Business Support Officer
| Posting date: | 01 October 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £31,537 to £34,434 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 19 October 2025 |
| Location: | Crewe, Cheshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Cheshire East |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 3297 |
Summary
The Business Support Officer: Early Education Entitlements – Finance & Data is critical to the administration of the Free Early Education Entitlement for children aged 9 months to 4 years old. High volumes of data are received from schools, private day nurseries, pre-schools and childminders in respect of children across Cheshire East borough. Payments, totalling more than £65M per annum, are calculated and processed based on the data returned.
There is an exciting opportunity to join the Childcare Development Team, supporting the local authority to fulfil its statutory duty to administer the free early education entitlement for children aged 9 months to 4 years old.
The successful applicant will ensure the accurate collection of funding data from a high volume of childcare providers across Cheshire East. The data is used to calculate and process free entitlement payments; therefore, a high level of accuracy is required when processing payments and good attention to detail is essential. This post is suited to an experienced administrator who can demonstrate good organisational skills and can confidently communicate with parents, schools and childcare providers.
Ideally, we are looking for the post holder to have experience in, and a good working knowledge of, the full range of early years funding or similar processes involving high volumes of claims and payments. Excellent skills and knowledge around an early years payment system, or similar systems, will be required.
The post holder will deal with routine and non-routine enquiries in relation to the free entitlement in line with agreed policies and defined procedures. They will also ensure that the data system is properly operated, problem areas identified, and suggestions for improvement made to facilitate accurate decision-making. Team working is also of equal importance to the role. The successful candidate will be required to supervise and support the team administering the funding.
ABOUT YOU
You will have:
• Supervised, trained and deployed a team of administrators
• Developed administrative systems and procedures to process high volumes of data with a high value
• The ability to prioritise your work and the work of the team to meet deadlines
• The ability to accurately manage financial and confidential information
• The ability to problem solve
• Excellent communication skills to liaise with childcare providers and parents
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for the role please click apply for this job at the bottom of the page, or, for or an informal chat about the role please contact Katie Johnson on 01270 686398 or email Katie.Johnson@cheshireeast.gov.uk.
There is an exciting opportunity to join the Childcare Development Team, supporting the local authority to fulfil its statutory duty to administer the free early education entitlement for children aged 9 months to 4 years old.
The successful applicant will ensure the accurate collection of funding data from a high volume of childcare providers across Cheshire East. The data is used to calculate and process free entitlement payments; therefore, a high level of accuracy is required when processing payments and good attention to detail is essential. This post is suited to an experienced administrator who can demonstrate good organisational skills and can confidently communicate with parents, schools and childcare providers.
Ideally, we are looking for the post holder to have experience in, and a good working knowledge of, the full range of early years funding or similar processes involving high volumes of claims and payments. Excellent skills and knowledge around an early years payment system, or similar systems, will be required.
The post holder will deal with routine and non-routine enquiries in relation to the free entitlement in line with agreed policies and defined procedures. They will also ensure that the data system is properly operated, problem areas identified, and suggestions for improvement made to facilitate accurate decision-making. Team working is also of equal importance to the role. The successful candidate will be required to supervise and support the team administering the funding.
ABOUT YOU
You will have:
• Supervised, trained and deployed a team of administrators
• Developed administrative systems and procedures to process high volumes of data with a high value
• The ability to prioritise your work and the work of the team to meet deadlines
• The ability to accurately manage financial and confidential information
• The ability to problem solve
• Excellent communication skills to liaise with childcare providers and parents
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for the role please click apply for this job at the bottom of the page, or, for or an informal chat about the role please contact Katie Johnson on 01270 686398 or email Katie.Johnson@cheshireeast.gov.uk.