Sr SAM License Analyst

We are seeking an experienced Sr Software Asset Management (SAM) License Analyst who serves as the organization's subject matter expert in managing and responding to external and internal software license audits. This role is central to ensuring audit readiness, supporting vendor audits, and interpreting complex licensing models and entitlements. The ideal candidate brings deep understanding of the software audit landscape, risk exposure analysis, and vendor compliance enforcement. This position will partner closely with procurement, legal, IT, and finance teams to maintain audit controls and support enterprise compliance with license agreements.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for software and vendor license audits initiated by third-party vendors or auditors; Coordinate cross-functional teams (IT, procurement, legal, finance) to gather required data, documents, and evidence for audits; Interpret requests from auditors and ensure timely, complete, and accurate responses; Manage audit timelines and ensure audit activities are conducted within legal and contractual boundaries; Maintain a current audit landscape profile of high-risk vendors and their audit practices; Develop and maintain an audit risk matrix based on vendor contract terms, license models, and past audit history; Identify vendors with potential audit exposure and proactively engage stakeholders to mitigate risk; Analyze software entitlements, deployment data, and actual usage across environments (on-premise, cloud, hybrid); Compare usage vs. entitlement to identify under-licensing, over-licensing, or misaligned deployments; Provide licensing expertise and interpretations of complex licensing models (SaaS, perpetual, subscription, consumption-based); Maintain audit documentation libraries including vendor correspondence, contract terms, deployment evidence, and audit reports; Develop and improve audit response templates, checklists, and workflows; Support the creation and maintenance of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for audit handling and software license control; Partner with internal stakeholders to explain audit findings, recommend corrective actions, and support remediation; Deliver periodic reports and dashboards on audit status, exposure, and trends to executive leadership and compliance committees; Provide advisory support during contract renewals or renegotiations; Lead internal mock audits or dry runs to evaluate readiness for upcoming vendor audits; Conduct awareness sessions and training for IT and procurement stakeholders on license audit risks and mitigation strategies; Recommend tools, practices, and governance frameworks to support ongoing license compliance

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Business, Accounting, or a related field; 4-7 years of experience in software license compliance, audit management, or software asset management (SAM); Proven experience handling third-party software audits from vendors such as Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, Adobe, etc.; Experience in a Vendor Management Office or working with procurement/legal/IT on licensing matters is highly desirable; Strong understanding of software licensing models (perpetual, SaaS, subscription, user/device-based, cloud usage); Familiarity with contract language related to licensing and audit rights; Working knowledge of audit processes, risk management, and compliance frameworks; High attention to detail in interpreting licensing terms, product use rights (PURs), and deployment metrics; Strong project management, coordination, and documentation skills; Experience with SAM tools (e.g., Flexera, Snow, ServiceNow Software Asset Management, Aspera); Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, data analysis) and collaboration tools (e.g., SharePoint, Teams, PowerPoint); Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and manage teams across different time zones; Ability to interpret and cross-reference large datasets and licensing entitlements; Understanding of how audit outcomes impact vendor relationships and contract negotiations; Ability to assess, communicate, and mitigate audit risks effectively; Strong interpersonal and communication skills; Must handle sensitive vendor communications and legal matters with the utmost confidentiality; Must be willing to work on site 4 days a week in Hyderabad, during US EST time zone

Nice to have

Certified Software Asset Manager (CSAM) – IAITAM; Certified IT Asset Manager (CITAM); ITIL Foundation; Licensing-specific certifications (e.g., Microsoft Certified: Licensing Specialist); Familiarity with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle) and ticketing systems (e.g., ServiceNow)