Financial Support Officer

Suffolk County Council; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 29 days annual leave (pro rata)

LGPS Pension

Travel and wellbeing benefits

Performance-related pay progression

Training and career development

Flexible working options

Job summary

Suffolk County Council is hiring a Financial Support Officer in Ipswich. The role is hybrid and permanent, with 37 hours per week and a salary of £29,542 per annum (pro rata for part time). You will manage clients’ finances, support vulnerable adults, and coordinate with banks, DWP and other bodies.

Responsibilities include maintaining records, visiting clients, and working with the Client Affairs Team to safeguard financial wellbeing. Travel across Suffolk is required.

Qualifications

• Organised and capable of handling financial information.
• Ability to manage a busy caseload and balance priorities and deadlines.
• Comfort dealing with banks, utilities, government bodies and other organisations.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage a varied caseload of clients and their financial affairs.
• Handle day-to-day finances including bank accounts, bills, benefits, savings and investments.
• Safeguard clients from financial abuse and ensure decisions are in their best interests.
• Maintain clear financial records and case information; travel across Suffolk to visit clients.
• Collaborate with families, carers and professionals and prepare Deputyship applications and Court of Protection reports.

Skills

Organised

Strong communication

Financial information handling

Caseload management

Relationship-building

Job description

• Suffolk County Council

• Address: Beacon House, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 5PB - Hybrid

• Salary: £29,542 per annum (pro rata for part time)

• Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available

• Contract: Permanent

At Suffolk County Council, every role is an opportunity to make a real difference.

As a Financial Support Officer, you will help vulnerable adults who are unable to manage their own finances. You will manage their money on their behalf, from paying bills and managing benefits to dealing with banks and other organisations, ensuring decisions are always made in their best interests.

What we are looking for

You don't need a professional finance background to succeed in this role. If you're used to managing budgets, keeping on top of finances and making money go further, you may already have many of the skills we're looking for.

You will need to be organised and confident working with financial information, with the ability to manage a busy caseload and balance different priorities and deadlines. You should also be comfortable dealing with banks, utility providers, government departments and other organisations, including questioning or challenging decisions when needed to achieve the best outcome for clients.

Strong communication and relationship-building skills are essential. You will work with people who may have dementia, learning disabilities or other vulnerabilities, as well as their families, carers and professionals, so you will need to communicate with compassion, patience and sensitivity.

The role involves regular travel across Suffolk to visit clients, and you will work both independently and as part of a supportive wider team.

Your role and responsibilities

You will manage your own varied caseload of clients, taking responsibility for their financial affairs and ensuring decisions are made in their best interests.

Your responsibilities will include:

• managing clients' day-to-day finances, including bank accounts, household bills, benefits, occupational pensions, savings and investments.
• ensuring clients have access to the money and financial support they need while helping to safeguard them from financial abuse.
• getting to know your clients and understanding their individual circumstances, needs and wishes.
• keeping in regular contact with clients, including visiting them in their own homes, care settings or community environments across Suffolk.
• working closely with family members, carers, social care professionals, banks, utility companies, the Department of Work Pensions (DWP) and other organisations.
• preparing Deputyship applications for the Court of Protection and completing reports for the Office of the Public Guardian.
• maintaining clear and accurate financial records, correspondence and case information.
• dealing sensitively with confidential information and making careful, accountable financial decisions on behalf of clients.

This is a varied role that combines financial management, case management and direct work with vulnerable adults. You will need to feel comfortable taking responsibility for someone else's finances while always keeping their needs and best interests at the centre of your decisions.

The team

The Client Affairs Team is dedicated to supporting some of Suffolk's most vulnerable residents. We manage finances on behalf of individuals through DWP appointeeships and Court of Protection deputyships, helping to safeguard their financial wellbeing and enhance their quality of life.

As part of our friendly and knowledgeable team, you'll benefit from a collaborative environment where learning, innovation and personal development are encouraged. We work flexibly, support one another, and are always looking for new ways to improve the services we provide.

Empowering Everyone

We are big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We are always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Sharon Thompson for an informal conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473 263920 or emailing: [e-mail]

Closing date: 11.30 pm, 16 November 2026.

This role is being advertised as Financial Support Officer for advertising purposes. If appointed, you will be employed as Client Affairs Officer.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We're driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you'll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).