Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Custom
Certification
Timeline
Generic

KAREN BENNETT

Cheltenham,GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Summary

Originally from a Banking/Insurance background, I have recently transferred my skills to a customer facing/administrative role working in the Social Care Sector.

I am an accomplished administrator with a strong focus on problem solving/attention to detail which is demonstrated in the high level of customer service provided to our YPs and external partners. Whilst I adapt a disciplined approach to working independently, I thrive in a team environment, working collectively to achieve targets and meet statutory deadlines.

I have excellent communication skills (both written and verbal). I am friendly/personable and love working directly with our Young People at GCC. I am trustworthy and reliable.

Both my audit background and current role have given me valuable experience in analysing data, numeracy, working under pressure, being effecient/able to prioritise and problem solving. I have excellent time management and organisational skills.


Overview

37
37
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work history

ACTING SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR

GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
CHELTENHAM, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
02.2025 - Current
  • All Team Co-ordinator and Business Support Administrator tasks listed in previous roles
  • Handle high-level administrative tasks to support senior management
  • Lead team meetings, ensuring clear communication amongst staff members
  • Produce and deliver staff training sessions to enhance the Permanence Business Support teams performance
  • Lead regular Business Support 'surgeries' to target overdue health and outstanding finance tasks
  • Report findings and status of Finance/Health data to Senior management team
  • Hold monthly team supervisions for Cheltenham Business Support staff and provide feedback, where necessary
  • Address sensitive staffing issues within the team
  • Monitoring and tracking of team activities to ensure service delivery met and deadlines achieved (dip sampling)
  • Relay team/service-wide information in a timely manner
  • Point of contact for Senior Management within Cheltenham Business Support team
  • Produce team rota to ensure levels of staffing meet with requirements for daily office tasks
  • Shortlist, interview and recruit new Business Support administrators for the team

BUSINESS SUPPORT TEAM CO-ORDINATOR

GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
CHELTENHAM, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
04.2023 - 02.2025
  • All Business Support Administrator tasks listed in previous role
  • Petty cash reconciliation
  • Monthly web-reporting on health data - feeding data back to team and line manager
  • Oversight of team tasks to ensure statutory deadlines are met
  • Dip-sampling/Quality checking team processes to ensure policies are adhered to, tasks completed correctly and high standards of service delivery maintained
  • Complex invoice cases
  • Provide process knowledge support to wider team
  • Facilitating training/mentoring for new starters
  • Ensure timely and accurate purchases by company credit card (p-card) to support YPs and their families
  • Sourcing and arranging staff travel/accommodation
  • Provided support during high-pressure situations, contributing to successful crisis management.
  • Organising and hosting weekly team meetings to discuss workloads/capacity and current pressure points
  • Planning and co-ordinating YP events for the wider teams
  • Leading the completion of end of financial year processes for Cheltenham teams including finalising the Accrual template - providing support to the Business Support team in this task

BUSINESS SUPPORT ADMINISTRATOR

GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
CHELTENHAM, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
05.2022 - 04.2023
  • Dealing with incoming email correspondence and enquiries by phone relating to Children in Care and Care Leavers
  • Processing and payment of financial requests for YPs/Carers
  • Processing and payment of service provider invoices (including complex cases)
  • Upkeep of team finance trackers
  • Payment processing and tracker maintenance for Setting Up Home Grants
  • Organising transport/taxi's for YPs including liaising with transport team and registered providers
  • Minute taking for MDT and Strategy meetings
  • Issuing foodbank, Tesco and Auriga vouchers
  • Health tasks; provision and completion of health assessment paperwork (RHA's), issuing/processing Strength & Difficulties Questionnaires, chasing overdue dental information - updating information on YP Liquid Logic record and health trackers
  • New starters; ensuring new members to the team have the equipment and full system access required to carry out their role. Issuing welcome email and providing Building/Finance induction
  • YP placement transfers/Discharge from Care/Entry into Care; updating relevant information on Liquid Logic and notifying relevant teams of the change in YP status
  • Health & Safety; weekly/monthly building checks and audits - reporting and communicating building issues
  • Following GDPR principles at all times
  • Communication of updates/information to the wider teams

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR/BOOK-KEEPER

FIRST FLOOR BFF
CHELTENHAM, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
01.2021 - 12.2021
  • Facilitate/co-ordinate training school courses/sessions
  • Suggest strategies to address inefficiencies in current work processes
  • Introduction and upkeep of client database and booking system
  • Front of house/reception duties including client call handling and complaints
  • Marketing/promotion of salon through various media
  • Organisation of Manager diary and back office support/administration
  • Provide clerical support for clients and external customers
  • Liaise with external parties to ensure website/booking system is current/up to date
  • Basic book-keeping using Quickbooks
  • Submission of accounting reports
  • Remote working

FLORIST

THE BEAUTIFUL FLOWER COMPANY
CHELTENHAM, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
07.2019 - 12.2019
  • Managing the day to day running of shop, dealing with customers face to face, over the telephone and via email (including customer complaints)
  • Providing a high level of customer service to both flower and coffee shop clients
  • Maintaining thorough knowledge of varieties of flowers/greenery used in shop to provide information to customers and assist with design decisions.
  • Transporting and setting up floral arrangements for large-scale functions, weddings, funerals and corporate events
  • Ordering wholesale flower to meet both shop and customer needs, including locally grown, seasonal produce
  • Preparing various floral arrangements, potted plants and bouquets based on customer requirements( including regular contract work for hotels, bars and restaurants)
  • Using product knowledge, sales abilities and customer relations skills to drive sales in floral design and plant products
  • Handling cash/card payments through till system - dealing with online payments and end of day till balance
  • Merchandising shop floor and display areas

RETAIL STORE ASSISTANT

REISS
BRISTOL
04.2012 - 10.2015
  • Handling the day-to-day running of the store, ensuring high levels of productivity and sales progression.
  • Working closely with Store Manager to establish and deliver targets set by Regional Manager
  • Staff training to ensure highest standards of Customer Service delivered
  • Providing a top level sales service which included merchandising of store & personal styling appointments
  • Daily cashing up/till balance
  • Accepting, checking and presenting of regular stock deliveries
  • Weekly in-store stock checks and bi-annual full company stock check
  • Successful resolution of all customer enquiries/complaints
  • Successful building and maintenance of client data base for mail shots
  • Acting Store Supervisor to cover Supervisor absence/holidays
  • Dealing with customer complaints

PROPRIETOR/FLORIST

LILYPOP
BRISTOL
02.2005 - 02.2006
  • Managed the day to day running of the shop including sales, design production, book keeping/banking and marketing
  • Maintained thorough knowledge of varieties of flowers and greenery used in shop to provide information to customers and assist with design decisions.
  • Transported and set up floral arrangements for large-scale functions, including weddings, funerals and corporate events.
  • Sourced and selected wholesale flower suppliers capable of meeting business needs and customer demand, including locally grown, seasonal produce
  • Prepared various floral arrangements, including potted plants and bouquets based on customer requirements including regular contract work for hotels, bars and restaurants
  • Used product knowledge, sales ability and customer relations skills to drive sales in floral design and plant products.
  • Client consultations for large installs and weddings
  • Customer complaints
  • Merchandising store layout and window displays

INTERNAL AUDITOR

AXA INSURANCE
BRISTOL
04.1998 - 09.2004
  • Carried out day-day-day audit duties accurately and efficiently.
  • Provided independent and objective evaluation of internal controls to effectively manage risk.
  • The audit of life assurance/pension processes and all AXA departments to improve efficiency/reduce costs
  • The completion of fact finding investigations to determine the expected process/departmental function, reviewing the mechanics and testing
  • The completion of a full report of each audit undertaken with conclusion to include recommendations for improvements/change
  • Presentation of reports and findings to Managers/Directors
  • Leading departmental brainstorming sessions
  • Assisting the Fraud & Investigations team with internal/external matters and liaising with the relevant Police force
  • Assisting the Y2K Team Manager with systems testing

LIFE ASSURANCE ADMINISTRATOR

SUN LIFE
BRISTOL
10.1991 - 04.1998
  • Processing of new business assurance applications to include liaising with underwriting department
  • General administration of life insurance policies including surrenders, outstanding payments, cancellation & reinstatements
  • Liaising with Sales Office delivering full support between the branch and customer
  • Handling of Customer Service enquires in writing/by telephone and internal communication with other life associated departments
  • Delivery of departmental targets and KPIs for consistent progress.
  • Carried out day-day-day duties accurately and efficiently.

BANK CLERK/CASHIER

TSB BANK
BRISTOL
06.1988 - 09.1990
  • The completion of general back office duties including customer service enquiries, processing loan applications & new account applications
  • General cashier duties including handling of cash cheques, deposits/withdrawals/transfers, face to face customer enquiries and balancing till at close of day
  • The balancing of internal branch suspense accounts
  • Administration and maintenance of ATM machine
  • Business account administration
  • Preparation and central clearance of cheques
  • Receiving and verifying cash delivery/collection from security company
  • Dealing with customer complaints
  • Upheld strict financial controls by keeping funds secure and accurately transferring monies.
  • Built and strengthened customer relationships with excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Foreign currency orders and verification
  • Verification/checking of customer applications/large deposits

Education

NVQ Level 3 - ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY - FACE

CPD SKIN ACADEMY

NVQ Level 2 - HEALTH & BEAUTY - NAIL TECHNICIAN

BRISTOL SCHOOL OF BEAUTY

NVQ Level 1 - FLORISTRY

FILTON COLLEGE

GCSE -

KING EDMUND SCHOOL

Skills

  • Problem solving
  • Attention to detail
  • Articulate
  • Outstanding customer service/communication skills
  • Service-oriented
  • Process implementation and improvement
  • Cash handling/management
  • Efficient delegation
  • Time management
  • Budgeting and financial planning
  • Motivational team player
  • Work well independently/disciplined


Custom

KAREN, BENNETT, 07545 297295, karenbennett2017@gmail.com, 44 BOURNSIDE ROAD, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, Cheltenham, GL51 3AH

Certification

First Aid Accomplished

Timeline

ACTING SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR

GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
02.2025 - Current

BUSINESS SUPPORT TEAM CO-ORDINATOR

GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
04.2023 - 02.2025

BUSINESS SUPPORT ADMINISTRATOR

GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
05.2022 - 04.2023

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR/BOOK-KEEPER

FIRST FLOOR BFF
01.2021 - 12.2021

FLORIST

THE BEAUTIFUL FLOWER COMPANY
07.2019 - 12.2019

RETAIL STORE ASSISTANT

REISS
04.2012 - 10.2015

PROPRIETOR/FLORIST

LILYPOP
02.2005 - 02.2006

INTERNAL AUDITOR

AXA INSURANCE
04.1998 - 09.2004

LIFE ASSURANCE ADMINISTRATOR

SUN LIFE
10.1991 - 04.1998

BANK CLERK/CASHIER

TSB BANK
06.1988 - 09.1990

NVQ Level 3 - ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY - FACE

CPD SKIN ACADEMY

NVQ Level 2 - HEALTH & BEAUTY - NAIL TECHNICIAN

BRISTOL SCHOOL OF BEAUTY

NVQ Level 1 - FLORISTRY

FILTON COLLEGE

GCSE -

KING EDMUND SCHOOL

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KAREN BENNETT