Finance Assistant

Salary £25,185 - £25,989 per annum | Permanent, Full Time | 37 hours per week | Care Finance Assessment Team | Preston, Lancashire

Lancashire is the fourth largest local authority in England spanning over a large geographical area with a diverse range of communities. The Council provides services to approximately 1.2 million people who live within Lancashire. 

The Care Finance Assessment team are looking to recruit a full time permanent Business Support Officer, working 37 hours per week within Exchequer Services. The role is based at County Hall, Preston however, currently may work from home. 

Flexible working is available however office duty cover from 8:45 to 5pm will be required on a rota basis at least two or three times per week.
We have an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated individual who is ready to join our busy team. The role is to provide support to team leaders and financial assessment officers.

Your duties will include, arranging financial assessment telephone appointments and visits for assessment officers, answering duty phone calls and responding to emails, collating information and details required in order that a financial assessment can be completed. The role involves managing a high volume of telephone calls, so an excellent telephone manner and the ability to remain calm and professional under pressure are essential

The successful applicant will have a good grasp of Information Technology and be proficient in using Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.  Strong interpersonal skills are essential, you need to demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively, with sensitivity and empathy at what could be a difficult time for a person and their family.   This is a fast paced and rewarding role which requires excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and a genuine commitment to supporting others and working as a team providing a high quality administrative service.  

Key Accountabilities: 

•    Plan and organise straightforward tasks

•    Exchange varied information with members of the public and other staff

•    Carefully use expensive/complex equipment

•    Handle and process information. 

•    Provide general information, advice, and guidance on established internal procedures.

•    Limited accountability for monitoring/recording financial resources.

•    Provide support and guidance as required to other members of staff.

•    Completion of tasks to required standards and deadlines. 

•    Accountable for ensuring all telephone calls are conducted in an appropriate manner respecting the diverse needs and circumstances presented by service users and responding in a sensitive and supportive manner. 

•    Liaise with colleagues across other Directorates to advise of service users requests and concerns and for signposting to relevant points of contact including partner agencies and advice centres as appropriate.

•    To be able to work independently, organising workload to ensure set targets are achieved within an allocated length of time.

Skills & Experience: 

•    Previous relevant experience or the ability to demonstrate the competence/capacity to carry out the role.

•    Office experience at administrative level. 

•    Experience of dealing with vulnerable people, social care service users and of working in a social care finance is not essential but may be 
advantageous. 

•    Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 

•    Ability to use Information Technology efficiently. 

•    The ability to follow instructions and processes as well as offering innovative ideas and contributing towards improving the delivery of our service.

In addition, the post holder may be required to attend training, team briefings and meetings at County Hall and other venues across the County.

Working for the county council also comes with benefits such as 26 paid annual leave days. We provide and actively encourage self-development offering a wide range of training opportunities. We also offer a generous pension scheme.

In return Lancashire County Council offers a range of benefits, found on our website.

We reserve the right to close a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.
For an informal discussion regarding this role, please do not hesitate to contact Brian Pemberton (South Assessment Team Leader) on

The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in If successful, you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a 'disclosure'. Further information can be found on the 'Our Recruitment Process' tab.

It is essential as part of the application process that you provide a supporting statement which is your opportunity to evidence how your skills, knowledge, and experience match what we are looking for based on the Person Specification and Role Profile attached and the information detailed.

The panel may be unable to shortlist you for interview without this evidence. 

Grade profile 

Person specification