Supplier and Contracts Data Assistant

**Supplier and Contracts Data Assistant**

**Permanent**

**2 Posts**

Full time 37 hours

18.5 hours part time 2 or 3 days

Ref: RES0285

RG3 - scp 5-7

**£19,312- £20,092 FTE**

The Supplier and Contracts Data Assistants form part of the Council corporate Procurement & Contract Management team. Working alongside the rest of the Procurement & Contracts team to ensure we have the right range of suppliers for each category area, theSupplier Set Team are responsible for the design and implementation of a best practice process to set-up and maintain commercial and non-commercial supplier records within our Finance system.

You will be a vital part of Reading Borough Council’s spend controls and Purchase to Pay Policy, acting as a key link between end users, Accounts Payable and the Procurement & Contracts team. This includes the monitoring of compliance with relevant controlsand policies associated with supplier spend, including the Council’s strategy for tackling fraud and data analysis of our vendor records for our Finance Transformation Board.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

**About the role**
- Assess and approve any new vendor requests submitted to ensure that the request is complete and in compliance with all relevant Council policies.
- Complete the necessary fraud checks and checks of the information supplied, such as bank details, company registration, etc.
- Maintain vendor records in council systems to ensure that all detail remains up to date and valid, conducting relative checks for change requests
- Conduct a cleanse of vendor records in the council systems by performing a regular review of supplier information held on council systems
- Collaborate with colleagues from other teams across the Council where different systems and processes interface
- Advise and liaise with directorate staff on all aspects of vendor set-up
- Track, analyse and report on data trends for review by Financial experts and senior managers as part of the Council’s financial strategic management

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successfuland vibrant place. Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this.

**About you**

The following experience is required for this role:

- IT literate - Good to Advanced level of Excel skills and PowerPoint
- Comfortable handling difficult conversations to enforce corporate policies in a calm and professional manner
- Able to use initiative, within corporate process and guidelines, including recommending process improvements and identifying best practice for incorporation into service delivery
- Good communication skills, both for internal / external service providers and suppliers
- Able to deliver objectives to a timeline
- Data entry/ finance system experience (training can be provided)
- Confident in picking up new skills and adapting to issues
- Logical and solution focussed approach to work

**Our offer**

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

- Generous holiday entitlement - 24 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 32 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
- A wide range of flexible working opportunities
- Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
- On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted, and a salary sacrifice scheme to help lower the cost of your nursery fees
- Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
- Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

Closing Date: 25th March

Interview Date: w/c 4th April