CLERICAL OFFICER

Westmeath County Council; Leinster; On-site; EUR 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Westmeath County Council is recruiting for a Clerical Officer to join a multi-disciplinary team in delivering a range of public services. The post holder will assist with work programmes, operate IT systems, and provide front-line support to citizens across the organisation.

The ideal candidate will have a strong general education, be efficient, customer-focused and able to work both independently and as part of a team, with a commitment to high professional standards.

Qualifications

• Have obtained at least Grade D (or a Pass) in five subjects from the approved list of subjects in the Leaving Certificate Examination or Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme.
• Or have passed an examination of at least equivalent standard; or have two years’ previous service in Clerical Officer or Clerk/Typist roles; or have satisfactory relevant experience with demonstrable equivalent skills.

Responsibilities

• Dealing with members of the public and customer queries.
• Public counter/reception work; ensuring high-quality customer service, responding to queries and providing information.
• Assisting in the implementation of operational work activities and supporting Line Managers and colleagues.
• Collating data and information for reporting; inputting and working with computer data.
• General clerical duties - filing, photocopying, telephone calls, emails; handling and distribution of mail and electronic correspondence.
• Cashiering; processing invoices and payroll for payment; accounts - purchasing, creditors, debtors and general duties.
• Taking minutes of meetings; drafting letters and reports; maintaining high-quality records.

Education

Leaving Certificate five subjects

QQI comparability

Job description

Clerical Officer

Closing date for receipt of applications:4:00pm on Friday, 25th September 2026

Introduction

Westmeath has a population of approximately 90,000 and is in the heart of the country with

excellent road and rail access to all four corners of the island of Ireland, Westmeath has a

rural tranquillity, but ready access to the country’s main urban cities which include Dublin

and Galway in particular.

Our mission, as set out in the Corporate Plan 2024 – 2029, is:

“To represent, lead and serve local communities and to enhance the quality of life for the

people of Westmeath by promoting the sustainable development of the county and

delivering efficient and inclusive services.”

Westmeath County Council consists of 20 members who are elected every five years; The

county is divided into two Municipal Districts of Mullingar/ Kinnegad and Athlone / Moate

with the administrative headquarters of the Council located in Mullingar. There are also

Civic Offices located in Athlone and Castlepollard. Mullingar is the county town while

Athlone is a Regional Growth Centre under the National Planning Framework.

At a strategic level, the Council operates through its Corporate Policy Group comprising the

Cathaoirleach of the Council and the Chairs of the Local Authority’s four Strategic Policy

Committees. The Chief Executive and the Management Team play a key role in supporting

and advising this policy group.

Westmeath County Council has responsibility for delivering a wide range of services in the

local area with a focus on making Westmeath a prosperous county that seeks to support a

vibrant economy, rural quality of life, active and safe communities, diversity, culture and

heritage, healthy and sustainable natural environment along with a sense of community

pride and place. The Council has a workforce of 600 and a budget of €129.4 million in 2026.

The Position

The Council now invites applications from suitably qualified persons who wish to be

considered for inclusion on a panel from which permanent and fixed term contract posts for

the position of Clerical Officer be drawn.

Clerical Officers make a valuable contribution to the provision of Westmeath County Council’s

services. The Clerical Officer will work as part of a multidisciplinary team, assisting with the

implementation of work programmes to achieve goals, targets and standards set out in

Departmental and Team Development Plans. He/she will also be required to operate the

Council’s existing and future IT systems as part of their work.

As part of Westmeath County Council’s commitment to providing quality services to citizens,

the Clerical Officer will assist in delivering a wide range of services across the organisation.

Clerical Officers provide a point of contact for customers to carry out their business and access

information about the Council’s services.

The Clerical Officer should be able to demonstrate a good general education standard and be

efficient and customer service focused.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Dealing with members of the public/customers and customer queries


• Public counter/reception work;


• Ensuring delivery of high-quality customer service, responding to queries and providing information


• Assisting in the implementation of operational work activities and supporting Line Managers and work colleagues


• Collating of data and information gathering for reporting


• Inputting and working with computer data


• General clerical duties - filing, photocopying, telephone calls, dealing with emails


• Handling and distribution of mail including electronic correspondence.


• Cashiering;


• Processing invoices and payroll for payment;


• Accounts - purchasing, creditors, debtors and general accounts duties


• Taking minutes of meetings;


• Drafting of letters and reports;


• Maintaining high-quality records in a thorough and organised manner


• Approaching work in a careful and methodical manner, always displaying accuracy even when conducting routine/repetitive work


• Interviewing customers, e.g., people applying for housing loans;


• Working as part of a team to ensure delivery of services


• Carrying out such other duties that may be assigned from time to time.


• The post holder may be required to perform duties appropriate to the post, other than those detailed above, and to take instructions from and report to an appropriate Officer or such duties as designated from time to time.

Qualifications for the Post

1. Character

Candidates shall be of good character.

2. Health

Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or

b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); orc) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the

free movement of persons; ord) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4

e) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or

any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa

Or

A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.

4. Education, Training, Experience

(i) have obtained at least Grade D (or a Pass), in Higher or Ordinary Level, in five subjects from the approved list of subjects in the Department of Education Established Leaving Certificate Examination or Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme;

or

(ii) have passed an examination of at least equivalent standard;or

(iii) have had at least two year’s previous service in the office of Clerical Officer, Clerk/Typist (Clerical Duties), Clerk Typist (Typing and Clerical Duties) or Clerk/Typist under a local authority, or health board in the State;

or

(iv) have satisfactory relevant experience which encompasses demonstrable equivalent skills.

*Non-Irish Qualifications must be accompanied by a determination from Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to establish their comparability against the Irish National Framework of Qualifications, overseas qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document.

The ideal candidate

• Understand the Council’s purpose and knowledge of public service organisation in Ireland;


• Have an ability to work effectively within a team to achieve a common goal, ensuring standards are adhered to and maintained;


• Have good interpersonal and communications skills;


• Have the ability to provide excellent customer services;


• Understand the changing environment and be capable of adapting to change to deliver quality services to our citizens;


• Demonstrate good administrative experience;


• Have an ability to work on own initiative, in an independent environment and without constant supervision;


• Have an awareness of Health and Safety Legislation and Regulations, the implications for the organisation and the employee, and their application in the workplace.

Remarks are omitted for brevity