Clerical Assistant

Forth Ports Group; Tilbury; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Generous annual leave

Defined contribution pension up to 16.

In-house Occupational Health

Employee Assistance Programme

Physiotherapy Support

Annual Christmas gift

GymFlex

Cycle to Work

On-site parking

Family-friendly policies

Employee discount platform

Job summary

Forth Ports is seeking a Clerical Assistant to provide efficient and accurate office-based support to the Conventional Department at the Port of Tilbury. You will maintain records, process invoices, update systems, and help prepare management information and routine documentation.

The role requires strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. A professional approach to customers, suppliers, and colleagues is essential.

Qualifications

• Good administrative and organisational skills, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and process information effectively.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, with a professional telephone and email manner.
• Ability to prioritise workload and manage several administrative tasks.
• Ability to work independently and contribute effectively as part of a team.
• Competence in Microsoft Office, particularly Outlook, Word and Excel.
• Comfort working with figures and undertaking routine invoice and financial administration.
• Ability and willingness to learn relevant company systems and processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide general clerical and administrative support for the day-to-day running of the Conventional Department.
• Accurately record and maintain operational, customer and commercial information across company systems, spreadsheets and files.
• Prepare, process and record invoices, purchase orders and supporting information for customer billing and internal financial processes.
• Review records, identify discrepancies or missing information, and elevate issues where appropriate.
• Prepare routine reports, documents, correspondence and management information.
• Support customer accounts and operational activities, liaising with customers, suppliers and internal departments as required.
• Respond professionally and promptly to telephone, email and general office enquiries.
• Support labour allocation, including recording overtime and absence.
• Collate and process manifest entries and HM Customs clearances.
• Maintain confidentiality and complete assigned work accurately within agreed timescales.

Skills

Good administrative skills

Organisational skills

Written and verbal communication

Prioritising workload

Independent worker / team player

Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel

Attention to detail

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel)

Job description

Job Title: Clerical Assistant

Location: Port of Tilbury

Hours: Monday – Friday 09:00 – 17:00

Compensation: £25,000 - £29,000 – dependant on experience

At Forth Ports, we keep trade, logistics, and infrastructure moving. Every day, our teams support the flow of goods, materials, and services that businesses and communities rely on, helping to power economic growth across the UK and beyond. Our people are at the core of everything we do, and their expertise, commitment, and innovation drive our success.

With our commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2032 and Net Zero by 2042, we're investing heavily in sustainable and digital technologies, including major growth in offshore wind and greener port operations. For you, this means joining a business that's evolving, ambitious, and making a real difference.

About The Role

We are looking for a Clerical Assistant to provide efficient and accurate office-based support to our Conventional Department at the Port of Tilbury. You will maintain operational and commercial information, process invoices, update records and systems, prepare routine documentation and management reports, support labour allocation and HM Customs entries, and help keep the department’s day-to-day administration running smoothly. Working closely with colleagues across the department, you will ensure information is accurate, complete and processed on time.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide general clerical and administrative support for the day-to-day running of the Conventional Department.
• Accurately record and maintain operational, customer and commercial information across company systems, spreadsheets and files.
• Prepare, process and record invoices, purchase orders and supporting information for customer billing and internal financial processes.
• Review records, identify discrepancies or missing information, and elevate issues where appropriate.
• Prepare routine reports, documents, correspondence and management information.
• Support customer accounts and operational activities, liaising with customers, suppliers and internal departments as required.
• Respond professionally and promptly to telephone, email and general office enquiries.
• Support labour allocation, including recording overtime and absence.
• Collate and process manifest entries and HM Customs clearances.
• Maintain confidentiality and complete assigned work accurately within agreed timescales.

What we're looking for:

You will be an organised and dependable administrator who takes pride in producing accurate work. You will be comfortable balancing several priorities, working independently and contributing as part of a team. A professional approach to customers, suppliers and colleagues is essential, together with the discretion to handle confidential and commercially sensitive information appropriately.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Good administrative and organisational skills, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to maintain accurate records and process information effectively
• Good written and verbal communication skills, with a professional telephone and email manner
• Ability to prioritise workload and manage several administrative tasks
• Ability to work independently and contribute effectively as part of a team
• Competence in Microsoft Office, particularly Outlook, Word and Excel
• Comfort working with figures and undertaking routine invoice and financial administration
• Ability and willingness to learn relevant company systems and processes

What Forth Ports can offer you

At Forth Ports, our people are our priority, and we are committed to creating a flexible, open, and supportive working culture. As part of our team, you will enjoy

• A competitive salary
• Discretionary bonus
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Defined contribution pension scheme with up to 16.5% joint contribution plus life assurance at 4x salary
• In‑house Occupational Health — Provides professional workplace health advice, support, and guidance for employees across all sites
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) — Delivered through Health Assured, offering 24/7, 365‑day confidential wellbeing support via the Wisdom app or telephone access, covering mental health, financial advice, legal guidance, and emotional wellbeing
• Physiotherapy Support — Access to physiotherapy sessions through three external providers in Scotland, plus an onsite physiotherapist once per week in Tilbury
• An annual Christmas thank you gift of a complimentary turkey or meat‑free alternative for all employees
• GymFlex health club memberships offering discounted access to gyms including Nuffield Health, PureGym, Anytime Fitness, The Gym Group, and selected local gyms
• Cycle to Work scheme to support affordable, sustainable commuting
• On‑site free parking available for all employees
• Attractive family-friendly policies, including enhanced maternity cover
• Employee discount platform providing savings on UK-wide restaurants, retail, car rentals, days out, and holidays

We value diversity and inclusivity, and we are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and will consider all applications for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability status.

As a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, we are committed to ensuring that members of the Armed Forces community are treated fairly and are not disadvantaged in their civilian careers because of their service.

We welcome applications from veterans, reservists, cadet force adult volunteers, and military spouses/partners, and we actively support flexible and inclusive recruitment practices.

Required Criteria

• Good administrative and organisational skills, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Competence in Microsoft Office, particularly Outlook, Word and Excel
• Full UK working Rights
• Full UK driving licence

About The Company

Over our 50 years of experience we have witnessed our ports grow to become important assets to support and deliver growth both for the UK and local economies.

The growth impact has been achieved due to the continued investments in our infrastructure, making sure that our ports are able to continually develop their services and support the growth of many industries.

Our people have played a significant role. They have delivered the highest quality of service through their expertise, loyalty and flexibility and, without them, we could not have built the strong reputation and the long term agreements with many customers that we have today.

Company Culture

Welcome to Forth Ports Careers. As a leading port operator, we employ over 1,100 people across our ports in Scotland and the Port of Tilbury in London.

A career in a port business is very rewarding. There is real variety within each role and significant opportunities for promotion and career development. Don’t just take our word for it; view the "Some of our People" section and the video below to gain insight into the kinds of jobs our employees do, how they’ve grown with us, and what motivates them each day.

The port business can be seen as a barometer for the economy and this drives us to be adaptable and fast paced as we identify new business opportunities.

Company Benefits

We are committed to creating a positive working culture for all employees, as well as a good work-life balance.

Here are just some of the benefits of working for Forth Ports.

Vacation, Paid time off, Paid sick days, Retirement plan and/or pension, Employee discounts, Gym membership or wellness programs, Cycle to work, Competitive salary, Employee Assistance Scheme

Salary

£25,000.00 - £29,000.00 per year