Senior Receptionist

Senior Receptionist

Salary: £37,000 per annum, plus company benefits

Location: London, WC2R 0EX

Contract: Full Time, Permanent

Shifts: 40 hours per week, Monday – Friday, 8:30am until 5:30pm with 1 hours unpaid break

Work model: Fully onsite

Williams Lea seeks a Senior Receptionist to join our team!

Williams Lea is the leading global provider of skilled, technology-enabled, business-critical support services, with long-term trusted relationships with blue-chip clients across investment banks, law firms and professional services firms. Williams Lea employees, nearly 7000 people worldwide, who provide efficient business services at client sites in often complex and highly regulated environments, from centralised Williams Lea onshore facilities, and through best cost company offshore locations.

Purpose of role 

The Senior Receptionist will serve as the initial point of contact for clients and guests, thereby representing the first impression of our client’s firm. The professionalism, courtesy, and efficiency demonstrated by the team are essential in conveying the values of the organisation. It is imperative that the reception staff act as ambassadors for the brand and company, consistently providing exemplary service and a warm welcome to all visitors. Their efforts should ensure that each guest’s arrival is both positive and memorable.

Key responsibilities 

• Welcoming guests at the 8th Floor lobby and act as the main point of contact for any Front of House related matters for visitors/guests or employees for the firm
• Escort VIP’s to meeting rooms ensuring an elevated service is provided
• Continually monitor reception inbox ensuring e-mails are responded to in a timely manner. This involves regularly checking for new messages, prioritising urgent enquiries, and forwarding relevant correspondence to the appropriate team members. Consistent follow-up is key to maintaining professional communication.
• Liaising with other departments to ensure efficient communication and guest service and creating a 'one team' approach to delighting your guests. This means actively building relationships across teams, sharing updates, and collaborating to resolve issues swiftly, so guests experience seamless service throughout their visit.
• Occasional requirement to support client functions that run into the evening. Flexibility is essential, as evening events may require additional FOH support, such as greeting guests, assisting with logistics, and maintaining a welcoming atmosphere after regular hours.
• Always acting according to the client’s standards. Upholding the client’s expectations in every interaction ensures consistency and professionalism, reflecting positively on the business and building trust with guests and stakeholders.
• Deliver a 5-star services and continuously strive to improve standards
• Take the lead in FOH Operations. This includes overseeing daily activities, proactively solving problems, and ensuring the front of house operates smoothly, setting a positive tone for both guests and colleagues.
• Ability to direct and advise on service standards for other members of the team
• Assist Team Leader with reporting and SOP management. Supporting the team leader may involve compiling operational reports, reviewing procedures, and contributing to the development and maintenance of standard operating policies.
• Ability to support and contribute to monthly reporting, and capturing volumetric data and MI on meeting room bookings and utilisation
• Implement service enhancements from a FOH perspective. Identifying areas for improvement and introducing new initiatives or technologies can elevate the guest experience and streamline operations.
• Work with catering ensuring all requirements and refreshments for meeting are organised and ensure all rooms are swiftly cleared after meetings conclude. Effective coordination with catering guarantees that meetings run smoothly and spaces are promptly reset for future use.
• Identify opportunities to further enhance and evolve service, and first impression of the team and working environment. Continual assessment and feedback help refine the service offering, making sure guests are impressed from the moment they arrive.

Personal attributes

• Previous experience in a Reception and People Management role is essential
• Have previous experience working on a reception desk for a blue-chip company within a busy office environment
• Must possess a professional presentation
• Outstanding guest services skills, sophisticated verbal & written communication skills
• Good time management skills
• Good knowledge and understanding of a Cisco telephone system
• Be immaculately presented.
• Have great interpersonal skills and an outgoing personality.
• Have an excellent command of the English language, both in verbal and written communication.
• Have operational experience working at prestigious events (this is beneficial, but not critical).
• Be highly organised and have an eye for detail.
• Have passion to achieve excellent guest service in everything that they do.
• Be able to work well under pressure and have the ability to act pro-actively and intuitively.
• Excellent leadership skills and experience in managing a team
• Ability to prioritise and work under pressure and plan ahead and anticipate problems
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbally
• A welcoming positive manner and an understanding of what good customer service looks like
• A team player who is willing to go the extra mile
• To act with integrity at all times and embrace the company philosophy.
• Customer focus: ability to understand the needs of the client and provide customer service and superior client service.
• Relationship management and communication: ability to create and maintain strong relationships and channels of communication with key interfaces and the business
• IT Knowledge: Knowledge of MS Office, and working knowledge of A/V equipment an advantage
• Administrative skills: ability to multitask, prioritise workload and provide administrative support

Rewards and Benefits

We believe in supporting our employees in both their professional and personal lives. As part of our commitment to your well-being, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to:

• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays(pro-rata for part time roles)
• Salary sacrifice schemes, retail vouchers – including our TechScheme which can be used on a range of gadgets such as Smart TV’s, laptops and computers or household appliances.
• Life Assurance
• Private Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Health Assessments
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Discounted gym memberships
• Referral Scheme

You will also have the opportunity to work for a global employer who is dedicated to offering each and every employee an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding career with future career development prospects!

Equality and Diversity

The Company values the differences that a diverse workforce brings to the organisation and will not discriminate because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation (each of these being a “protected characteristic” in discrimination law). It will not discriminate because of any other irrelevant factor and will build a culture that values openness, fairness and transparency.

If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format or would like to make a reasonable adjustment to enable you to make an interview please contact us at [email protected](we do not accept applications to this email address).

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