Student Funding Team Leader

Student Funding Team Leader
Student Services
Salary: £22,200 to £24,241 per annum (£31,590 to £34,507 full time equivalent)
Contract Type: Permanent, Part Time – 26 hours per week

Reference: REC2177 | Closing Date: Tuesday, 22nd July 2025

The Opportunity

Based in our friendly Student Services team, you’ll play a key role within the department, leading the Funding team and managing the day-to-day operations of the front-of-house service. You’ll line manage a team of Funding Advisors, ensuring they provide a supportive, efficient, and responsive service to our students accessing financial help through schemes such as the Learner Support Fund, Advanced Learning Loan Bursary, and other EFA, SFA, and Hefce allocations.

In this role, you’ll take the lead on managing these funds, making sure government guidance is followed, spend is accurately forecast, and robust systems are in place for audit and compliance. You’ll work closely with the Head of Student Services to keep policies up to date, while providing regular reports to senior leaders and governors to inform strategic decisions.

You’ll collaborate with colleagues across the College and with external partners to ensure our students receive joined-up support, particularly where financial and wellbeing needs intersect. You’ll also keep an eye on national developments and welfare trends, helping the department to adapt and respond effectively. Measuring the impact of financial support on student retention and success will be a key part of your work, helping to shape future provision.

Alongside your operational responsibilities, you’ll support and develop your team, ensuring work is distributed fairly, staff are well supported, and training needs are identified and addressed. You’ll organise regular team meetings, contribute to strategic planning, and may be asked to deputise for the Head of Student Services when needed. You’ll also have a hand in college-wide projects, audits, and external meetings, bringing your knowledge and experience to wider conversations.

This is a rewarding opportunity to guide a team, oversee important funding streams, and help ensure that all our students have access to the support they need to succeed.

About You

Ideally, you’ll be someone with strong leadership skills, a keen eye for detail, and a solid understanding of student funding within a further education setting. You’ll be confident managing people, systems, and processes, and you’ll know how to balance operational delivery with a focus on student-centred service.

You’ll bring at least two years’ experience in financially supporting learners in an FE environment, along with experience of managing financial responsibilities, including audits. You’ll have worked in a customer service-focused setting and will be used to providing effective support and guidance to students. You’ll have experience of line managing staff to achieve targets, preferably within an educational context. A key part of this role also involves analysing and presenting statistical data, so you’ll need a strong track record of producing clear, informative reports to support decision-making.

You’ll have a good working knowledge of government funding streams such as the Learner Support Fund, Advanced Learner Loans, or similar schemes, and you’ll feel comfortable interpreting and applying funding guidance. A sound understanding of audit requirements and financial accountability is essential, as you’ll be responsible for ensuring public funds are well-managed and compliant with external standards.

As a team leader, you’ll know how to motivate and support staff, conduct appraisals, manage performance, and identify training needs. You’ll create a supportive, fair working environment where your team can deliver high-quality services that make a difference to students.

Above all, you’ll be committed to helping our students access the support they need to succeed. You’ll take pride in leading a service that has a direct impact on the student experience, and you’ll bring a practical, organised, and student-focused approach to everything you do.

Below is a list of some of the key skills, qualifications and experience we are seeking for this exciting opportunity.

Required

·         Hold a relevant Level 4 qualification or equivalent

·         GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths at grades A*–C

A minimum of two years’ experience in the following areas:

·         Providing financial support to learners within a Further Education setting

·         Managing financial responsibilities, including preparation for audits

·         Offering effective support and guidance to students

·         Working in a customer service-focused environment

·         Line managing staff to achieve performance targets, ideally within an educational setting

·         Producing and analysing statistical data, and presenting findings in a clear and accessible format

Reasons to join us

We offer substantial annual leave entitlement (Up to 47 days per year including bank and public holidays)
Holiday purchase scheme to buy additional annual leave days
Local Government Pension Scheme – with a generous 19.2% employer contribution! 
We invest in our people through funded CPD opportunities, regular staff development training and paid volunteering days
Career advancement opportunities with tailored support for staff to progress 
Free Barnsley College courses to support your professional and personal development (subject to approval)
24/7 access to same day appointments with a GP
Exclusive discounts and cashback for retail, dining and leisure as part of YouatWork
Access to health cash plans as members of the Westfield Health Scheme or Health Shield
Discounted college gym membership with onsite facilities
Supporting employee mental health through access to free counselling services and the Foundations App
Discounts schemes for greener travel including Northern Rail, Trainline and Cycle to Work
Free Microsoft Office 365 for personal use on up to five machines
Access to discounted hair and beauty therapies at our onsite salon
On site subsidised Starbucks and food outlets offering a variety of dining options
Free breakfast provided daily for all staff members
Our shared purpose – We believe in transforming the lives of both our learners and staff

The Barnsley College Advantage
When you join us, you can expect to benefit from “The Barnsley College Advantage”. This is the advantage of:

·         Being supported to achieve your personal and professional goals

·         A range of flexible working opportunities

·         Autonomy, Empowerment and Accountability

·         Short- and Long-Term development commitments

·         Access to experiencing work in a range of areas

·         Working in a Value and Behaviour led organisation

·         Reward and Recognition

·         Having your voice heard at every level

·         Comprehensive Wellbeing Support

Closing date for applications is Tuesday, 22nd July 2025. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early depending on the level of interest.

Barnsley College is committed to creating a dynamic and diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all candidates regardless of their gender, disability, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or faith. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview. The College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure from DBS.

Please be aware that it is a Criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection to children.