Early Years Finance & Business Support Officer

Overview

We have an exciting opportunity within our Early Years Service for an Early Years Finance & Business Support Officer to join us. This is a role that requires some knowledge of the early years and childcare sector and with the support of training and development allows for career progression over time.

The Early Years Service ensures the local authority meets its statutory duty to secure sufficient high quality funded early education places for 2, 3 & 4-year-olds and sufficient childcare for 0-14/18-year-olds whose parents are in work or training to return to work.

This role supports the Council to meet its statutory duties and the post holder will work as an integral member of the Early Years Service.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.  

Buckinghamshire is an ambitious, rapidly growing county, and our economy is one of the strongest in the country. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty and ranks as one of the top rural areas to live in the UK and yet it is incredibly well connected– only an hour from London on the train. The county has a rich history and heritage and is the birthplace of the international Paralympic movement.

We are looking for motivated, ambitious and inspiring people to join us on our journey. You will be entitled to a range of different benefits to make sure you are happy both at work and at home.

About the role

In addition to business and finance tasks, the roles require the successful applicant to work as part of a wider specialist team which provides support to childcare providers with registering to offer Funded Entitlement places. You will also be responsible for sharing information with our childcare providers either by mail out or via the website, as well as dealing with correspondence, and writing simple reports. You will use a range of skills to achieve this such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint plus be trained to use specialist IT and web-based programmes.

About you

You will have excellent communication skills with proven experience of providing high quality customer services with the ability to be able to deal calmly and politely with situations involving members of the public and staff. You will have some knowledge and be interested in learning about the early years and childcare sector and current government landscape.

You should be able to organise work and achieve deadlines. Clear and concise communications skills, both orally and in writing with minute taking skills are also essential. 

Previous use of financial and purchasing systems such as SAP would be ideal.

Please refer to the job summary attached for full details about the role.

Other information

For more information about this role, please contact Alison Mapplethorpe at [email protected]

Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 31st August 2025

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/