Business Support Assistant in Taunton

Salary: Grade 15, ranging from £24,796 to £25,185 per annum.

Looking to start your career in administration or ready for a fresh challenge where your skills can make a real difference? Join Somerset Council as a Business Support Assistant and become part of a friendly, supportive team that keeps essential services running behind the scenes. This is a great opportunity to build on your existing skills, gain valuable experience, and develop your career in a role where no two days are the same.

Whether you're early in your career or bringing transferable experience, you’ll play a key part in helping services run smoothly and supporting the communities we serve across Somerset.

Role Summary

As our Business Support Assistant, you will provide administrative support to ensure the smooth and efficient running of team, centre, or service activities. You’ll help maintain accurate systems and records, respond to enquiries, and support financial and operational processes. Working across key service areas, including transport provision, you’ll play an important role in supporting day‑to‑day delivery and ensuring residents can access essential services.

What you’ll do – Key Responsibilities

• Provide day‑to‑day administrative support, including coordinating meetings, managing diaries and handling correspondence.
• Prepare and maintain accurate documents, reports, spreadsheets and records.
• Handle sensitive and confidential information with appropriate care.
• Take notes and minutes at meetings where required.
• Act as a first point of contact, responding to enquiries from customers, colleagues and external partners.
• Provide a professional reception service where required.
• Manage team and digital mailboxes, ensuring queries are dealt with promptly.
• Process financial transactions including invoices, purchase orders and payments in line with procedures.
• Raise invoices and support payment processes for suppliers and services.
• Support school transport payments, including operator payments and petrol allowances to parents.
• Resolve queries relating to invoices, payments and service provision.
• Assist with budget monitoring and maintaining accurate financial records.
• Carry out routine system housekeeping and support health, safety and premises‑related tasks.

What we’re looking for – Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Sound working knowledge of IT systems including Microsoft 365.
• Experience of working in an administrative role and within a team.
• Experience of communicating with members of the public face‑to‑face and via telephone, letter and email.
• Experience of handling sensitive and confidential information.
• Experience of minute taking.
• Experience of using client management systems and spreadsheets.
• Minimum NVQ level 2 standard/5 GCSEs, English and Maths, at Grade 4 or above with good standards of literacy, numeracy and accuracy.
• Good organisational skills.
• The ability to prioritise conflicting work demands and have a flexible approach.
• The ability to follow agreed processes to ensure consistency is provided.
• The ability to produce high standards of accurate work and to work to deadlines.
• Ability to communicate clearly and confidently in English, both verbally and in writing.

Additional Information

• Permanent contract, 4 days per week (29 hours).
• You must be available to work on Fridays; your non‑working day can be agreed when you start, depending on service needs.
• 25 days’ annual leave, additional to Bank Holidays (pro‑rata).
• Your place of work is County Hall in Taunton, but the team predominantly work from home with regular office days.
• Regretfully, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for VISA sponsorship.
• Interviews are due to take place week commencing 22 June 2026.
• For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Laura Adams, Business Support Supervisor on 01823 358176 or laura.adams@somerset.gov.uk.