Application Support Analyst

Barclays; Knutsford; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Barclays in Knutsford is seeking an Application Support Analyst to support card applications within a 24/7 environment. The role focuses on incident and problem management across core card systems, with participation in Major Incident Management calls and a commitment to reliable service delivery.

Key experience includes COBOL-based applications, DB2/VSAM, JCL and CICS. Additional skills such as Hogan/CAMS, ZOS/Connect, and REXX are highly valued for success.

Qualifications

• Experience with COBOL-based applications, DB2 and VSAM, JCL and CICS.
• Knowledge of incident and problem management in critical card systems preferred.
• Experience in a follow-the-sun support model beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Provide incident and problem management for card systems to meet SLA targets.
• Collaborate on Major Incident Management (MIM) calls for 24/7/365 operations.
• Maintain and monitor critical technology infrastructure to minimise disruption.
• Analyze logs and user reports to identify root causes and implement fixes.
• Develop and maintain a knowledge base of resolved cases for self-service.
• Identify and address potential service risks and issues.
• Proactively implement automation and monitoring improvements.

Skills

COBOL-based applications

DB2

JCL

Tools

Hogan/CAMS

ZOS/Connect

REXX tool

Job description

Join us as an Application Support Analyst, where you’ll play a key role in supporting the bank’s card applications. Working in a follow-the-sun model, you’ll be committed to delivering exceptional service to both colleagues and customers. In this role, you’ll provide incident and problem management across critical card systems, ensuring adherence to the bank’s SLA targets. You’ll collaborate on Major Incident Management (MIM) calls and contribute to the smooth operation of a 24/7/365 environment.

To be successful as an Application support Analyst, you should have experience in:

• COBOL-based applications
• DB2 and VSAM
• JCL and CICS

Some Other Highly Valued Skills May Include

• Hogan / CAMS
• ZOS/Connect
• REXX tool

You may be assessed on the key critical skills relevant for success in role, such as risk and controls, change and transformation, business acumen strategic thinking and digital and technology, as well as job‑specific technical skills.

This role is based out of our office in Knutsford, Cheshire.

Purpose of the role

To effectively monitor and maintain the bank’s critical technology infrastructure and resolve more complex technical issues, whilst minimising disruption to operations.

Accountabilities

• Provision of technical support for the service management function to resolve more complex issues for a specific client of group of clients. Develop the support model and service offering to improve the service to customers and stakeholders.
• Execution of preventative maintenance tasks on hardware and software and utilisation of monitoring tools/metrics to identify, prevent and address potential issues and ensure optimal performance.
• Maintenance of a knowledge base containing detailed documentation of resolved cases for future reference, self‑service opportunities and knowledge sharing.
• Analysis of system logs, error messages and user reports to identify the root causes of hardware, software and network issues, and providing a resolution to these issues by fixing or replacing faulty hardware components, reinstalling software, or applying configuration changes.
• Automation, monitoring enhancements, capacity management, resiliency, business continuity management, front office specific support and stakeholder management.
• Identification and remediation or raising, through appropriate process, of potential service impacting risks and issues.
• Proactively assess support activities implementing automations where appropriate to maintain stability and drive efficiency. Actively tune monitoring tools, thresholds, and alerting to ensure issues are known when they occur.

Analyst Expectations

• To perform prescribed activities in a timely manner and to a high standard consistently driving continuous improvement.
• Requires in-depth technical knowledge and experience in their assigned area of expertise
• Thorough understanding of the underlying principles and concepts within the area of expertise
• They lead and supervise a team, guiding and supporting professional development, allocating work requirements and coordinating team resources.
• If the position has leadership responsibilities, People Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others.
• OR for an individual contributor, they develop technical expertise in work area, acting as an advisor where appropriate.
• Will have an impact on the work of related teams within the area.
• Partner with other functions and business areas.
• Takes responsibility for end results of a team’s operational processing and activities.
• Escalate breaches of policies / procedure appropriately.
• Take responsibility for embedding new policies/ procedures adopted due to risk mitigation.
• Advise and influence decision making within own area of expertise.
• Take ownership for managing risk and strengthening controls in relation to the work you own or contribute to. Deliver your work and areas of responsibilities in line with relevant rules, regulation and codes of conduct.
• Maintain and continually build an understanding of how own sub‑function integrates with function, alongside knowledge of the organisations products, services and processes within the function.
• Demonstrate understanding of how areas coordinate and contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the organisation sub‑function.
• Make evaluative judgements based on the analysis of factual information, paying attention to detail.
• Resolve problems by identifying and selecting solutions through the application of acquired technical experience and will be guided by precedents.
• Guide and persuade team members and communicate complex / sensitive information.
• Act as contact point for stakeholders outside of the immediate function, while building a network of contacts outside team and external to the organisation.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.