Application Support Analyst (FCS45)
Application Support Analyst (FCS45)
Contract: Permanent, working 35 hours per week (Arts Council also recognises the benefit of flexible working as a valued part of the way we work, and welcome applications from individuals who require flexibility)
Salary: £33,643 per annum plus benefits including a final salary pension scheme, generous annual leave, and flexible and hybrid working.
Location: Manchester (The role will be based in Manchester; however, we are operating a hybrid way of working and support our staff to make use of remote working options when combined with regular on-site contact days with other members of the team, normally 1-2 days a week)
We’re recruiting an Application Support Analyst to join Arts Council England’s Business Systems Team, supporting the systems that underpin our grants and licensing services.
This role focuses on second‑line application support, investigation of complex system issues, and hands‑on configuration and improvement of our grants and licensing platforms. You’ll work on live services used by both internal colleagues and external applicants, helping to keep critical systems stable, reliable and efficient.
Candidates who have not previously completed the LPAT aptitude test will be required to do so as part of the recruitment process.
What you’ll do
- Provide second‑line support for grants and licensing systems
- Investigate and resolve complex incidents, including workflow failures, performance issues and data problems
- Build and configure funding programmes, workflows and forms
- Work with external system suppliers to resolve technical issues
- Support system testing, releases and business‑critical periods
- Use automation where appropriate to reduce manual effort and improve resilience
What we’re looking for
- Experience supporting or working with workflow‑driven systems (e.g. grant‑making, case management or licensing)
- Experience analysing system behaviour and working with relational data
- Understanding of forms‑based web applications
- Confidence working with a wide range of technical and non‑technical stakeholders
Extremely desirable
- Knowledge of Python and automation technologies, with experience using scripting to:
- Automate repetitive or operational tasks
- Support bulk data processing or system maintenance
- Improve reliability and reduce support overhead
- Experience creating and maintaining reports, including:
- Using reporting tools such as Cognos
- Writing or supporting SQL queries to extract and validate data
- Producing structured outputs to support operational decision‑making
This is a hands‑on, practical role suited to someone who enjoys problem‑solving, improving systems and making services work better.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion Statement: Arts Council are committed to being an inclusive employer, building an inclusive workplace, and recruiting a workforce that is as diverse as the communities we serve. However, you identify, and whatever background you bring with you, we welcome you to apply for a role at Arts Council.
If there are any adjustments that would support you in your application, please do let us know when you apply. If you are disabled, Evenbreak are able to provide support with your application. For further information please visit their website here
We participate in the ‘Offer an Interview’ scheme which means that we offer an interview to any disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role they’re applying to, subject to the volume of applications received. Disabled candidates, those living with a long-term condition and/ or neurodivergent candidates may be eligible for this scheme. The scheme uses the definition of disability from the Equality Act 2010 to determine eligibility. More information is included in the application guidance.
About us: Arts Council offers a range of benefits to our employees including hybrid and flexible working, a generous annual leave allowance and the Arts Council Retirement Plan - a final salary scheme. To find out more, click here.
Our Code of Ethics requires that employees of the Arts Council are not able to receive an Arts Council grant, investment or loan funding - either in person, as a member of a partnership, or for any organisation they own. There are also limitations on board or CEO positions employees can hold in organisations we fund. For more information on this, please talk to the recruiting manager or contact recruitment@artscouncil.org.uk
We believe our recruitment process should be inclusive and transparent. Find out what to expect with our application Guidance: How to apply and recruitment selection process | Arts Council England and more about our commitment to diversity on our website here.
To view the job description please click here
To view the recruitment pack which outlines more details about working for Arts Council please click here
Job ref: FCS45
Closing date: Monday 01 June 2026
1st Interview: (In person) TBC
2nd Interview: (virtual/In person) TBC
Please note: We do NOT accept CVs or cover letters as part of our recruitment process. If you require any documentation in an alternative format, please contact recruitment@artscouncil.org.uk
