We are seeking a professional, organised and customer-focused Business Support Officer to provide a comprehensive and flexible administrative support service across a range of Council functions and departments.
This role is ideal for someone with strong administration skills, excellent attention to detail and the ability to deliver a high-quality business support and customer service function in a busy public sector environment.
About the Role
As a Business Support Officer, you will provide administrative, clerical and secretarial support to Council Officers and departments, helping to ensure services are delivered efficiently, professionally and to agreed standards.
You will act as a key point of contact for services or departments, support internal and external customers, process information and financial transactions, maintain records and systems, and assist with meetings, projects and general business support activities.
The post will be based in Council offices in Newry or Downpatrick, with work required across the Council district as needed.
Key Responsibilities
Your duties will include:
- Providing comprehensive administrative and secretarial support to Council Officers on a daily basis.
- Acting as a point of contact for a service or department.
- Delivering confidential business support and administrative cover across departments as required.
- Working to agreed service standards, standard operating procedures and turnaround times.
- Processing and recording applications, system transactions and customer queries.
- Providing excellent customer service, including reception duties where required.
- Liaising with Council departments, external agencies and members of the public.
- Taking ownership of customer queries and complaints and following them through to completion.
- Providing advice and information to colleagues and customers on business support processes.
- Processing and maintaining data and document management systems.
- Carrying out filing, archiving, retrieval, research and accuracy checks.
- Transferring data to other agencies in line with statutory or service-level requirements.
- Preparing papers, reports and correspondence in line with departmental procedures.
- Actioning recommendations and maintaining follow-up records.
- Processing financial transactions, including recording and receipting monies.
- Handling credit card payments, bank lodgements and updating financial records.
- Generating and processing invoices for authorisation.
- Purchasing goods and services in line with procedures.
- Maintaining stock control records.
- Assisting with financial claims and budget monitoring.
- Operating and monitoring manual and computerised booking and requisition systems.
- Acknowledging, drafting, issuing and responding to correspondence within agreed timescales.
- Organising meetings, preparing agendas, servicing meetings and taking minutes.
- Distributing relevant documents and following up on agreed actions.
- Assisting with departmental projects and events.
- Supporting the maintenance of business support and quality management systems.
- Monitoring, reviewing and helping to improve systems as directed.
- Providing peer support with staff inductions, work placement students and training programmes.
- Contributing to high-quality, cost-effective service delivery within the Business Support Service.
Performance and Development
The successful candidate will be expected to:
- Keep up to date with changes to relevant procedures, policies and best practice.
- Participate in training and development activities.
- Maintain the knowledge, skills and competence required to perform the role effectively.
General Responsibilities
The post holder will be required to:
- Carry out duties in compliance with health and safety legislation, Council policies and relevant codes of conduct.
- Work in a way that enhances and promotes the positive reputation of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
- Behave in accordance with Council values and promote these internally and externally.
- Respect confidentiality at all times.
- Ensure personal and sensitive information is used, stored and maintained in accordance with data protection legislation.
- Contribute to corporate, departmental and regional working groups as required.
- Assist with the Council’s Emergency and Business Continuity Plans when needed.
- Promote diversity and equal opportunities across the organisation.
- Undertake any other duties broadly consistent with the role.
Skills and Experience
The ideal candidate will have:
- Previous experience in an administrative, business support or customer service role.
- Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Good attention to detail and accuracy.
- Experience using computerised systems and Microsoft Office packages.
- The ability to handle confidential information appropriately.
- Experience dealing with internal and external customers.
- The ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- A flexible approach to working across departments and locations.
- Experience processing records, correspondence, applications or financial information would be advantageous.
At Cogent Staffing, we are committed to ethical recruitment practices and fostering an inclusive workplace. We actively encourage applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of race, gender, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. We believe that diversity enriches our teams and enhances our ability to serve our clients effectively.
We ensure that our recruitment processes are fair, transparent, and free from bias, promoting equal opportunities for all applicants.
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Pay: £14.52 per hour
Application question(s):
- Are you available to start from 1st September
- please provide your email address
Work Location: In person
