Early Careers Coordinator

Dains; Park Central; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A professional services firm is seeking an Early Careers Coordinator to manage early careers programmes across various sectors. Responsibilities include running the national early careers calendar, coordinating study support, and maintaining compliance with apprenticeship regulations. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in early careers coordination and stakeholder management. This position offers competitive salary and excellent benefits, including flexible working options.

Benefits

Flexible and hybrid/smart working options

25 days annual leave

Health Insurance

Life Assurance

Discounted shopping platform

Greener car scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Proven track record coordinating early careers or apprenticeship cohorts.
• Working knowledge of apprenticeship funding and levy operations.
• Familiarity with qualification pathways and study timetables.

Responsibilities

• Run national early careers calendar and coordinate study support.
• Manage apprenticeship governance and ensure compliance.
• Maintain accurate cohort data and produce monthly dashboards.

Skills

Early Careers Coordination Experience

Stakeholder Management Skills

Organisational and Data Skills

Apprenticeship Funding Knowledge

Education

Mental Health First Aider qualification (Desirable)

Tools

Excel

Job description

Overview

We are looking for a confident and pro-active Early Careers Coordinator to own and coordinate our early careers programmes nationally (apprentices, school leavers, placements, graduates, and work experience) across Audit, Accounts Advisory, Tax and Corporate Finance.

You will ensure high quality trainee experience, strong professional exam outcomes and watertight apprenticeship compliance and levy utilisation.

You’ll be the connective tissue between trainees, line managers, training providers (e.g., Kaplan, BPP, First Intuition) and professional bodies (ICAEW/ICAS/CAI/ACCA/AAT/ATT/CIOT).

As a business experiencing significant growth – both organically and through acquisition – this is an exciting time to join and play a vital role in coordinating our national early careers calendar and study support.

Key Responsibilities

• Run national early careers calendar: onboarding, induction, and qualification milestones.
• Coordinate study support: enrolments, exam bookings, exemptions, results tracking; manage retake pathways with managers and providers. Pastoral support: regular check‑ins and early interventions; signpost wellbeing and reasonable adjustments.
• Apprenticeship governance & levy: Own employer responsibilities under ESFA funding rules: apprentice agreements and commitment statements, off‑the‑job arrangements, progress reviews, evidence, and audit prep.
• Operate the Apprenticeship Service (DAS) account: set up cohorts, approve commitments, manage reservations/transfers, monitor expiry and co‑investment.
• Supplier/performance management of training providers: SLAs, quality reviews, issue logs, contract variations, pricing, and success measures.
• Stakeholder & vendor management: Be the first point of contact for trainees, line managers and partners; coach managers on responsibilities, study policies and performance management. Build constructive relationships with professional bodies and tuition providers; represent the firm at provider forums.
• Data, reporting & process improvement: Maintain accurate cohort data (headcount, progression, results, costs) within trackers. Produce monthly dashboards on retention, performance, levy and risk; recommend improvements (systems, vendors, policies). Own and continuously improve Early Careers policies (study support, time off for study/exams, retakes, professional memberships, rotation rules).
• Attraction & employer brand (light-touch): Partner with Talent Acquisition for campaigns and events; coordinate school/university/provider touchpoints; brief ambassadors, alumni and hiring managers.
• Learning & development (light-touch): Provide light administrative support to the L&D Manager (approx. 10% of role). Upload new courses to the LMS (Dains Learning) and maintain basic content accuracy. Handle straightforward access or login issues and liaise with IT or vendors when needed.
• Risk & safeguarding: Ensure right‑to‑work, data protection, health & safety for under‑18s, and safeguarding escalations are handled appropriately.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• Early Careers Coordination Experience: You have a proven track record coordinating early careers or apprenticeship cohorts in professional services (accountancy, legal, or consulting) or a similarly regulated environment.
• Apprenticeship Funding Knowledge: You possess working knowledge of apprenticeship funding and levy operations, understand employer responsibilities, and are confident using the Apprenticeship Service (DAS).
• Qualification Pathway Familiarity: You are familiar with ICAEW, ACCA, AAT, ATT, and CIOT qualification pathways, study timetables, and the typical exam/rotation cadence.
• Stakeholder Management Skills: You demonstrate excellent stakeholder skills — credible when engaging with partners/managers, while also empathetic and supportive of trainees.
• Organisational and Data Skills: You have strong organisational skills, are confident working with Excel, and can produce clear and insightful dashboards.
• M&A and Integration Experience (Desirable): Experience working on M&A projects, including integrating acquired cohorts, harmonising policies, and aligning provider relationships, is desirable.
• Additional Qualification Pathway Knowledge (Desirable): Familiarity with ICAS and CAI pathways is a plus, including understanding study timetables, exam cadence, and managing tuition provider contracts.
• Pastoral Support Training (Desirable): Holding a Mental Health First Aider qualification or similar pastoral/wellbeing training is desirable.
• Core Behaviours: You demonstrate integrity and fairness, collaborate effectively with others, build valued relationships, and remain proactive, calm under pressure, and solutions‑focused.

Job Benefits

At Dains, we are committed to your professional growth and development. We provide a comprehensive suite of training and development opportunities designed to enhance your skills and expand your career possibilities. Our leaders utilise a coaching style and provide on-the-job training.

You will have access to continuing professional development courses and will be sponsored to undertake a coaching training course if you are not already a trained coach. We support every team member in achieving their full potential. Our development programmes are tailored to nurture your unique talents and ambitions, ensuring you not only meet but exceed your professional goals.

We offer a highly competitive salary, and our generous benefits package includes, but is not limited to:

• Flexible and hybrid/smart working options
• 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• Option to buy and sell annual leave
• Health Insurance
• Life Assurance
• A generous discounted shopping platform for all staff
• Greener car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme

Joining us also brings many social benefits; we have a full social calendar!