Business Support Officer

Purpose of the Role

To support the delivery of programmes and projects, liaising with area teams to maintain and strengthen effective partnerships with Local Authorities and other public and private sector agencies.

To support the Business Support Manager and area teams by providing programme, project and financial information in line with local and corporate requirements and through liaison with corporate and area team colleagues.

Main Duties and Key Accountabilities of the jobholder

• Support the delivery of local investment programmes and projects with Local Authority and other public and private sector partners in the area.
• Report regularly on the performance of specific investment programmes and projects to area management in liaison with the area technical assistants.
• Support the area teams in the planning of future programmes and projects to meet local and national priorities.
• Participate in relevant working groups internally and externally to contribute to the development of policy, processes and programmes, ensuring that knowledge and learning is shared within the area team.
• To raise all purchase orders on the eFinancials system ensuring that they are authorised in accordance with the financial delegations.
• To check all supplier statements and deal with suppliers and provide a high quality customer service on a day to day basis.
• Supporting the area teams by maintaining (and managing where necessary) a programme information system and monitoring area programme and project information, checking appropriate approvals are in place and taking action to resolve any inaccuracies.
• Manage the day to day banking operations and manage petty cash.
• Responsible for the processing and preparation of all financial documents to support the area, including annual budget returns, year end accounts, invoicing and day to day financial payments in line with corporate procedures.
• Monitor, control and report using software and data analysis tools on programme, project and financial information relating to spend, receipts, milestones, outputs and targets in line with corporate systems and procedures.
• Ensure internal control checks are in place for financial and project control system to ensure that the Financial Regulations and delegated authorities are adhered to. Ensure they are reconciled and kept up to date, and errors reported and corrected on a regular basis.
• Ensure that a contract register for all regional contracts is maintained and kept up to date.
• Liaise with the corporate finance team to ensure that necessary financial data and processes are up to date.
• Liaise with area teams in respect of raising and maintaining a record of project approval forms and subsequent approvals.
• Use data analysis tools (such as Business Object, Excel, Access, GIS etc) to an advanced level in order to produce reports and local systems that will assist staff to meet local targets.
• Assist with the co-ordination of information and analysis to ensure up to date assessments of registered social landlord performance and develop capacity are taken into account when allocation decisions are confirmed, and more generally as appropriate.
• Responsible for ensuring the IMS, PCS other bespoke application reporting is up to date. Produce and check reports that will assist staff to meet local targets, including reporting on any overspend against approvals and all other exception reporting to ensure the integrity of the systems

Role Requirements

Qualifications (academic and professional, knowledge, skills and experience required to do the job

Competencies (postholder should be able to demonstrate all competencies at the appropriate level, paying particular attention to the behavioural indicators below).

Qualifications

• Proficient in the use of appropriate IT systems and have advanced level Excel training and appropriate higher education qualification eg BTEC, HNC etc

Strategic thinking

• Considers the impact of own work across other areas of teams
• Understands the strategies of local partners (e.g. local authorities); uses such knowledge to plan and deliver relevant projects and programmes

Leadership

• Clearly visible as a technical leader within the business; happy to share own expertise with others

Innovative Thinking

• Contributes ideas to the development of policy, processes and programmes and seizes opportunities to improve quality

Analysis and Planning

• Scans widely for a range of diverse information sources and critically reviews these to make sound judgements

Networking and influencing

• Manages up skilfully and regularly to ensure that senior management are aware of developments and plans; manipulates attention to key priorities
• Enjoys a high internal and external profile; builds networks and relationships to broker effectively across partnerships

Communication

• Shows effective communication skills (e.g. active listening, written and verbal skills) and varies style and method appropriate to context

Focus on Results

• Consistently delivers on target, to time, quality and budget.
• Keeps a clear focus on key priorities and works to achieve them;