System Analyst

• With the System Development and Monitoring Officer implement all new releases for IT systems ensuring they are fully tested, and staff are informed of new functionality and documented in office procedures.
• Assist Housing Benefits Technical Manager in the preparation of all Department for Work & Pensions & Government returns relating to Housing Benefits, Discretionary Housing Payments and Council Tax Support are completed accurately and on time
• Prepare and distribute the Housing Benefit payment timetable, following suitable liaison with the Housing Benefits Technical Manager, IT and Finance sections and ensuring the data file is sent to BACS in accordance with the timetable. Overseeing the administration of any internal payments (Housing) to back office systems
• Provide management information required by creating/running bespoke reports using First Query (Business Objects) software and test any new software releases to ensure relevant reports are kept up to date
• Systems administrator duties of the NEC system including:
• Setting up new users & deleting old users
• Review permissions of users quarterly in line with Audit requirements
• Receive notifications from software suppliers on releases, bugs and upgrades and where necessary, log issues and faults with software suppliers and monitor progress
• Develop UAT procedures and with the System Development and Monitoring Officer have responsibility for testing and implementation of new releases
• Liaising with Digital Services, Finance, Revenues, Housing and users when necessary
• By attending and participating as appropriate in relevant software user groups and internal software meetings, ensuring Runnymede is using software effectively and at the forefront in improving the product for the better efficient use.
• Ensure technology is maximised to enable the efficient and effective running of the Service
• Provide support as required to Benefits on system aspects of the core application
• Provide data for Subject Access Requests and FOI requests when requested by the Housing Benefits Technical Manager
• Responsible for the daily financial reconciliation of Council Tax Support to Council Tax systems including:
• Reconcile HB payments to Housing and Finance systems
• Reconcile payments to sundry debt invoices
• Reconcile write offs and ensure correct procedures have been followed prior to actioning on system
• Responsible for monitoring Housing Benefit Overpayments, ensuring Sundry and PDP debts are recovered, distributing lists of overpayments for further action and welfare support to Benefit Advisors.
• Provide statistical information as required by the Head of Service or Housing Benefits Technical Manager
• Assist the Housing Benefits Technical Manager with annual billing and uprating exercise, helping to ensure systems and processes are tested and in place in time for annual billing. Support and guidance to be provided by the System Development and Monitoring Officer providing a clear demarcation of duties appropriate to grade and experience
• With the System Development and Monitoring Officer, responsibility for the batch scheduler including annual scheduling and investigating failures and correcting as appropriate
• Responsible for investigating and correcting daily exception errors and reports within Benefits
• Assist the Quality Assurance & Monitoring Team Leader in ensuring all relevant reports are processed to enable performance management of staff
• Responsible for ensuring reports and data from DWP and HMRC are downloaded and imported into the Housing Benefits system to enable assessment staff to efficiently process changes as required to maximise the authority’s subsidy claim
• Responsible for the production, checking and distributing computer output, including birthday lists, rent officer and adhoc reports to be published on the relevant pages of the authority’s website or in response to Freedom of Information requests
• To keep up to date with legislative and technical knowledge affecting Housing Benefits and Council Tax Support and how this may impact on the software
• Ensure the provisions of data protection acts are observed at all times
• Participate in projects of a specialist nature which improve efficiency within the service area.

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