Clerical assistant

Salary: £22,859.20 - £24,388.00

Location: 3a Bridge Street, Wick, Caithness

Hours: 35 hours per week

Grade: GS1-2

Contact: Fiona Gove (Fiona.Gove@highland.gov.uk) 01463 383768 or Jimmy McCarthy (Jimmy.McCarthy@highland.gov.uk) 01463 383756

Applications are invited for this full-time permanent post based in the Board's office at 3a Bridge Street, Wick, Caithness, KW1 4AG. The Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board is an independent public authority established by The Valuation Joint Boards (Scotland) Order 1995. We provide a professional valuation and electoral registration service for both Highland and Western Isles areas in respect of compilation and maintenance of the Valuation Roll, Valuation (Council Tax) Lists, and Registers of Electors.

As part of a team, you will be required to carry out all clerical tasks associated with the post. You will also deal with enquiries from members of the public and others by letter, e-mail, on the telephone and at the public reception desk. Good literacy and numeracy skills are essential along with excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Experience of working in a business support environment is desirable.

Benefits of working for us include access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, a generous leave package including annual and public holidays, flexitime along with a range of other family friendly policies. The Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board values diversity and offers equality of opportunity. All applicants will be considered fairly and on merit. As a disability confident employer, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria requirements for the post. Application form, job specification/person specification are available on our website www.highland.gov.uk/hwi-vjb (job vacancies). You will be required to undertake a basic Disclosure check.

Job Purpose

To undertake a range of clerical duties including daily database processing and dealing with enquiries from the public. The postholder will provide a high quality, efficient and effective service to end users.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Operate a range of in-house computer systems.
• Carry out all clerical tasks associated with the post.
• Deal with enquiries from members of the public and others by letter and e-mail, on the telephone and at the public reception desk.
• Assist with maintenance of filing systems following appropriate Board policies.
• Prepare, save and send letters, and other documents as required.
• Process confidential, personal and sensitive information.
• Open and deal with incoming mail.
• Participate in special projects organised from time to time by senior staff.
• Assist senior staff with updating of excel spreadsheets and word documents.
• Promote and maintain a highly professional approach in dealing with the public.
• Behave at all times with honesty, integrity and self-respect.
• Process electoral registration forms including those arising from rolling registration and annual canvass.
• Process valuation and council tax list changes in line with the Board's statutory duties.

Person Specification – Essential Attributes

• Good literacy and numeracy skills.
• ICT skills including the use of MS Office applications.
• Apply confidentiality appropriately, taking account of data protection.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Able to work remotely as part of a team across multiple areas.
• Experience of dealing directly with the public.
• Reliability and commitment to the department.
• Work effectively to deadlines, work on own initiative and as part of a team.
• Be able to adapt to change.
• Manage and prioritise constant and often conflicting demands.

Person Specification – Desirable Attributes

• Good general education along with relevant qualification at SVQ level 2 or equivalent experience.
• Experience of working in a business support environment.
• Knowledge of SharePoint would be advantageous.

Candidates should demonstrate on their application how they meet the essential criteria.

Health and Safety

Health & Safety is an integral part of any role within the Highland & Western Isles Valuation Joint Board. As such we would expect that all employees:

• Undertake a continual program of Risk Assessment in relation to their role.
• Have an understanding of the importance of Health and Safety in the workplace and familiarise themselves with the Valuation Joint Board's Health & Safety Procedures.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

The Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board operates a guaranteed interview scheme for anyone who has a disability. You will be guaranteed an interview if you meet all the essential criteria as outlined in this job and person specification.

Closing date is Monday 23rd June 2025.