Subsidy Officer

Are you a Subsidy Officer looking for work in Essex or remotely from home?

Morgan Hunt's Public Sector and Government client based in Essex is looking to recruit a Subsidy Officer to monitor and prepare Housing Benefit subsidy returns ensuring accuracy, maximising income and reducing financial losses to the authority.

This assignment has been deemed inside of IR35 and will offer homeworking.

Ideally, the successful candidate will have the ability to:

• Proficiently use the IWorld/Northgate (NEC) Revenues and Benefits processing system.
• Support management in supplying accurate statistical information in line with the Department for Work and Pensions, external auditors and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister requirements.
• Work on the audit of the main Housing Benefit subsidy claim and any other internal and external audits as directed
• Complete external auditor workbooks within required timescales and explain benefit calculations and payments that the authority will be claiming subsidy for.
• Monitor, take direct responsibility for, and keep management fully aware, of any potential areas of subsidy loss and take appropriate action to minimise any risk to the authority, including the correction of data.
• Scrutinise subsidy and accuracy errors and identify quality and training issues as a result of regular checks. To assist in identifying and implementing improvements to the service and work alongside the Benefits Quality Checking & Training Officer to deliver training to staff to ensure quality and accuracy are maintained.
• Monitor and address any backlog of work to help minimise Admin Delay/Local Authority error over payment coding, therefore ensuring no unnecessary Subsidy loss to the Local Authority.
• Monitor the level of subsidy for the current year on all incentive and penalty areas and assist management in addressing any areas where the rise is above acceptable levels.
• Work with the Benefits Technical and Quality Assurance Manager to ensure there is a comprehensive set of procedures and policies in place in respect of all areas of subsidy, paying particular attention to priority areas and recommend changes or amendments as appropriate.
• Maintain an extensive knowledge of Housing Benefit and Local Council Tax Support legislation and a working knowledge of other supporting benefits.
• To interpret and implement legislation, statutory procedures and local requirements into service delivery ensuring that good working practices are fully documented and adopted by employees in line with best practice.