Business Support Assistant (Finance)

UK Parliament

Working at the UK Parliament offers a unique and rewarding career at the heart of the UK's democratic system.

With a wide range of roles available, our impartial colleagues enable the day to day running of the House of Commons, House of Lords and Joint Departments. Together, we make Parliament happen.

Staff Benefits

In addition to your salary, we offer an attractive range of benefits including:

30 days' annual leave (increasing to 35 days after first full leave year).

• Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
• Access to training and development.
• Flexible working.
• Interest free season ticket loan and bicycle loan.

Introduction

The Chamber and Participation Team (CPT) brings together all the disciplines that support the House of Commons Chamber within one coherent structure - the procedural offices that facilitate the core function of legislating, the operational teams who focus on ensuring that the Chamber runs effectively and efficiently, and the public-facing Participation teams who promote Parliament's role and seek to engage citizens across the UK with parliamentary business.

We deliver face-to-face and online educational programmes and learning resources for schools, teachers, home educators and school-age children across the UK. We also manage engagement activities and campaigns that target the broader UK population, prioritising people and communities who are less engaged with Parliament and Members' work.

The Role

The Business Support Team sits within the Education and Engagement Team. We offer key business support to assist in the smooth running of the department.

This role supports the general finance compliance and administrative support across the Education and Engagement team. The finance aspect of the role includes finance related tasks such as raising purchase orders, tracking invoices, keeping accurate records and setting up new suppliers.

Some of the responsibilities for this role include:

• Support general financial compliance and administration across the Education & Engagement department, including raising purchase orders, tracking invoices, goods receipting, setting up new suppliers, recording Key Performance Indicators, maintaining accurate records and timely reporting.
• Process Travel Subsidy claims and support the finance team and Travel Subsidy Officer in implementing streamlined processes which ensure travel subsidy claims are processed effectively and accurate records are maintained.
• Promptly answer telephone calls and respond to queries effectively.
• Answer emails from teachers,
• Members and their staff, external organisations and members of the public in a timely manner.

Skills and Experience

To be successful in this role you will demonstrate:

• Criterion 1 - Financial administration Experience of, or aptitude for, financial administration, including use of spreadsheets, processing invoices, raising purchase orders etc.
• Criterion 2 - Customer service and communication Communicates clearly, concisely, and effectively both orally and in writing with a range of stakeholders. Experience of or ability to provide excellent customer service in a pressurised environment, particularly on the telephone and via email. Responding positively to changing requirements.
• Criterion 3 - IT experience Experience of working with IT systems such as databases, CRM, booking systems and Microsoft Office software (particularly Word, Excel and Outlook).
• Criterion 4 - Accuracy Ability to accurately process large amounts of data and work effectively to prioritise workload, using own initiative to deal with and resolve problems by suggesting solutions and taking remedial action.
• Criterion 5 - Teamwork and equality and diversity Ability to work successfully within a team, whilst upholding the values of equality, diversity and inclusion.

Next Steps and Additional Information

Application Form - If you would like to apply for this role, please submit an application provided evidence against criteria 1 - 4 in the Job Description.

More information on the role and the full criteria can be found in the Job Description.

Please note that most job offers will be made at the minimum of the salary range, other than in exceptional circumstances.

Please ensure that you anonymise your application by removing any identifiable factors from your CV or Supporting Statement.

As part of the selection process, you may be asked to complete a test or prepare a presentation. Further details will be provided to shortlisted applicants.

We may close the vacancy prior to the closing date stated due to a high volume of applications.