Business Support & Finance Executive in Ipswich

This role is based in the Suffolk Economy Team (Strategy and Operations) at Endeavour House, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX, with hybrid working options available. The salary is £28,598 per annum (pro-rata for part time) for 37 hours per week, and the contract is permanent.

Responsibilities

• Provide proactive business support and financial administration to help the Suffolk Economy Team deliver its priorities.
• Manage purchase orders and invoices, produce clear monthly reporting, maintain key trackers and filing systems.
• Support the Suffolk Business Board by organising meetings, producing minutes, and following up on actions.
• Process purchase orders, invoices, and payment transactions accurately in line with financial controls.
• Support monthly finance reporting for Delivery Leads and Budget Managers, including basic budget monitoring.
• Liaise with internal teams and external suppliers/partners to validate invoices and resolve queries.
• Maintain secure, accurate financial records and documentation in line with council policies.
• Keep strategic action trackers up to date and produce updates for senior stakeholders.
• Support recruitment activity by organising interviews and preparing candidate materials.
• Manage digital filing systems and ensure correspondence is prioritised and actioned.
• Support procurement administration, including quotations and compliance checks.
• Coordinate Suffolk Business Board meetings end-to-end, including diary management and attendee support.
• Draft and format meeting notes and minutes, tracking actions and following up to support governance.

Qualifications

• ILM Level 3/5 in Business Management (or equivalent knowledge and experience).
• Experience of financial processes, regulations, and systems (or equivalent knowledge and experience).
• Confidence using Microsoft Office, especially Excel, and working with corporate systems such as Oracle.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to plan, prioritise, and respond to non-routine queries.
• A practical understanding of confidentiality and data protection in the workplace.
• A collaborative mindset and a commitment to living the council's values.

Benefits

• Up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro-rata) plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days.
• Membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Travel, lifestyle, health, and wellbeing benefits.
• Performance-related annual pay progression and cost-of-living pay increase.
• Training and encouragement to expand your knowledge.
• A variety of career development opportunities across the organisation.
• Diverse and active staff networks.
• Flexible working options from your first day.

Equality and Inclusion

We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently under-represented in the organisation. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce and supporting equity and inclusion.