Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) is seeking an organized, professional, and results oriented individual to serve as a Fraud Special Investigations Agent. Responsibilities include performing highly complex investigations to assess the propriety of unemployment benefit payments, pursuing cases that involve benefit fraud for complex schemes, conducting intensive investigatory interviews, and preparing decisions which set forth provisions of the state and/or federal law violated and the application of penalties. This position provides a great opportunity for someone who has a strong knowledge of unemployment insurance (UI) benefit payments based upon the criteria contained in laws and policies of the State of Illinois and the Department of Labor (DOL) and is dedicated to ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations. The ideal candidate for this position will have experience performing audits on unemployment insurance benefit claims and explaining and interpreting unemployment insurance (UI) laws, rules, and regulations. IDES offers a competitive compensation plan, excellent benefits, and a pension program. We invite you to join our innovative team to help make a positive difference in the lives of Illinois employers and job seekers.

Job Responsibilities

• Under direction, serves as a Fraud Special Investigations Agent for the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES)
• Prepares for decisions by reviewing case files for completeness of supportive documentation, including but not limited to payroll records, certifications, depositions, record of proper notice to parties and handwritten exemplars
• At the conclusion of the investigation, explains the issues to all interested parties, including but not limited to claimants, employers, government agencies and the general public, in writing
• Develops leads utilizing external and internal resources
• Reviews, analyzes, and evaluates testimony and exhibits to determine competence and relevance
• Prepares written decisions stating the issue or issues involved, stating relevant facts, summarization of material evidence and testimony, resulting in a conclusion and a decision which set forth provisions of the law and the application of penalties as prescribed in the fraud provisions
• Performs audits on unemployment insurance benefit claims with potential fraud overpayments generated from the Department’s computerized systems, including but not limited to Microsoft Office Suite, the Illinois Benefit Information System (IBIS) and the Illinois Benefit Payment Control (BPC) System, or as directed, by compiling, analyzing and evaluating Benefit Claim documents, claims information in IBIS and any related agency accessible employer records to establish the existence of fraud violations
• Obtains and coordinates utilization of evidence with other Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) staff and/or state and/or federal government agencies
• Keeps abreast of changes to federal and state laws, rules and regulations related to unemployment benefit payments
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonable within the scope of the duties enumerated above

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years college with major courses in Business Law and Business Administration
• Requires three (3) years of local office professional investigative experience performing major adjudication work involved in the fact-finding process

Preferred Qualifications (In Order of Sigificance)

• Four (4) years of professional experience applying unemployment insurance laws to determine benefit eligibility
• Two (2) years of experience interviewing unemployment insurance (UI) claimants and/or employers to determine claimants’ eligibility for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits
• Experience speaking to various groups to convey policy and procedures in a manner easily understood by diverse audiences
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite products, including Outlook, Word, and Excel

Conditions Of Employment

• Requires an Illinois State Police background check and self-disclosure of any criminal history
• Requires ability to travel