Business Support Officer Looked After Children

East Sussex County Council; Hailsham; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Hailsham is seeking a Business Support Officer to assist the Looked After Children service. This role involves administration, data analysis, and team management, ensuring the smooth operation of services. Successful candidates will have NVQ Level 4 in Business Administration and strong organisational skills. The position offers a competitive range of benefits and is essential to public service operations.

Benefits

Diverse range of benefits

Qualifications

• Ability to design, develop and implement effective administrative systems.
• Supervision or line management experience required.
• Ability to organise own and team workload and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Provide effective local financial support to managers.
• Operate financial administration and procurement processes.
• Maintain office supplies to ensure effective operation.

Skills

Strong organisational skills

Excellent communication

Proactive approach to leadership

Ability to work on own initiative

Education

NVQ Level 4 in Business Administration

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Power Point

Outlook

Job description

Overview

Job Description
The Business Support Officer role supports the Looked After Children (LAC) service within the Children’s Services team in East Sussex. The role involves administration, data analysis, project support, and communication to ensure the smooth running of day-to-day operations. The post also includes managing a team of Senior Business Administrators, overseeing workload and supporting remote and office-based staff.

Working closely with managers, schools, and health professionals, the Business Support Officer provides high-level business and technical support—including financial reconciliation and project coordination—to help safeguard children and enhance their life chances. The role requires a confident professional with strong organisational skills, excellent communication, and a proactive approach to leadership and service delivery.

Responsibilities

• Provide effective local financial support to managers, using computerised management information systems to deliver information and forecasts on spending and income and other business data, investigate financial queries, report findings, and make recommendations for action as appropriate.
• Operate financial administration and procurement processes in compliance with corporate rules, including raising orders, arranging payments, requesting invoices, and maintaining local financial records.
• Maintain office supplies and purchase office stock as required to ensure the effective operation of administrative services and to meet team needs.

Required qualifications and experience

• NVQ Level 4 in Business Administration or equivalent relevant experience.
• Ability to design, develop and implement effective administrative systems to meet changing needs of the service.
• Supervision or line management experience.
• Ability to organise own and team workload and meet deadlines, work calmly and effectively under pressure.
• Ability to exercise discretion in dealing with sensitive information to maintain strict confidentiality where appropriate.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook and Internet Explorer; experience of operating effective administration management processes.
• Ability to work on own initiative.

Other information

This role is characterised by its essential, behind-the-scenes contribution to a vital public service. Your strong organisational, communication, and IT skills will help to support the work of child protection and safeguarding professionals.

To apply, please follow the ‘Apply Now’ button and address how you meet all the criteria in the person specification, drawing on any relevant work/life experience, education, or personal interests. Please review the job description and person specification for more information. Interviews will be within two weeks of the advert closing and will be in person at Lansdowne Secure Unit in Hailsham.

We offer a diverse range of benefits to support you during employment. More information can be found on our benefits page.

For an informal discussion about this opportunity contact Hannah Jones (Business Support Manager) at [e-mail].

Additional Information: This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced check for Regulated Activity with the DBS. Overseas police check may be required if you have lived or worked abroad. Your starting salary will be pro rata if part-time or term-time only. If sponsorship is required to work in the UK, inform the hiring manager in your application. Reasonable adjustments can be requested by contacting the hiring manager.