TST has developed a Vocational Education programme to provide education, green space interventions, support and wrap-around care to young people with complex needs, to enable them to develop to their full potential.
We are now looking to engage a Funding and Compliance Lead to work alongside the SLT to meet the ever changing needs and requirements to fulfil our commitment to our learners.
Job Overview
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.
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.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £35,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
* Company pension
* On-site parking
Work Location: In person