View Vacancy - SH - Corporate Services Officer, A2(L)

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

Main purpose of job:

The British Consulate-General in Shanghai is part of a world-wide network of 230 Posts, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. Our office in Shanghai has over 100 staff and represents British interests in Eastern China – specifically in Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Anhui. 

The Corporate Services Officer will report to the Corporate Services Manager in Shanghai. This role will involve finance management, managing the transportation and drivers’ team, dealing with China Customs office on diplomatic shipment clearance, dealing with local authorities on diplomatic vehicle import and registration, dealing with commercial banks over staff banking issues and supporting the Corporate Services team in providing a broad range of services to staff.   The jobholder will also be expected to provide leave cover for fellow Corporate Services Officers and handle some HR, payroll issues and protocol tasks. 

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate that s/he has the skills to deliver a high quality service, to build and maintain contacts with relevant local authorities and adapt to changing priorities within the team. Good team working, interpersonal and communication skills and problem solving skills are also essential.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

    Finance Management (30%)

    • To prepare monthly spending report based on Financial System report.
    • To act as custodian of Imprest and cashbox, process staff claims, issue cash advances, reconcile cashbox accounts on weekly basis and sending reports to Global Transaction Processing Centre (GTPC) for top-up.
    • To collect internal requests of foreign currency exchange and communicate with London and Manila GTPC to process on monthly basis.
    • To process local and UK credit card related transactions. To act as liaison between cardholders and bank on issues such as loss report and credit limit uplift, etc.
    • Assist staff on finance related issues.

    Transport Management (30%)

    • To manage official transport and drivers, including daily service requests. To manage driver team and transportation policies, ensure high quality service of transport team.
    • To assist UK-based staff in Chinese driving licence application, registering and de-registering diplomatic vehicles.
    • To support the official vehicle purchasing and selling.

    Administration (25%)

    • To liaise with commercial banks to support diplomatic staff with opening and closing bank accounts opening and closing.
    • To administer official mobile phones, mobile phone bills, telephone line and broadband lines. Acquire/cancel mobile phone SIM cards.
    • To assist IT Support Officer in the procurement, installation and service of machinery and equipment that is not covered by the outsourced facilities management company.
    • To administer marker hotel contract, British Centre leasing contract and etc.
    • To apply for airport pass for diplomats.

    Other Responsibilities (15%)

    • To cover for absence of fellow Corporate Services Officer on HR process, liaison with local authorities on staff and protocol issues and payroll issues.
    • To assist in other activities and work in the Consulate as required by the Corporate Services Team or as directed by the Corporate Services Manager.

    Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

    • 1 x CBS A1(L) Transport Assistant
    • 3 x CBS S1(L) Drivers

    Essential on arrival:      

    • High degree of confidence in using Microsoft software, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint
    • Admin or accounting work experience

    Language requirements:                                                         

    English

    Spoken: Excellent/Highly Proficient

    Written:  Excellent/Highly Proficient

    Other Languages: Chinese

    Spoken: Native

    Written:  Native

    • Good communication and interpersonal skills.
    • Self–motivated and able to anticipate and resolve problems under your own initiative.
    19 January 2022
    Administrative Officer (AO)
    Fixed Term, Full-time
    35
    24 months
    Asia Pacific
    China
    Shanghai
    British Consulate General
    1
    CNY
    Chinese: CNY 11,272 ; British: CNY 15,789
    1 March 2022

    This position is being advertised as a 24 months fixed term position in Shanghai, and will be extended subject to performance and availability of funding.

    External Non-Chinese National Candidates

    Due to local Government measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, including strict entry restrictions, we are unable to accept applications from external applicants who are non-Chinese nationals. This includes applicants already in China. 

    We offer a competitive package, which includes basic salary, good leave entitlement, and insurance plan, etc. The gross starting salary (before all deductions) for this position is RMB 11,272/ month for Mainland China Nationals and an abated monthly salary of RMB 15,789/ month for British Nationals and spouses/ partners (all nationalities) of diplomats who are ‘W’ (diplomatic) visa holders and meet passport criteria.

    We also offer excellent development opportunities and a 22-day annual leave entitlement in pro rata. Conditioned working hours is 35 hours/ week from Monday to Friday and flexible working can be arranged upon personal needs. For more details on our Total Rewards Package, please visit our website http://www.gov.uk/government/world/china.

    Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

    The role-holder will complete FCDO required financial system related online trainings, participate in the Science and Innovation Network induction training (now virtually), online training (via Diplomatic Academy) and have the option of completing further training based on their requirements and interests.

    The British Embassy or Consulates have a wide range of learning and development opportunities for employees at all levels. All employees all strongly encouraged to invest in their own learning and development.

    The jobholder will have access to a range of e-learning and face-to-face learning opportunities made available via the FCDO’s ‘International Academy’ and through Learning & Development programmes organised by FCDO China network. There will also be other formal and informal opportunities for professional development, eg. job shadowing, mentoring.

    • The officer will have digital content creation and editorial responsibilities, and will have many opportunities to use and develop photography, video editing, and creative content skills to help achieve communication objectives. There are often opportunities to try new projects or work on different areas to expand knowledge of different sectors, including trade, climate change, health, prosperity and political.
    • The job will involve opportunities for occasional travel within China.
    • The FCDO provides formal training opportunities and funding, that the job holder will be encouraged to take advantage of.

    Any other information (or specific local Post requirements):

    Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks. Staff who are locally recruited by the British Consulate General are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to Chinese local employment law.

    No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit. Any costs related to obtaining or renewing permits and visas are the responsibility of the successful applicant. 

    The British Consulate General is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on grounds of ethnic origin, race, religious beliefs, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation.

    Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

    Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen. 

    Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. 

    We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

    REMINDER: 

    Applicants are required to fill out the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, motivational segment and the competency based questions. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage so please ensure you provide information requested. Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core competencies listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time.

    Indicated start date is provisional and subject to successful completion of reference and security checks.

    To those applicants not short-listed, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.

    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.