View Vacancy - Corporate Services Officer (Finance & HR)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Operations and Corporate Services)
Finance, HR

Main purpose of job:

Corporate Services Officer (CSO) providing Finance and HR support to both the BCG and UKMis, focussed on: supporting staff and first line of contact on Finance and HR matters, and supporting the Finance Officer and the Head of Finance, HR & Protocol on day-to-day finance processes and management for both Posts.

  • Daily finance processing and administration for both Posts, including procurement processing and support on finance guidance;
  • Responsible for specific areas of staff induction, accreditation and departures working with the Community Liaison and Protocol officers;
  • Helping staff with guidance and training on HR systems;
  • Supporting work on HR initiatives, e.g., learning & development; staff charters; maintaining up-to-date office HR policies.

Roles and responsibilities / what the jobholder is expected to deliver:

  • Lead on service, support and guidance to all staff on Prism/Atlas (Government Finance Systems) including Activity Recording, Corporate Credit Cards, reviewing financial compliance reports, charging code queries, updating expenditure and hospitality guidance. This includes working to build and fostering a culture of finance best-practice for all staff.
  • Liaising with Finance team & Hub in the Embassy, DC, and London finance teams, to develop / improve finance expertise & best practise at post. Communicate key Finance policy (local and London) guidance, timelines and processes to staff.
  • Support Finance officer on raising purchase orders, requisitioning, receiving, supplier maintenance, generating finance reports for delegated team budgets, and overseeing Income Generation / event invoicing.
  • First line of contact, working closely with Embassy teams, to provide guidance on payroll administration (e.g. set-up & general guidance). This includes ensuring all new hires are set up on payroll at the time of induction. Complete ad hoc payroll paperwork for casual staff at posts.
  • Support programme officers and Head of Corporate Services on Foreign Office programme fund management & processes.
  • Work with the Community Liaison and Protocol officers to administer all induction, on-boarding and accreditation processes  for UK Officers and Local staff.
  • Oversee stationery ordering and publications, including delegated budget responsibility for hire of office machinery & stationery budgets.
  • Assist Crisis Managers on admin tasks and helping to maintain crisis plans and resources.
  • Provide support on other ad hoc corporate services functions and tasks as directed by Managers.

This role will work closely with and will be supervised by the Head of Finance, HR & Protocol. The successful candidate will work closely with the Finance Officer, Protocol Officer, Community Liaison Officer and Corporate Services Officer Estates and Security.

The New York British Government Office is comprised of over 200 staff, across two offices, 8 Government Departments, and a wide range of policy priorities. The successful candidate will therefore be working with diverse range of stakeholders and issues – exceptional people management and clear written and spoken communication skills are essential. The jobholder must have an adaptable approach with a willingness to learn and work flexibly across a broad range of issues, including new areas not covered above, which might emerge during the individual’s time in the role.  Portfolios and responsibilities can be adjusted within the UK Office, so the successful candidate will be one who is flexible and open to change to their role and to continuous improvement.  All staff in the UK Office take on ad hoc tasks, new work and projects, which emerge unexpectedly, and help other teams on work which is not part of their usual role, at times of pressure and increased workload.  Therefore, the successful candidate will be collaborative, proactive and willing to help others enthusiastically.

Resources managed:

No budget directly managed although the role will have some oversight of small, delegated admin budgets including, stationery and office machinery budgets. It is also responsible for understanding and implementing procurement procedures and providing background analysis to advise judgements around wider budget monitoring and purchasing of goods and services. 

  • At least 3 years’ work experience in an office environment and with proven experience in learning policies and procedures, administering processes and working effectively to new rules and guidance.
  • Excellent and adaptable people engagement skills, including a proven track-record in providing a quality service across a variety of tasks and settings.
  • A high degree of professionalism, pride and attention to detail in delivering a quality and efficient service to colleagues and managers.
  • Adaptable, flexible and energetic;  ability to work well in a team, with external contacts, with senior managers and to show judgement in helping multiple teams and managers to work collaboratively to deliver shared tasks and help others.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Experience of Microsoft Windows 10, including a strong understanding of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, and with bespoke data, record-keeping, personnel and finance IT systems.
  • Must be fluent in spoken and written English.
  • Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents or A visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at our office.  Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa.  All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.  
    *A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defense Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.  
  • Previous experience of working in the area of office support is helpful, especially if in New York and/ or if HR or Finance related.
  • Previous experience of office administration, including record-keeping, finance processing and dealing with a diverse customer base.
25 June 2021
Administrative Officer (AO)
Full-time, Permanent
40
Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
United States
New York
British Consulate General
1
USD
$22.97
2 August 2021

Learning and development opportunities:

All training or other learning required for the role will be provided.  Other opportunities for learning and development, including personal development or on office administration and facilities, eg, health and safety, also supported.

Working patterns:

Usual office working hours Monday-to-Friday – flexible working patterns will be considered.

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.  
Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position. 
Only successful candidates will be contacted.  Please no phone calls.  Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.
The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone.  We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.
Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.