Business Support Officer

Job Description

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The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) is the trade association for the Scotch Whisky industry. We support and represent our members across a wide range of priorities, including industry promotion, regulatory and legal matters, sustainability, international market access and protecting the Scotch Whisky category worldwide.

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We are recruiting for a Business Support Officer to work alongside the Corporate Services team, providing a professional front of house service and wide-ranging administrative support. The postholder will act as a key first point of contact for visitors, employees, customers and stakeholders, while also supporting teams across the SWA with day-to-day administration, finance-related tasks, meetings, hospitality, travel arrangements and ad hoc project work.

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This is a hands-on, varied role in a small, collaborative organisation, suited to someone who is organised, approachable and confident providing excellent customer service, practical administrative support and discreet handling of information.

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What you’ll be doing

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• Providing a full reception service and acting as the first point of contact for visitors, employees, customers and stakeholders.

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• Answering telephone enquiries, greeting visitors, arranging travel and couriers, and supporting front of house activity.

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• Receiving, sorting, distributing and sending mail within the SWA.

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• Maintenance and monitoring of the enquiries and accounts inboxes, directing emails appropriately.

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• Supporting the Finance team with expenses claims, invoice approvals, supplier records and associated administration.

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• Supporting the Office Manager with office and event supplies, meetings, hospitality, events and wider office coordination.

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• Providing administrative support to the Corporate Services team, including appropriate research and regular update reports where required.

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• Supporting HR administration as needed and providing annual leave cover for the Executive Assistant to the CEO.

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• Undertaking planned or ad hoc project work to support teams across the SWA during busy periods.

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What we’re looking for

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We’re looking for someone with experience in a similar front of house or administrative support role, who can provide a warm, professional first point of contact while managing a varied workload accurately and confidentially.

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You will bring:

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• experience working in a similar front of house environment as the first point of contact for communications

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• excellent customer service skills, with an approachable, warm and professional manner

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• strong organisational skills and the ability to manage varied administrative tasks accurately

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• excellent written and verbal communication skills, with confidence communicating in different ways

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• competence using Microsoft Word, Excel, email systems and other standard software packages

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• the ability to handle confidential matters with discretion, including financial information and people-related information

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• experience supporting a finance team, purchase ledger processing or wider project administration would be advantageous

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Working arrangements

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The role is based in Edinburgh. We are open to flexible working arrangements, with a minimum of 25 hours per week worked across 4 or 5 days, up to 28 hours.

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How to apply

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Please complete the Business Support Officer application form, which can be found on our website, and submit it along with your application.

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Closing date: Sunday 4 October 2026 at 23:59 

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Interviews: Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 October 2026 in person in Edinburgh

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We are committed to being an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. We will make reasonable adjustments to support candidates throughout the recruitment process.

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