Bereavement Services Administrator

Reading Borough Council; Reading; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Flexible working opportunities

Life Assurance (LGPS)

Season Ticket Loan

Lease car salary sacrifice scheme

Job summary

Reading Borough Council is seeking a Bereavement Services Administrator to join our dedicated Bereavement Services team. This rewarding role supports families, funeral directors and members of the public during some of the most significant and difficult times in their lives.

We are committed to delivering high-quality administrative support for burial, cremation and memorial services, ensuring accuracy, sensitivity and compliance with legal requirements while providing outstanding customer care.

Qualifications

• Experience in a customer-facing environment with sensitivity and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Administration experience requiring accuracy, confidentiality and meeting deadlines.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and listening skills.
• Good IT skills and confidence using a range of systems.
• Flexible and adaptable approach to work.
• Ability to undertake research and maintain accurate records.
• GCSEs in English and Maths with a good standard of education.

Responsibilities

• Processing burial, cremation and memorial applications accurately and efficiently.
• Managing bookings for services, memorials and strewing ceremonies.
• Providing a professional and compassionate reception service.
• Handling enquiries and complaints sensitively and in line with Council procedures.
• Administering the Book of Remembrance and supporting memorial enquiries.
• Undertaking family history and grave record research for members of the public.
• Processing financial transactions, invoicing and banking responsibilities.
• Supporting burial, cremation and strewing services when required.

Skills

Customer service

Attention to detail

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

IT literacy

Education

GCSEs in English and Maths

Tools

IT systems

Job description

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Are you an organised administrator with excellent customer service skills and a compassionate approach? Do you thrive in a role where accuracy, sensitivity and attention to detail are essential?

Reading Borough Council is seeking a Bereavement Services Administrator to join our dedicated Bereavement Services team. This rewarding role supports families, funeral directors and members of the public during some of the most significant and difficult times in their lives.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the role

As a Bereavement Services Administrator, you will play a vital role in ensuring burial, cremation and memorial services are delivered professionally, sensitively and in accordance with all legal requirements. You will provide high-quality administrative support whilst delivering outstanding customer care to families and stakeholders.

Key responsibilities include:

• Processing burial, cremation and memorial applications accurately and efficiently.
• Managing bookings for services, memorials and strewing ceremonies.
• Providing a professional and compassionate reception service.
• Handling enquiries and complaints sensitively and in line with Council procedures.
• Administering the Book of Remembrance and supporting memorial enquiries.
• Undertaking family history and grave record research for members of the public.
• Processing financial transactions, invoicing and banking responsibilities.
• Supporting burial, cremation and strewing services when required

About you

We are looking for someone who can combine professionalism with empathy and who is committed to delivering an exceptional level of service.

You will have:

• Experience working in a customer-facing environment where sensitivity, patience and excellent interpersonal skills are essential.
• Administration experience involving accuracy, confidentiality and meeting deadlines.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
• Strong communication and listening skills.
• Good IT skills and confidence using a range of systems.
• A flexible and adaptable approach to work.
• The ability to undertake research and maintain accurate records.
• GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths together with a good standard of education

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place. Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team -

work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do

Drive Efficiency -

show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential

Be Ambitious -

be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way

Make a Difference to Reading -

maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

Closing Date: Tuesday 15th September 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Interview Process: To be confirmed