Job Details

Subsidy Officer

Directorate: Housing, Benefits & Planning
Contract: 6 months
Working Pattern: Hybrid
Rate: £27.80 per hour

Purpose of the Role

To provide specialist Housing Benefit subsidy expertise, ensuring the Council maximises its subsidy entitlement and income while maintaining high standards of accuracy, compliance and financial control.

The postholder will undertake detailed subsidy and quality assurance checks, support the preparation and completion of subsidy claims and returns, identify financial risks and errors, and provide technical advice on complex Housing Benefit matters. The role will also contribute to service improvement by identifying trends, strengthening controls and working with the Training and Resilience team to address knowledge and development needs across the service.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake detailed and systematic checks of Housing Benefit claims and subsidy expenditure to ensure payments and subsidy are accurate and compliant with legislation and guidance.
• Identify, investigate and correct errors that may result in incorrect benefit payments, subsidy loss or financial risk to the Council.
• Support the preparation, reconciliation and submission of Housing Benefit subsidy claims and returns, ensuring information is accurate, complete and supported by appropriate evidence.
• Review subsidy performance and expenditure to identify opportunities to maximise the Council’s subsidy income and minimise financial loss.
• Provide specialist technical advice to Benefits officers and managers on complex Housing Benefit, subsidy and eligibility issues.
• Interpret and apply Housing Benefit legislation, regulations, DWP guidance and subsidy requirements, keeping knowledge up to date as legislation and guidance changes.
• Support internal and external audit activity, including responding to queries, providing evidence and assisting with the resolution of audit findings.
• Undertake quality assurance and trend analysis to identify recurring errors, weaknesses in processes and areas of financial or operational risk.
• Work closely with the Training and Resilience team to translate findings from subsidy and accuracy checking into targeted training, coaching and development for Benefits officers.
• Contribute to the review and improvement of procedures, guidance, controls and working practices to improve accuracy, efficiency and financial performance.
• Produce clear and accurate reports, analysis and management information relating to subsidy, quality assurance, errors and financial performance.
• Maintain comprehensive records of checks, findings, adjustments, recommendations and corrective actions to provide a clear audit trail.
• Work collaboratively with Revenues and Benefits, Finance, Housing, Temporary Accommodation and other relevant teams to resolve issues and improve outcomes.
• Promote a strong culture of accuracy, compliance, continuous improvement and financial awareness across the Benefits service.

Narrative of the Role

The Subsidy Officer is a specialist role that will make a direct contribution to the Council’s financial position and the quality of its Housing Benefit service. The role is needed to ensure that Housing Benefit expenditure is correctly identified and that the Council receives all the subsidy to which it is entitled. Through detailed checking, analysis and technical review, the postholder will help reduce errors, minimise subsidy losses and identify opportunities to increase income.

The successful candidate will bring strong practical Housing Benefit and subsidy experience and will be comfortable working with complex information, legislation and financial data. On a typical day, they may review claims and subsidy expenditure, investigate discrepancies, reconcile figures, provide technical advice, respond to audit queries and identify trends requiring corrective action. They will also use their findings to support the Training and Resilience team, helping officers improve their knowledge and accuracy. This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced Housing Benefit professional who can combine technical expertise, financial awareness, quality assurance and service improvement.

Essential Experience

The successful candidate will have:

• Significant practical experience within a Housing Benefit or Revenues and Benefits environment.
• Demonstrable experience of Housing Benefit subsidy and subsidy checking.
• Experience of assessing, reviewing or quality checking Housing Benefit claims.
• Experience of applying Housing Benefit legislation, regulations and government guidance.
• Experience of identifying, investigating and correcting errors.
• Experience of supporting or working with internal/external auditors.
• Experience of analysing information and identifying trends, risks and financial implications.
• Experience of providing technical advice, guidance or support to colleagues.
• Experience of identifying learning and development needs through quality assurance or checking activity.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver accurate work to strict deadlines.

Desirable Experience

• Experience of completing or contributing to Housing Benefit subsidy returns/claims.
• Experience of DWP subsidy guidance, circulars and annual subsidy requirements.
• Experience of CAKE testing or equivalent subsidy assurance activity.
• Experience of temporary accommodation and/or exempt accommodation subsidy.
• Experience of subsidy reconciliation and financial analysis.
• Experience of delivering training, coaching or mentoring to Benefits staff.
• Experience of reviewing and improving Benefits procedures and processes.

Qualifications

• GCSEs or equivalent, including English and Mathematics.
• A relevant professional qualification, such as an IRRV Revenues and Benefits qualification, is desirable.
• Relevant professional training in Housing Benefit, subsidy or Revenues and Benefits is desirable.
• Significant relevant practical experience may be accepted in place of formal qualifications.

Technical Knowledge

The postholder should have a strong working knowledge of:

• Housing Benefit legislation and regulations.
• Housing Benefit subsidy arrangements and requirements.
• DWP Housing Benefit subsidy guidance and circulars.
• Housing Benefit assessment and payment processes.
• Subsidy checking, reconciliation and quality assurance.
• Audit and evidence requirements.
• Temporary and exempt accommodation issues where relevant.
• Local authority financial and administrative processes.
• Data protection, confidentiality and information governance.

Competencies

Analytical and Technical Expertise

Ability to analyse complex Housing Benefit and subsidy information, identify discrepancies and reach accurate, evidence-based conclusions.

Attention to Detail

A high level of accuracy when checking claims, calculations, subsidy figures and supporting evidence, with the ability to identify errors that may have financial consequences.

Financial Awareness

Understanding of the financial impact of Housing Benefit decisions and the ability to identify opportunities to maximise subsidy and minimise financial loss.

Communication

Ability to explain complex legislation, technical issues and audit findings clearly to colleagues, managers and other stakeholders.

Problem Solving

Ability to investigate complex or unusual cases, identify the underlying cause of errors and recommend practical solutions.

Quality and Continuous Improvement

Ability to identify recurring errors, weaknesses and opportunities for improvement and turn findings into practical changes.

Teamwork and Collaboration

Ability to work effectively across Benefits, Finance, Housing, Training and Resilience and other teams to achieve shared outcomes.

Planning and Organisation

Ability to manage a varied workload, prioritise effectively and deliver accurate work within deadlines.

Coaching and Development

Ability to provide constructive feedback and use quality assurance findings to support colleague development and improve service capability.

Professional Judgement

Ability to work independently, make sound decisions and appropriately escalate complex or high-risk issues.

Key Outcomes for the Role

The successful postholder will be expected to contribute to:

• Maximising the Council’s Housing Benefit subsidy income.
• Reducing subsidy errors and financial losses.
• Improving the accuracy and quality of Housing Benefit administration.
• Ensuring subsidy claims and returns are accurate and completed within required timescales.
• Providing effective support during audit activity.
• Identifying and addressing recurring errors and areas of risk.
• Improving staff knowledge through targeted training and feedback.
• Strengthening quality assurance and financial controls.
• Improving procedures and processes across the Benefits service.
• Building greater resilience and technical capability within the team.

Working Relationships

The postholder will develop effective working relationships with:

• Revenues and Benefits management and operational teams.
• Housing Benefit assessment and processing officers.
• Finance and accountancy colleagues.
• Training and Resilience teams.
• Housing and Temporary Accommodation teams.
• Internal and external auditors.
• DWP and other relevant government departments.
• Other internal and external stakeholders as required.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for an experienced Housing Benefit professional with strong specialist subsidy knowledge who can work confidently with legislation, financial information and complex cases. The ideal candidate will be analytical, methodical and commercially aware, with the ability to identify where the Council may be losing subsidy and take appropriate action.

You will need to be comfortable working independently, challenging discrepancies, explaining technical issues and influencing colleagues to improve accuracy. Most importantly, you will be someone who can combine technical Housing Benefit expertise with a strong focus on financial outcomes, quality and continuous improvement.