Apprentice Business and Finance Administrator in Bury St Edmunds

Suffolk County Council Address: West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 3YU - Hybrid

Salary: £24,796 per annum (pro rata for part time)

Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available

Contract: Fixed Term or Secondment for 21 months

Are you looking for a new and rewarding challenge with opportunities to learn and develop every day? An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our West Area Business and Finance Team as an Apprentice Business and Finance Administrator. This role offers a great entry point into a career in business and finance, with structured training, hands-on experience and ongoing support throughout your apprenticeship.

Your role and responsibilities

• Support the delivery of income and payment services within Adult Social Care.
• Provide business support that focuses on positive outcomes for customers, statutory requirements and continuous improvement.
• Liaise with Home Care Providers to ensure services are delivered in line with agreed processes, policies and timescales.
• Identify financial and business discrepancies, escalating these to the Area Business Manager and supporting timely resolution.
• Build positive working relationships with providers and colleagues, acting as a first point of contact for finance and business process queries.

Your apprenticeship

Level 3 Business Administrator 21 months. We welcome apprenticeship applications from all ages and backgrounds. There's no upper age limit - it's never too late to start developing new skills. We want to provide opportunities for anyone interested in launching or advancing their career. The apprenticeship you're applying for must build on your qualifications. If you have experience in this field, the apprenticeship you're applying for must be at a higher level.

During the apprenticeship, you'll be working towards the role described in the Job and Person Profile. You will have the opportunity to receive hands-on training and pursue certification. Completing your apprenticeship does not guarantee a full-time position. However, we are dedicated to helping you find a job. You will have priority access when you apply for vacancies. This applies during the final 3 months of your contract.

You will need

• Be motivated and committed to developing your skills through work-based learning.
• Demonstrate a proactive, “can do” attitude and a willingness to learn.
• Be customer-focused, with an interest in improving the way we work.
• Have good IT skills and the ability to communicate clearly and professionally.
• Hold a minimum of 4 GCSEs at grades 4–9 (A–C) or equivalent, including English and Mathematics.

The team

You will be joining a friendly, supportive and encouraging team with high standards and a strong commitment to helping each other succeed. You will be supported throughout your apprenticeship and encouraged to develop your skills, confidence and career within Suffolk County Council.

Empowering Everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Nicky Whatley (she/her) for a casual conversation. You can reach her by calling 01284 758756 or emailing Nicky.Whatley@suffolk.gov.uk

If you want to apply for a secondment, read the secondment policy first. Make sure you get permission from your current manager before submitting your application.

How to apply

• Step 1 - Read the Job Person Profile.
• Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
• Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.

Questions:

• What has motivated you to apply for this specific apprenticeship, and what interests you most about the work involved in the role?
• Describe a time when you had to manage your time or organise your tasks to meet a deadline, for example with coursework, exams, projects or other commitments.
• Can you give an example of when you have worked with others as part of a team, such as in college, group projects, volunteering or activities outside of education, and what you contributed to the team?
• Learning on the job is a key part of an apprenticeship. Can you tell us about a time when you had to learn something new, how you approached it, and what helped you succeed?

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.

Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI to understand what’s acceptable.

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412.

You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 3 June 2026.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.