Funding Assurance - Assistant Manager

MAZARS UK; City Of London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global professional services network in London is seeking a Funding Assurance - Assistant Manager. In this role, you will deliver high-quality assurance over compliance with government funding regulations. The ideal candidate will have knowledge of funding reviews, strong interpersonal skills, and experience in training junior staff. This position offers opportunities for professional growth and development.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of funding assurance reviews, PDSATs and ILR data is mandatory.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills are necessary.
• Experience in managing, training, and coaching junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Co-ordinate and support DfE, MCA and GLA funding assurance work.
• Lead funding assurance reviews and prepare draft and final reports.
• Provide on-the-job training and supervision of junior team members.

Skills

Knowledge of funding assurance reviews

Knowledge of DfE, GLA and MCA funding rules

Good interpersonal skills

Excellent communication skills

High attention to detail

Education

CCAB qualification or relevant experience

Job description

Funding Assurance - Assistant Manager (4821)

An introduction to our Funding Assurance team: Education providers can obtain funding from central government (the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), which on the 01/04/2025 became part of the Department for Education (DfE)) to provide ‘post-16 delivery'. The DfE also devolves adult education funding, now called adult skills fund to Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs), including the Greater London Authority (GLA). This includes 16 to 19 study programmes, T Levels, T Levels transition programme, apprenticeships, adult education budget, adult skills fund, community learning (now called tailored learning), advanced learner loans, skills bootcamps, 16 to 19 bursary fund and free meals in further education.

The Funding Assurance team examine and monitor the data reported to the ESFA, now DfE and the GLA and MCA clients to identify possible errors in the funding that has been claimed by education providers for post-16 delivery. The team therefore helps to ensure that government funding is being used as intended. As part of this team, you will have an important role in helping to ensure that any improper claims for funding can be recovered by the DfE, GLA and MCAs.

Job Purpose

You will be responsible for delivering proactive, high quality and value-added assurance over compliance with ESFA, now DfE, GLA and MCA rules to further education colleges, independent training providers and higher education institutions nationally.

The role will principally involve working with the Manager to plan, co-ordinate and deliver funding assurance reviews. This will include planning and liaison with the education provider/client, preparation of working papers, briefing the team and leading fieldwork as well as quality assurance of work, providing feedback and reporting of the work.

Role & Responsibilities

• Co-ordination and support of the overall work programme for DfE, MCA and GLA funding assurance
• Leading funding assurance reviews from planning through to preparation of draft and final reports in line with agreed timescales, including any possible financial impact and clawback of funding claimed.
• Planning and performance of fieldwork including liaison with the education provider/client, briefing the team, as well as lead feedback meetings with the education provider/client
• Considering the needs and skills of those under supervision, organising tasks and responsibilities.
• Providing on-the-job training and supervision of junior team members during delivery of fieldwork.
• Building and maintaining strong working relationships with the education provider/client, ensuring any problems or requests are dealt with promptly.
• Maintaining control and stability under pressure whilst recognising the deadline or urgency to be dealt with.
• Assesses and produces high quality work in line with the Firm's policy and processes, meeting relevant regulatory requirements.
• Providing constructive feedback for the completion of team member performance appraisals.
• Assistance on other special assignments (e.g. grant related assurance) as and when required.
• Ability to make confident and clear presentations of service features and benefits to providers.
• Ensures that the services provided are genuinely appropriate for the education provider/client.
• Identify opportunities and prospects for new work.
• Support in development and delivery of training alongside review and improvements to methodologies.
• Ensure standards and procedures maintained by whole team.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Knowledge of funding assurance reviews, PDSATs and ILR data (mandatory)
• Knowledge of DfE, GLA and MCA funding rules and regulatory requirements (mandatory)
• Ideally holds CCAB (i.e.) ACA, CA, ACCA, IIA, other relevant qualification or qualified by experience
• Good interpersonal and client handling skills
• Experience of managing, training and coaching junior staff.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Actively seeks to enhance expertise and knowledge.
• Ability to develop new initiatives and methodologies.
• High attention to detail
• Ability to identify issues through sound analysis and application of technical skills in all situations.
• Provides assistance, shares experience, provides meaningful feedback and proactively supports the development of others.
• Takes ownership of projects, effectively delegates to others within the team and takes responsibility for quality control.
• Begins to develop a network of client contacts and contacts in the wider market.

We are an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates. We are committed to making the recruitment process as accessible and inclusive as possible.

Forvis Mazars is a leading global professional services network. The network operates under a single brand worldwide, with just two members: Forvis Mazars LLP in the United States and Forvis Mazars Group SC, an internationally integrated partnership operating in over 100 countries and territories.