Job Description

Subsidy Officer (Housing Benefit)

Camden

This role plays a key role in ensuring the council can claim the money it pays out in Benefits back from the Department of Work and Pensions through its subsidy claim. As such, it will work with the Senior Subsidy officer and Service Manager to produce, co-ordinate and check the documentation and testing required through the annual subsidy audit and assist in making the subsidy claim, liaising with external auditors and capturing any learning and improvement required in practice.

Key Responsibilities

Work with the Senior Subsidy Officer to produce all documentation required for and check the accuracy of the Council's subsidy claim, worth approximately £180m, and assist in completing the claim at the beginning and end of year.

Liaise with external auditors and co-ordinate access to systems and reports, including sampling data.

Organise any testing required as part of the audit.

Test all new releases of software to ensure it is awarding benefit correctly and liaise with IT on any issues resulting in non-compliance or incorrect awards likely to result in an audit failure.

Work closely with the team and service managers to ensure learning from errors is actioned.

Produce data and reports on benefit caseloads.

Act as a service expert on subsidy and the subsidy audit process, maintaining knowledge and working with the Policy and Appeals officers to ensure practice complies with legislation and guidance.

Identifying areas for service improvement and supporting implementation of projects.

Be required to carry out special tasks, assignments, reports or duties that are commensurate to the role and/or grade, where applicable as requested