversight.
• Data-Driven: Ability to interpret T&E metrics and drive improvements through insights.
• Global Mindset: Experience supporting multi-region T&E operations and coordinating with payroll, tax, and HR functions.
• Leadership: Proven ability to manage global teams and lead through change.

Additional Information

• Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the office a minimum of three days per week. Subject to change based on Manager discussion or business need.
• This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other benefits and perks. Learn more about the benefits offered by NBCUniversal by visiting the Benefits page of the Careers website. 

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].

Although you'll be hired as an NBCU employee, your employment and the responsibilities associated with this job likely will transition to Versant in the future. By joining at this pivotal time, you'll be a part of this exciting company as it takes shape.