Directorate Support Officer

This is a 12-month fixed term contract/ secondment opportunity to cover maternity leave that will end by 31.03.2027.

We are looking for a highly organised and proactive Directorate Support Officer to join our Place Directorate. In this role, you will provide flexible, adaptable, and high-quality administrative and finance support across the Directorate, contributing to the smooth running of our services and leadership functions.

Our Offer to You

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents.

About the Role

The Directorate Support Team sits within the Place Operations & Support Service in the Place Directorate which is a large and multifaceted area of the organisation, with responsibilities including facilitating safe and reliable journeys, shaping places for our customers, and delivering sustainability and climate change objectives. The service plays a key role in enabling these priorities through a range of specialist support functions.

As part of the team, you will work collaboratively to provide essential services including business support, finance administration, recruitment and induction support and time administration across all six service areas.

This role offers a great balance of collaboration and flexibility with the option for some remote working. The role is based at our Merrow, Guildford office but attendance at other Surrey sites can be expected.

Key Responsibilities

As a Directorate Support Officer, you will:

• Confident dealing with figures and finance-related information
• Provide high-quality administrative and finance support across the Directorate
• Organise and coordinate meetings, events, and diary commitments
• Undertake finance duties including purchasing and invoicing tasks
• Collate, update, and maintain key information and records
• Support hiring managers across all service areas with various HR-related tasks, including recruitment, induction, and training
• Work flexibly as part of a wider support team to meet collective objectives and deadlines

Shortlisting Criteria

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:

• Experience using Unit4 or other purchasing systems
• Excellent Microsoft Office skills, and the ability to learn new software quickly
• Proven experience delivering high-quality finance and admin support
• Strong organisational abilities and confidence managing multiple priorities
• A proactive, can-do attitude and willingness to take initiative
• Exceptional attention to detail
• The ability to communicate clearly with all levels

To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 3 questions:

1. Please describe a time when you had to manage multiple priorities. How did you organise your workload and ensure deadlines were met?
2. How do you maintain accuracy and attention to detail when working with high volumes of data or administrative tasks.
3. Can you describe the steps you would take to raise a Purchase Order, including the key information required before raising one.

Why Join Us?

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a high performing team supporting a directorate which delivers real impact for our customers and communities. You'll be joining a supportive and collaborative team committed to helping the wider directorate achieve its strategic priorities.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 19/04/2026 with interviews to follow.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents!

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.