Bursary Officer

Winstanley College; Far Moor; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Winstanley College is seeking a well-organised Student Finance & Bursary Officer to join our Finance and Student Services teams. You will manage the day-to-day administration of the bursary funds and Free College Meals, ensuring fair assessments in line with government guidance.

You will provide advice to students and families, maintain records, prepare payments and monitor attendance linked to bursaries, while liaising with external agencies to support students and deliver a high-quality

Qualifications

• Experience with bursary administration or student finance is advantageous.
• Ability to interpret government guidance and apply policies consistently.
• Strong communication skills with students, parents and carers.
• Proficient in MS Office, especially Excel.
• Experience in education or local government settings is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Assess eligibility for financial support.
• Provide advice and guidance to students, parents and carers.
• Maintain accurate financial records and supporting evidence.
• Prepare payment schedules and authorise bursary payments.
• Monitor attendance requirements linked to bursary awards.
• Produce reports and ensure audit compliance.
• Liaise with external agencies and internal stakeholders to support students.
• Contribute to an excellent student experience through professional, responsive customer service.
• Combine finance, administration and student support in a fast-paced educational environment.

Skills

Organisation

Attention to detail

Financial data handling

Policy interpretation

Communication

Customer service

Time management

Excel

Tools

Excel

Job description

Winstanley College

Winstanley Road

Wigan

WN5 7XF

Salary: Scale 5, Point 11-14 £28,634 - £29,544 pro rata.

Full time, Term Time Plus 5 Days

Permanent

Required for as soon as possible

Help students access the financial support they need to succeed.

Winstanley College is one of the country's leading Sixth Form Colleges, renowned for its academic excellence, outstanding student support and welcoming community. We are looking for an organised, compassionate and highly motivated Student Finance & Bursary Officer to join our Finance and Student Services teams.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys combining financial administration with meaningful customer service. You will play a key role in ensuring that students receive the financial support they need, helping to remove barriers to education and enabling young people to achieve their full potential.

About the Role

You will take responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the College's 1619 Bursary Fund and Free College Meals schemes, ensuring applications are assessed fairly, accurately and in line with government guidance.

Working closely with colleagues across Finance, Student Services, Attendance and Pastoral teams, you will:

• Assess student eligibility for financial support.
• Provide advice and guidance to students, parents and carers.
• Maintain accurate financial records and supporting evidence.
• Prepare payment schedules and authorise bursary payments.
• Monitor attendance requirements linked to bursary awards.
• Produce reports and ensure compliance with audit requirements.
• Liaise with external agencies and internal stakeholders to support students effectively.
• Help maintain an excellent student experience through professional, responsive customer service.
• This is a varied role that combines finance, administration and student support in a fast-paced educational environment.

About You

We're looking for someone who is:

• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
• Confident working with financial information and confidential data.
• Able to interpret policies and apply them consistently.
• An excellent communicator with strong customer service skills.
• Comfortable working independently whilst contributing positively within a team.
• Able to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Experience of working within education, student finance, benefits administration, local government or a similar environment would be advantageous, although applications are welcomed from candidates with transferable skills and a willingness to learn.

Why Join Winstanley College?

At Winstanley College you'll become part of a supportive and ambitious organisation that puts students at the heart of everything we do.

We offer:

• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Generous holiday entitlement.
• Excellent professional development opportunities.
• A collaborative and supportive working environment.
• Flexible working arrangements where operationally possible.
• The opportunity to make a genuine difference to the lives of young people.
• If you are looking for a rewarding role where your organisational skills, financial accuracy and commitment to excellent customer service can have a real impact on students' lives, we'd love to hear from you.
• Join us and help ensure every student has access to the financial support they need to achieve their ambitions.

Interview date: To Be Confirmed

This position is subject to Enhanced Disclosure Procedures plus child barred list check

The employer is committed to safeguarding