Business Support Officer

Platinum Recruitment NI Ltd; Downpatrick; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a dedicated administrative support professional to provide flexible business support across various Council departments. Responsibilities include administrative and secretarial support, managing data systems, and ensuring excellent customer service. Ideal candidates should have strong qualifications in GCSEs, with relevant experience in customer service and administration, proficient in Microsoft Office. This position is vital in supporting high-quality service standards and effective communication within the Council.

Qualifications

• At least 12 months’ work experience in customer service and administrative duties.
• Ability to demonstrate competence with e-mail and Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience using a Management Information System.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive administrative and secretarial support to Council Officers.
• Process and maintain a range of data and document management systems.
• Organise meetings, prepare agendas, and take minutes.

Skills

Customer service

Administrative duties

Microsoft Office applications

Management Information System

Accuracy in data handling

Education

Grade C or above in at least 4 GCSEs

GCSE English Language

GCSE in a numerate subject

Job description

To provide a comprehensive and flexible administrative Business Support Service working across a range of Council functions/departments as required, this will include implementing and maintaining business support service standards and providing an excellent standard of customer service for internal and external customers.To contribute as team member to the provision of a modern, professional, high quality and responsive business support and customer focused service to support the Corporate and Business Plans of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive administrative and secretarial support to a number of Council Officers on a daily basis including acting as point of contact for a service or department.
• Provide seamless confidential business support and administrative cover working cross departmentally as required within the Business Support Service.
• Provide business support to agreed service standards and standard operating procedures to ensure the highest standards of work, including effective and efficient turnaround times and work prioritisation.
• Process and record applications, system transactions and queries in accordance with approved operating procedures.
• Provide an excellent standard of customer service, including reception services and liaison with other departments of the council, external agencies and members of the public.
• This will include taking ownership of customer queries and complaints and following through to completion.
• Provide advice and information to colleagues and customers on business support processes.
• Process and maintain a range of data and document management systems, this will include filing, archiving, retrieval, research, checking for accuracy, transfer of data to other agencies in line with statutory or service level agreement requirements.
• Prepare papers and reports by actioning recommendations and maintaining follow up and manage correspondence in accordance with departmental procedures.
• Process financial transactions, to include recording and receipt of all monies (including credit card payments), bank lodgements, updating financial records, generating and processing invoices for authorisation, purchasing goods and/or services,
• Maintaining stock control records, assisting with financial claims and budget monitoring in accordance with financial regulations and governance.
• Operate and monitor the Councils manual and computerised booking/requisition systems in accordance with approved procedures.
• Acknowledge correspondence received and draft, issue and respond in accordance with departmental procedures and agreed timescales.
• Organise meetings, prepare agendas, service meetings, take minutes, distribute all relevant documents, action recommendations and maintain follow up as required.
• Assist in the delivery of departmental projects and events, as required.

Skills and Qualifications

• Grade C or above in at least 4 GCSEs or equivalent qualification one of which must be GCSE English Language or equivalent and one of which must be a GCSE in a numerate subject or equivalent.
• Please note that Platinum Recruitment NI Ltd requires original certificates as proof of all qualifications listed on CV.
• At least 12 months’ previous work experience in the following areas: Customer service (internal and/or external customers). Administrative duties which included typing of letters and reports and filing.
• In lieu of qualifications at least 2 years previous work experience in the following areas: Customer service (internal and/or external customers). Administrative duties which included typing of letters and reports and filing.
• At least 6 months’ previous work experience in the use of a Management Information System.
• Be able to demonstrate competence in use of e-mail and Microsoft office applications including Word and Excel.

Area: Republic of Ireland
Closing date: 20 Dec 2025