Funding Coordinator in Birmingham

Department: Student Advice and Community

Location: Multiple Campuses

Salary: £28,287 to £32,006 per annum

Post Type: Permanent, Full Time

Release Date: 27 April 2026

Closing Date: 23.59 hours BST on Sunday 31 May 2026

Reference: S126015

About Birmingham City University:

At Birmingham City University, we are a diverse and inclusive learning community of over 31,400 students from more than 120 countries. We aim to become an exemplar anchor institution, creating and sharing knowledge for a better and more inclusive society. We are committed to providing a transformational educational experience, supporting world‑class research, and fostering a collaborative and supportive working environment for our staff.

Recognised as one of the UK’s Top 250 employers, we pride ourselves on being a place where colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to grow their careers while contributing to the success of our students and communities. Our student demographic reflects the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of Birmingham itself, with a significant proportion of students from minoritised ethnic backgrounds and the majority of our home students coming from the West Midlands. This diversity is a strength, and it calls for a workforce that is equipped to challenge deficit narratives and thinking — those assumptions that position students from underrepresented groups as lacking rather than recognising their assets, strengths and potential. By embracing this perspective, we aim to create an environment where all students and colleagues can thrive, and where our work contributes positively to the social, cultural and economic life of Birmingham and beyond.

Role Summary:

We are seeking a Funding Coordinator to join our Student Money, Housing and Childcare Advice Team, supporting the delivery of high‑quality services across the University. In this role, you will play a vital part in supporting students experiencing financial hardship by administering and managing the University’s financial assistance and emergency funding schemes. You will contribute to student success and wellbeing by assessing funding applications fairly and efficiently, helping to remove financial barriers to study. By balancing empathetic student support with robust decision‑making and regulatory compliance, you will ensure that limited resources are distributed transparently, consistently and in line with university policies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Receiving and processing applications for financial assistance and emergency funding
• Reviewing supporting documentation and assessing eligibility against agreed criteria
• Making fair, consistent, and transparent funding decisions in line with policy
• Maintaining accurate and confidential records in compliance with data protection regulations
• Providing clear, empathetic advice to students on funding options and application processes
• Liaising with student support services to ensure coordinated support for students in financial difficulty
• Monitoring fund usage and producing reports on expenditure, demand and emerging trends
• Ensuring compliance with internal procedures and external regulations or audit requirements

Essential Requirements:

• Experience administering financial processes, benefits, or grant funding
• Knowledge of data protection and financial regulations within a public or educational setting
• Experience supporting vulnerable individuals with sensitivity and professionalism
• Ability to make consistent, evidence‑based decisions in line with policy and guidance
• Strong skills in interpreting and applying funding criteria and eligibility requirements
• Excellent attention to detail and high standards of record‑keeping
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with students and colleagues
• A clear commitment to fairness, equity and student wellbeing

Desirable Requirements:

• Experience of working with students or young adults in a support or advisory role
• Knowledge of higher education hardship funding policies or related support schemes
• Experience working in a regulated or audit‑sensitive environment

Further Information:

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Jackie Bryant at Jackie.bryant@bcu.ac.uk. Interviews for this role are scheduled to take place on 12 June 2026. The appointed candidate will normally be employed through our subsidiary company, BCU Support Services Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Birmingham City University. Appointees with prior LGPS membership who wish to re‑enter the scheme may do so and will be employed directly by the University.

Why work for us:

• Work‑life balance – generous leave and hybrid working (role dependent)
• Career development – opportunities to grow, develop and progress your career
• Reward and wellbeing – competitive pay, pension, wellbeing support and staff benefits
• Inclusive culture – a supportive, diverse environment where everyone belongs

Visa Sponsorship:

This role does not meet the minimum salary requirements for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. We are therefore unable to consider applicants who require sponsorship to work in the UK.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and to an environment that supports lawful free speech and academic freedom. We will continuously review and improve our policies, practices and procedures to ensure that we are promoting these in all aspects of our operations.

Disability Confident Employer:

Birmingham City University is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview.