Administrative Officers (Milton Keynes)

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office pursues our national interests and projects the UK's role in the world.

We promote the interests of British citizens, safeguard the UK's security, defend our values, reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with our international partners.

We are looking to recruit talented and enthusiastic individuals to join the FCDO at AO level. Successful candidates will have good organisational skills, take responsibility for their own work and be committed to high standards of customer service. You will have strong literacy and numeracy skills, experience and confidence in the use of Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, Teams and Word) and Windows 10.

The positions are Home Civil Service roles based at Hanslope Park, providing administrative support and corporate services to the FCDO in the UK and overseas. The roles cover Finance Operations, HR Services and Public Facing Services, you will be placed into a role based on business need., Administrative Officers provide professional office administration and support on transactions processing, projects, budgets, customer service functions and internal and external communications. All roles are customer-oriented. These tasks, essential to the ability of the FCDO to deliver its objectives, form the core of all AO job specifications.

FCDO Departments will configure the roles to meet specific business needs but they will typically include:

• Transactions and Receipts Processing: Checking invoices and identifying mismatches to ensure accuracy and efficiency; using different systems e.g. internet banking and Oracle to process payments promptly in compliance with procedures; reconciling and investigating payments; dealing with FCDO credit card issues and issuing invoices for services provided by the organisation.


• Customer Services: Providing guidance to customers, dealing with them professionally and resolving queries within agreed timeframes.


• Knowledge and information Management: maintaining excel spreadsheets, databases, records and desk notes.


• Professional Office Administration/Support: Creating and maintaining electronic filing systems; databases and distribution lists; dealing with telephone and email enquiries; organising meetings/events and taking notes in meetings; maintaining stationery supplies; corporate roles such as fire warden or first aider, for which training will be provided.


• Project Management Support: Monitoring progress against objectives; ensuring project remains on schedule; anticipating and managing risks; maintaining accurate records.


• Budget Management: Budget monitoring, requisitioning and raising purchase orders; manipulation of data using spreadsheets; assisting with budget forecasting; understanding commercial and procurement policies.


• Public Facing Services: Directly supporting British Nationals and others by quickly and accurately assessing applications for document legalisation and managing customer expectations; overseas birth and death registration; taking of evidence overseas; or assessing academic technology approval applications for overseas students., You must be a British Citizen at the time of application and, if invited to interview, you will need to bring proof of identity (British Passport/Driving Licence etc.) with you., If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes., A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.


Any move to FCDO from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.


• Strong literacy, numeracy and IT skills.


• Competent using IT packages including Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel), Windows 10 and experience of mailbox management.


• Strong interpersonal, team-working and communication skills (oral and written).


• Good organisational, analytical and planning skills with the ability to work to tight deadlines.


• Ability to make effective decisions, identify problems and propose solutions to maintain a quality service., Delivering at Pace


• Managing a Quality Service


• Making Effective Decisions


We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Delivering at Pace


• Managing a Quality Service


Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Motivation question at interview, This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.
  
  £28,250

The total package for this role at AO is £28,250 per annum (non-negotiable). This figure includes a non-pensionable, non-consolidated Location Allowance of £1,750.
A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%, Alongside your salary of £28,250, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office contributes £7,627 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• A Civil Service Pension.


• 25 days Annual Leave per annum.


• 9 days Public and Privilege holidays per annum.


• Learning and Development tailored to your role.


See the attached candidate pack.

Things you need to know