Senior Business Support Assistant (Fixed term to February 2027) in Gateshead

Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading - we might be the perfect match. We’re delighted that you’re interested in working with us. You’d be joining us at a very exciting time. We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward-thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive.

At Gateshead Council you’d be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encourages creativity and passionately advocates a great work / life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi-time and hybrid working available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we’re confident that it isn’t just the salary that attracts our staff.

Supporting education services that make a difference to children and families, Education, Schools and Improvement works to ensure that children and young people receive high-quality education and support that enables them to achieve their full potential. The service works closely with schools, early years providers and partners to promote school improvement, inclusion and safeguarding, while supporting children and families with additional needs. It plays a key role in ensuring statutory responsibilities are met, resources are used effectively, and services are delivered efficiently to support positive outcomes for learners across the local area.

Behind every great Education service is great administration — be part of it.

What you will get to do:

• Provide reliable and accurate financial administration to support Education, Schools and Inclusion services.
• Process invoices and support budget monitoring, ensuring payments are handled efficiently and in line with Council financial regulations.
• Maintain well-organised, accurate and up-to-date financial and administrative records, contributing to the smooth running of services that support children, families and schools.
• Deliver high-quality clerical and administrative support across services, ensuring effective day-to-day operations.
• Act as a first point of contact for enquiries from service users, the public and external organisations, providing a professional and helpful service via telephone, email, letter and face-to-face contact.
• Maintain and update manual and digital information systems to support effective service delivery.
• Coordinate Freedom of Information and Subject Access Requests, ensuring statutory timescales are met and GDPR requirements are adhered to.
• Work closely with colleagues across teams, attending meetings at various locations, contributing to discussions and producing clear and accurate minutes or reports when required.
• Support wider administrative processes and undertake additional duties appropriate to the grade of the role.

What you will bring:

• An NVQ Level 3 in Business Administration, or willingness to work towards this, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Relevant administrative experience, ideally within education, local authority or a customer-focused environment.
• Experience of financial administration, including processing invoices, supporting budget monitoring and maintaining accurate, well-organised records.
• Strong clerical and organisational skills, with the ability to manage and prioritise a varied workload to meet deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy, particularly when handling financial, confidential and statutory information.
• Strong IT skills, with confident use of Microsoft Office applications and experience of working with both digital and manual information systems.
• Effective communication and customer service skills, with the ability to work independently, contribute positively to a team, and support meetings, minute‑taking and reporting when required.

What’s in it for you:

• Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
• Outstanding Pension Scheme: We don’t just offer a great salary – we invest in your future too.
• Generous Annual Leave: Enjoy 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 of which can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
• Flexible Working Hours: Benefit from up to 26 flexi days per year (subject to business needs), giving you more control over your time.
• Hybrid & Flexible Working: We support a healthy work-life balance with flexible and hybrid working options.
• Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Health & Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax‑efficient cycle to work programme.
• Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: Get behind the wheel of a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle through our salary sacrifice car scheme in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions – a cost‑effective, environmentally friendly way to drive (after 12 months service).
• Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel, and services – plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics, and more, helping you spread the cost of essential purchases (after 6 months service).

Our commitment to you:

We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We know that we deliver better services when our workforce reflects the full range of backgrounds and experiences in the society we serve. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

How to apply:

You can apply online using the apply now button below. Within the form, you’ll be asked for details about you, your career history, skills, experiences and qualifications. We advise you to be as detailed and specific as possible, paying particular attention to any of the above which are relevant to the role to which you are applying. If you have any questions about your application, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our recruitment team via recruitment@gateshead.gov.uk.

Please note: As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. However, in high-volume recruitment situations, it may not always be practicable to interview every eligible candidate. In such cases, we may need to prioritise those who best meet the essential criteria, based on the information provided in the application. Additionally, the Council reserves the right to close this vacancy early or adjust the shortlisting criteria, including the pass mark for interview selection, to ensure a fair and manageable recruitment process. We encourage early applications.