Senior Returns and Payments Analyst

Job Title: Senior Returns & Payments Analyst

Job Requisition ID: 39764

Closing Date: 07/25/2024 

Salary: $7,491-$11,015/monthly

Work Hours: M-F 7:45 AM-4:15 PM  

Work Location: (Hybrid) 101 W Jefferson St, Springfield, Illinois, 62702

Union Position: Yes

Work Authorization: The State of Illinois does not provide sponsorship for employment visa status and cannot accept F1 OPT/CPT. To be considered for permanent employment with the State of Illinois, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship now or at any time in the future.

Are you looking for a rewarding career with an organization that values their staff? The Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) is seeking to hire qualified candidates with the opportunity to work in a dynamic, creative thinking, problem solving environment. 

This position serves as a Payments and Return Analyst II, supporting the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDoR) by coordinating and conducting complex application development using GenTax and Microsoft SQL programming language for the database design, VB.NET for program design, SQL Server and the supplied GenTax tools for testing the new processes. In this role, you will provide application and user support. 

In addition, this role serves as project coordinator for complex projects. If you possess these knowledges, skills, abilities, and experience, we invite you to apply for this position to join the DoIT Team!

As a State of Illinois employee, you receive a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Competitive Group Insurance benefits including health, life, dental and vision plans.
• Flexible work schedules (when available and dependent upon position)
• 10 -25 days of paid vacation time annually (10 days for first year of state employment)
• 12 days of paid sick time annually which carryover year to year
• 3 paid personal business days per year
• 13-14 paid holidays per year dependent on election years
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• Pension plan through the State Employees Retirement System
• Deferred Compensation Program – voluntary supplemental retirement plan
• Optional pre-tax programs -Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) & Dependent Care Assistant Plan (DCAP)
• Tuition Reimbursement Program and Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility

For more information regarding State of Illinois Benefits follow this link: https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/Pages/default.aspx

Essential Functions

30 % Under administrative direction, serves as a Returns & Payments Analyst II for the Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) supporting the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDoR):

• Coordinates and conducts complex application development using GenTax and Microsoft SQL programming language for the database design, VB.NET for program design, SQL Server and the supplied GenTax tools for testing the new processes.
• Provides application and user support.
• Conducts and coordinates in-depth technical research and feasibility studies to determine the best application needs for users.
• Confers with users to identify functional and security requirements and to determine application requirements.
• Performs system analysis by charting process flow.
• Performs specification writing, coding, testing, audit trails.
• Develops control procedures, inputs/outputs, forms design, and interactive system procedures.
• Prepares testing plans, test scripts, and test data for new or modified programs and SQL code.
• Performs testing, ensuring logic paths are tested and other areas of the integrated tax system are not impacted.
• Evaluates test results to verify conformance with program objectives.
• Performs fine tuning of applications.
• Prepares user and operational guidelines, operational manuals and application or system documentation.
• Follows DoIT/IDOR adopted system design methodology to ensure the integrity of the Returns and Payments Unit in the GenTax Integrated Tax System meets the required standards of security, efficiency, and scope of the system.
• Utilizes object-oriented development in performance of duties.

20 % Serves as liaison with user community for changes and enhancements to the Returns and Payments Unit in the GenTax Integrated Tax System: 

• Analyzes SQR’s, identifies system changes, and develops integrated work plans and cost benefits.
• Makes complex systems modification design changes and prepares complex modifications.
• Evaluates systems needs as part of long-range planning efforts and provides recommendations for system changes/enhancements to management.

20% Serves as project coordinator for full-range major/complex projects including large hardware/software deployments and installations:

• Determines and coordinates project components such as project scheduling and assignments.
• Assigns and reviews the work of project staff.
• Provides expertise, guidance, and direction to staff.
• Reviews results and incorporates individual components of project into the final product.

10% Serves as the primary support for scheduled and remedial maintenance to the assigned applications: 

• Schedules processes, reviews history of processed jobs and responds appropriately to any abnormal completion status.
• Provides status reports to management.

10% Analyzes and recommends new procedures and techniques to improve the supported application systems:

• Adheres to the adopted methodology standards to ensure integrity of each system/sub-system during maintenance/enhancement activities.

5% Keeps abreast of new developments in the Information Technology field:

• Continues education by attending meetings, training sessions, seminars, and conferences to increase familiarity with and remain current on products, vendors, techniques, and procedures.
• Attends demonstrations and exhibitions related to assigned operations.

5% Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.
 

Minimum Qualifications

1. Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to four (4) years of college with course work in computer science or directly related fields.
2. Requires three (3) years of professional experience in Application Services or a related Information Technology field.
    

Preferred Qualifications

1. Three (3) years of professional application development experience with GenTax Integrated Tax System and GenTax Tools, Microsoft SQL and SQL Coding, VB.NET, application programming, database management systems, and business process analysis/systems/analysis and design.
2. Three (3) years of professional experience coding tax returns and payment account processing.
3. Two (2) years of professional experience serving as a project coordinator or lead developer on IT development projects.
4. Two years of experience conducting feasibility studies for system conversions and enhancements.
5. Ability to analyze data logically and exercise sound judgment in defining and evaluating problems of an operational or procedural nature.
6. Developed verbal and written communication skills to present technical information to others with clarity and precision.
7. Extensive knowledge of Object-Oriented Application Design development.
8. Ability to apply systems analysis methodologies in the development and preparation of general design, detail design, and program specifications documentation.
9. Ability to coordinate the activities of work associates to achieve desired results.
10. Ability to maintain satisfactory working relationships with others.

Conditions of Employment

NOTE: Applicants must possess the ability to meet ALL of the following conditions of employment, with or without reasonable accommodation, to be considered for this position. 

1. Requires the ability to verify identity.
2. Requires employment authorization to accept permanent full-time position with the State of Illinois.
3. Requires the ability to pass a position specific, agency required background check.
4. Requires self-disclosure of criminal history.
5. Requires the ability to use agency supplied equipment such as laptop, personal computer, work cell phone and any other required equipment or devices.
6. Requires the ability to attend seminars, conferences, and training to remain current on methods, tools, ideologies, or other industry related topics relevant to job duties.
7. Requires the ability to lift and carry objects or equipment weighing up to 20pounds. This is considered light work as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor (20 CFR 404.1567(b)). Light work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds.
8. Requires ability to pass a tax compliance check.

The conditions of employment listed are incorporated and/or related to any duties included in the position description.