Bluestones Staffing
BSNI are working with Belfast City Council to recruit a Business Assistant (Finance) – Admin & Clerical. This role is temporary.
Employment type
Temporary
Number of people required
1
Target start date
18 May 2026
Duration
12 Weeks
Hours per week
37
Monday to Thursday 08.30am to 5.00pm Friday 08.30am to 4.30pm
Rate
PAYE: £17.18 per hour
Job location
4-10 Linenhall Street, Belfast, BT2 8BP, United Kingdom
Main purpose of job
To be responsible to the appropriate officer in assisting with the provision of a financial and systems service to ensure the business needs of the Department are met in an efficient and cost effective manner.
To carry out duties associated with the management of expenditure, income, information, and systems for the Department.
To be responsible for ensuring that allocated tasks and the tasks of relevant staff are carried out to ensure the required standards of service delivery are maintained.
Summary of responsibilities and personal duties
The post holder shall assist in the provision of advice and guidance to Departmental staff on a range of finance and systems related matters. Postholders will be expected to work across the full range of duties and responsibilities.
To take day to day responsibility for monitoring the procurement of goods and services (purchase orders) and processing direct payments in accordance with relevant council and departmental procedures.
To assist the appropriate Officer in the preparation of all documentation in relation to quotations or tenders, maintaining a procurement database and participating in the evaluation of relevant quotations and tenders as appropriate.
To monitor and resolve invoice related queries and compliance issues in conjunction with departmental and corporate staff ensuring deadlines are met.
To be responsible for the maintenance of the Department�s petty cash/floats and the timely recoupment of same from the Finance and Resources Department.
To maintain records associated with the payment and receipt of grants and to liaise with Departmental staff regarding grant payment issues.
To collate and prepare weekly and monthly income and VAT returns for the Department in line with all relevant procedures.
To assist the appropriate Officer in ensuring the centralised control of income, and management of the Department�s sales ledger and debt in line with Departmental and corporate procedures.
To assist the appropriate Officer with the management and administration of Departmental systems, and carry out functions associated with this role.
To assist in the research, development and management of Departmental processes and systems (not exclusively IT systems) in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
To assist in the provision of management information in relation to both finance and performance, including liaising with Departmental Managers in accordance with Council policies, procedures and timetables.
To assist the appropriate Officer in the provision and maintenance of effective records management systems.
To assist the appropriate Officer in providing advice and guidance to Departmental Managers on finance, procurement and performance related matters in line with Departmental and Corporate procedures.
To assist the appropriate Officer identify the business support needs of the Department and to assist in developing and implementing systems, procedures, staffing and training arrangements to meet these needs.
To be responsible for daily management and training of any assigned support staff.
To assist as required in the monitoring and reviewing of budgets and to investigate queries in relation to budget variances including corrective action ensuring that accurate records are maintained.
To assist, as required, with the preparation of financial returns for Council and Government Departments.
To assist the appropriate Officer with the preparation of the Annual Revenue Estimates for the Department, including the keying, checking and updating of financial information and systems.
To represent the appropriate Officer in the post holder�s sphere of responsibility when required.
To participate as directed in the council�s selection interview procedure.
To act in accordance with the council and departmental policies and procedures including customer care; equal opportunities; health and safety; safeguarding and any pertinent legislation.
To participate in all induction and in-service training provided by Belfast City Council and in the induction and support of all newly appointed staff and other human resource management procedures as appropriate.
To undertake the duties in such a way as to enhance and protect the reputation and public profile of the council.
To undertake such other relevant duties as may, from time to time, be required.
This job description has been written at a time of significant organisational change and it will be subject to review and amendment as the demands of the role and the organisation evolve. Therefore, the post-holder will be required to be flexible, adaptable and aware that they may be asked to perform tasks, duties and responsibilities which are not specifically detailed in the job description, but which are commensurate with the role.
Essential criteria
Experience
Applicants must, as at the closing date for receipt of application forms, be able to demonstrate on the application form, by providing personal and specific examples, at least one year�s relevant experience in each of the following three areas:
assisting in the collation, review and analysis of budget and financial reports and processing all associated financial transactions;
dealing with the receipt of income including the completion of reconciliations and, or the processing of orders for goods and services in accordance with the relevant processes and procedures; and
supervising staff on a daily basis within an office environment including programming workloads and priorities.
Special skills and attributes
Applicants must be able to demonstrate, by providing personal and specific examples, evidence of the following special skills and attributes which may be tested at interview:
People management and development skills: the ability to effectively manage and encourage teamwork to deliver successful results, building rapport with others, as well as offering help and support and developing others through training and mentoring.
Technical knowledge: a knowledge of financial systems in order to provide advice and guidance on departmental financial matters.
Communication skills: the ability to demonstrate good communication skills and to communicate with a wide range of people, both verbally and in writing.
Customer care skills: the ability to deal with and respond to the needs of a diverse range of internal and external customers, including members of the public.
Team working skills: the ability to be an effective team member with the ability to work towards and achieve team goals and outcomes.
Information Technology skills: the ability to use both specialist software packages and standard Microsoft Office programmes.
Decision making and problem solving skills: a practical approach to problem solving with the ability to extract, analyse and report upon service information, in order to make decisions on operational issues.
Work planning and organisational skills: the ability to prioritise and plan work to ensure that all targets and quality standards are consistently met.
Short-listing criteria
In addition to the above experience, Belfast City Council reserves the right to short-list only those applicants who, as at the closing date for receipt of application forms:
in the first instance, have five GCSEs (grades A-C) including English, or equivalent qualifications, or, have passed the computer-based assessment test for Business Support Clerk, WPO/Clerk or Clerical Officer recruitment campaigns and have been appointed to one of these roles; and
in the second instance, can demonstrate on the application form, by providing personal and specific examples, at least two years� relevant experience in each of the three areas detailed above.
For more information contact Jessica or Debbie on 02895219313
BSNI are an acting recruitment agency.