Data and Funding Manager

Data & Funding Manager – STS

Full Time, Permanent

Home Based with National Travel

£40,000 - £45,000 DOE + Benefits

At Serco, our ambition is to impact a better future. This ambition alongside the needs of government, authorities, communities, businesses, and citizens has seen us invest to create a best-in-class skills and training business. With new funding streams and an ever-increased government commitment to adult learning and apprenticeships, skills and training is a key investment priority for Serco in the UK.

We aim to not just be a best-in-class training provider but to also provide renowned services and solutions from the wider Serco in supporting our partners and training providers to deliver their priorities and achieve their goals. Serco Skills and Training Services (STS) was formed in October 2023 to provide high quality government funded and commercial training solutions, and services to government departments, authorities, employers, and citizens.

The Data & Funding Manager is a key role in supporting the future success of STS and will develop and maintain the MI systems used to provide the information necessary to ensure that the Skills team manage the QA, OFSTED and commercial requirements and aims for the Skills unit and to ensure that the data used is accurate and compliant with the relevant regulations for funders, the Business and Board.

Key Accountabilities

• Overall responsibility and management of the funding base data, including overall quality control over ILR accuracy, compliance, and veracity to comply with the ESFA/DfE regulations.
• Monitoring and validation of data entry and coding changes performed across systems: these will change over time as the tech stack is renewed.
• Base data management of the MIS system, ensuring the base data is current, configured and compliant with both funding rules and delivery requirements. Including Webforms for data capture and funding paperwork, qualification plans for subject specific content and processes to ensure the Learner Evidence Packs are in place and of compliance.
• Oversee the management of the ESFA customer portals; ensuring reconciliation and resolution of data mismatch issues and Data-Lock errors to ensure payments are made.
• Ensure compliance via the Funding Information Service (FIS), providing validation of ILR data export and error resolution to ensure full payment from ESFA.
• Oversight of the ILR export and upload to the ESFA with associated funding rules monitoring analysis, Provider Data Self-Assessment Toolkit (PDSAT) error data corrections, data matching, rule violation compliance and cross-referencing with published Qualification Achievement Rates (QAR) data to validate ILR and ensure accuracy and fidelity for apprenticeships delivery.
• Design, manage and oversee the MI packs used the by the QA, Operational and Financial teams to manage the STS provision. This includes provision funded by the apprenticeship levy, the AEB and Skills Bootcamps budgets and funded commercially.
• Creation, development, and maintenance of reporting solutions for the generation of MI for STS delivery - caseload management for Skills coaches, tutors, programme leads, and Senior Management Team (SMT); Self-service reporting for Operational colleagues (Programme Leads, Data Administrators, Head of Skills Delivery, Quality and Improvement Manager and IQA etc; Continued provision and maintenance of Ofsted-ready reporting for inspections.
• Requirement to cross-reference and aggregate various data sources including PICSWeb/portfolio/CRM, PLR data bridges, Internal Quality Assurance activity, delivery activity, and finance systems.

About me

• Prior experience and knowledge of ESFA apprenticeship and other funded and business rules is a must, as is ILR data submission for funded and apprenticeship service data matching and cohort management.
• Experience and a deep knowledge of MIS software (Pellcomp/PICS) and its underlying base data configuration and management and utilisation of the FIS software to validate ILR exports is essential..
• Experience within similar public sector education and skills environments, with a good understanding of data structures, database systems and procedures and a range of analytical tools used to undertake a range of different types of analyses.
• Understanding of Ofsted and EIF requirements.

Serco STS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Learners and expects all staff to share this commitment. Safeguarding includes supporting apprentices’ physical and psychological wellbeing.

This role requires an enhanced DBS and BPSS to be completed covering pre-employment checks:

• identity
• employment history (minimum of 3 years)
• nationality/immigration status
• criminal records

National travel may be required for team meetings/training and to meet with apprentices, alongside use of video conferencing and other virtual means.

What we offer

• Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• A range of benefits to support the health and wellbeing of you and your family such as Employee Assistance Programme, Wisdom App, Simply Health Plans, Annual Leave Purchase Scheme and more
• Access to a huge range of discounts and exclusive deals such as Merlin Attractions, Mobile Phone discounts, Cinema discounts, Leisure and Hospitality discounts
• A fantastic culture and supportive team where you’ll get the chance to make a positive difference in a company passionate about diversity and inclusion 
• Serco discounts which include cinema, merlin entertainment and online shopping discounts and discounts on mobile phone plans and leisure centre memberships.
• Interesting and enjoyable work
• Committed to professional and personal development with a wide range of training and coaching opportunities to expand your capabilities

About Serco

At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Apply

Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.

At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly Disability Confident Leader employers and holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview. For help with your application please contact 0345 010 4000.

At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on 0345 010 4000 to discuss.