Financial Support Manager

Widening Participation & Social Mobility

Location:  Highfield Campus
Salary:   £33,314 to £40,931 Per annum
Full Time Fixed Term until 31 July 2024
Closing Date:  Tuesday 14 February 2023
Interview Date:   To be confirmed
Reference:  2142223HL

Widening Participation and Success are excited to be recruiting for a new Financial Support Manager to manage the Financial Support Team based in Student Success and leading on initiatives which support student’s financial wellbeing during their studies.  This post is being recruited as a fixed term post initially until 31^st July 2024.

The Financial Support Team are based in the university’s Student Success team and our work is closely aligned to the University’s Access and Participation Plan which strives to support retention and success for students from underrepresented backgrounds in higher education.   You would lead our recently expanded team of advisors to administer the University’s £550,000 Student Support Fund as well as oversight of the Bursary Programme and a range of targeted funds to support student retention and experiences during their studies.  

The team are at a key point in their development with the new Widening Participation and Social Mobility Directorate and this new role will be responsible for developing, along with the team of advisors, financial support initiatives that help our large and diverse student body to navigate the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis as well as ongoing inequalities which exist for some students during their time at university.  In addition to dedicated funding the Financial Support Team are currently launching additional financial peer support and expanding our provision of financial wellbeing and education sessions.

As well as line management of a team of seven and oversight and management of our central financial support provision you would take a key role in the management of our US Federal Loans programme as well as supporting with complex Student Support Fund cases.  This role will have a mix of operational and project management with the opportunity to shape the financial support provision offered to students through careful financial management and evaluation of our current offer.

The ideal candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills and management experience, be experienced in supporting the delivery of projects, be able to manage their own time and an understanding the Widening Participation and Financial Support agendas in HE.  Whilst financial management experience is desired candidates with experience leading and developing projects which directly support clients or stakeholders would be most valued.  We welcome applications from candidates from a wide range of experience and would be happy to discuss the role in more detail as required.  The team are currently working in a hybrid fashion with an average of to two days a week onsite with this expected to continue for the forseeable future.   

If you would like to discuss the role in more detail please contact Florence Harvey, Associate Director of Widening Participation and Social Mobility (F.Harvey@soton.ac.uk).

Application Procedure:

You should submit your completed online application form at https://jobs.soton.ac.uk. The application deadline will be midnight on the closing date stated above. If you need any assistance, please call Jane Sturgeon (HR Recruitment Team) on +44 (0) 23 8059 4043 or email recruitment@soton.ac.uk  Please quote reference 2142223HL on all correspondence.