Job Title: Funding and Compliance Lead
Purpose:
To manage and ensure the accuracy, integrity and compliance of Individualised Learner Record (ILR) data for post-16 provision, supporting funding returns, audit requirements and regulatory compliance in line with Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and Department for Education (DfE) regulations.
The role includes oversight of learner bursaries and Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) Element 3 (E3) top-up funding, ensuring accurate claims, reporting, audit trails and liaison with Local Authorities to maximise compliant income.
The postholder will also act as Exams Officer, leading the administration and compliance of all examinations and awarding body processes, and serve as a formally appointed Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL), supporting the organisation's statutory safeguarding responsibilities.
Employment Type: Full Time
Reports To: Head of Education
Location Main Site: Callington
Disclosure Level: Enhanced
Salary: £35,000 - £40,000 (a year) depending on experience
Key Responsibilities
ILR & Data Management
• Prepare, validate and submit accurate information to the organisation's funding partner (prime contractor) for the ILR returns in line with ESFA funding rules and deadlines.
• Maintain learner records in line with MIS requirements.
• Run validation checks and resolve errors.
• Ensure data integrity across enrolment, registers, withdrawals, achievement and completion records.
• Monitor learner eligibility, funding streams and programme aims.
• Maintain robust evidence packs to meet prime contractor and ESFA funding assurance standards.
• Conduct regular internal data audits to ensure accuracy, completeness, and audit readiness.
Funding & Compliance
• Ensure full compliance with ESFA funding rules, subcontracting requirements, and post-16 funding regulations.
• Monitor updates from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and prime contractor guidance, advising relevant teams on regulatory changes and operational impact.
• Support internal and external audits, including prime contractor funding audits, local authority compliance reviews, and data assurance checks.
• Produce, review, and quality-assure evidence to support funding claims, audit sampling, and due diligence requirements.
• Maintain policies, procedures, and documentation in line with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and data protection standards.
• Identify funding risks, potential clawback exposure, and compliance gaps, implementing corrective and preventative actions where necessary.
• Act as the primary point of contact for funding compliance queries from the prime contractor.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of funding assurance processes, internal controls, and risk management frameworks.
• Maintain a strong understanding of the MIS function, including how learner data (enrolment, attendance, retention, and achievement) is captured, managed, and reported.
• Ensure learner administration processes support accurate, compliant funding documentation and timely data submissions.
• Apply working knowledge of MIS systems, reporting processes, and internal controls to uphold data integrity and audit readiness.
EHCP & High Needs Funding Management
• Manage EHCP and High Needs funding compliance, ensuring all provision meets statutory and contractual requirements.
• Prepare, submit, and monitor E3 and High Needs funding applications, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Liaise effectively with local authorities, funding partners, parents/carers, and external professionals regarding funding and learner support.
Bursary Administration
• Oversee ESFA-funded bursary support in line with Education and Skills Funding Agency guidance.
• Assess learner eligibility, ensuring appropriate evidence is obtained, verified, and approved in line with prime contractor requirements.
• Prepare and quality-assure bursary documentation for internal and external audits, including sampling and compliance checks.
• Monitor bursary budgets to prevent overspend, provide accurate and timely bursary evidence to the prime contractor, and ensure full compliance with ESFA funding requirements and audit standards.
Examinations Officer Responsibilities
• Act as the organisation's named Exams Officer.
• Manage the planning, administration and delivery of all internal and external examinations.
• Ensure full compliance with JCQ regulations and awarding body requirements.
• Register the centre with awarding bodies where required and maintain active centre status.
• Coordinate and submit learner registrations, exam entries, amendments and withdrawals within published deadlines.
• Ensure accurate learner data is submitted to awarding organisations.
• Organise examination timetables, invigilation arrangements and rooming.
• Ensure secure storage, handling and distribution of examination papers in line with regulatory requirements.
• Manage special consideration requests, access arrangements.
• Process and distribute results and certificates.
• Maintain comprehensive and auditable examination records.
• Ensure the organisation is inspection-ready in relation to examinations compliance.
• Act as the primary point of contact for awarding bodies and JCQ communications.
Safeguarding (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead – DDSL)
• Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, supporting the DSL in promoting a strong safeguarding culture across the organisation.
• Respond to safeguarding concerns and referrals in line with organisational policy and statutory guidance (e.g. Keeping Children Safe in Education).
• Maintain accurate, confidential safeguarding records.
• Support staff with safeguarding advice and guidance where required.
• Contribute to safeguarding training, monitoring and reporting.
Reporting & Analysis
• Produce regular funding and performance reports for senior leadership.
• Monitor retention, achievement and funding performance indicators.
• Support curriculum and finance teams with funding-related data queries and forecasts.
• Analyse funding data to ensure maximum funding is claimed appropriately and compliantly.
Liaison & Support
• Work closely with the prime contractor and Finance teams to ensure accurate learner information is captured for funding purposes.
• Provide guidance to staff on ILR processes and funding compliance requirements.
• Act as a key contact for ESFA data queries and funding communications.
Support for the Organisation
• Ensure compliance with organisational policies, including safeguarding, health and safety, confidentiality, and data protection.
• Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion within all work activities.
• Support the organisation's reputation through professional conduct both internally and externally.
• Assist in organisational events, marketing activities, and community engagement opportunities as required.
• Undertake any other tasks as directed by the Director of TST or senior management to support organisational aims.
Professional Standards
• Promote the aims, ethos, and values of the organisation as defined in the staff handbook and organisational strategy documents.
• Act as a positive role model in terms of professional conduct, punctuality, attendance, and presentation.
• Maintain professional development and progression, making full use of opportunities and training provided.
• Attend team and staff meetings as appropriate, contributing actively to discussions and organisational development.
Person Specification
Essential Knowledge & Experience
• Experience working with ILR returns in a Post-16 or Further Education environment.
• Strong understanding of ESFA funding rules and post-16 funding methodologies.
• Experience supporting funding audits, compliance reviews and funding assurance processes.
• Knowledge of High Needs and EHCP funding processes, including E3 submissions and liaison with local authorities.
• Experience administering learner bursary funding in line with ESFA guidance, including eligibility assessment, budget monitoring, and audit compliance.
• Experience producing funding, performance, and compliance reports for senior leadership teams.
• Ability to identify funding risks, potential clawback exposure, and implement corrective and preventative actions.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret funding data, performance indicators, and regulatory updates.
• Experience administering examinations in line with awarding body or JCQ regulations.
• Experience supporting safeguarding cases within an education setting.
• Knowledge of safeguarding legislation including Keeping Children Safe in Education.
• Knowledge of GDPR and data protection principles.
Essential Skills
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple regulatory deadlines (ILR returns, exam cycles, safeguarding).
• Strong organisational and planning skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information appropriately.
• Strong Excel and data analysis skills.
• Clear and confident communication skills.
Desirable
• Current DSL/DDSL training certification.
• JCQ Exams Officer training.
• Experience in 16–19 Study Programmes.
• Advanced Excel skills.
Key Performance Indicators
• Timely and accurate ILR submissions.
• Minimal funding clawback due to data errors.
• Full compliance with JCQ and awarding body regulations.
• Effective safeguarding case management and timely referrals.
• Positive audit and inspection outcomes.
• High levels of funding compliance and data accuracy.
Qualifications
• Qualified Teacher Status (desirable).
• PGCE (or equivalent).
• Qualification to the equivalent of degree level in specialist subject or a related subject.
Work-related knowledge, experience and skills
• Secure knowledge and understanding of your specialist subject as appropriate, and of strategies that improve understanding.
• A good classroom practitioner with evidence of setting appropriate expectations to advance learning and to engage and motivate students.
• Ability to encourage and maintain good order and discipline through well focused teaching, positive relationships and good classroom management.
• Ability to use appropriately a range of differentiated teaching and learning strategies for whole classes, individuals and groups which stimulate, challenge, engage and motivate students.
• Ability to set clear and appropriate targets, feedback to students and make use of assessment information to promote each student's attainment and progress, and to plan future lessons.
• Ability to make good use of ICT as a teaching and learning resource and for professional practice.
• Knowledge of how to give positive and targeted support to students with special educational needs.
• Ability to reflect on own practice.
Personal skills and attributes
• Determination to encourage the highest quality of learning experience for all students.
• Commitment to equal opportunities.
• Ability to establish good and productive working relationships, and work well in a team.
• Ability to communicate effectively to staff, students, parents, orally and in writing.
• Ability to manage workload and meet deadlines.
• Ability to empathise with young people and be firm, fair and consistent when dealing with them.
• Excellent attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to work in and lead a team.
• Enthusiasm, personal dynamism and stamina.
• Sense of humour and perspective.
• Ambition & personal presence.
• Ability and willingness to offer extra-curricular activities.
• Ability to use research evidence to inform and improve teaching.