Student Financial Support Team Lead
| Posting date: | 10 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £35,608 to £38,784 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 18 February 2026 |
| Location: | Plymouth, South West England |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | University of Plymouth |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | B1110 |
Summary
Are you an experienced financial support or advisory professional ready to lead a high-performing team and make a meaningful impact on student success and wellbeing? We are seeking a Student Financial Support Team Lead to play a key role in delivering expert financial guidance while shaping an inclusive and supportive student experience.
About the role
Reporting to the Student Services Hub Manager, the Student Financial Support Team Lead leads the delivery and ongoing development of a comprehensive, customer-focused financial support advisory service. You will manage a team of two Student Financial Support Advisors, overseeing daily operations and ensuring high-quality, accurate advice is delivered across all areas of student funding, including hardship support, bursaries, scholarships, and complex financial queries.
The role combines operational leadership with specialist advisory expertise, supporting both service excellence and continuous improvement initiatives.
You will:
• Lead and develop an effective student financial support advisory service aligned with institutional priorities and values.
• Line manage, coach and support a team of advisors, ensuring performance targets and service standards are met.
• Provide specialist guidance on complex financial support matters, including eligibility assessments and decision-making.
• Oversee bursaries, scholarships, and financial support schemes, ensuring compliance with regulatory and funding requirements.
• Analyse data and review processes to enhance service delivery, improve student experience, and support evidence-based decision making.
Due to the nature of the role, unfortunately we are unable to accommodate working from home.
For an informal discussion to find out more about the role then please contact Alena Tkacova by email at alena.tkacova@plymouth.ac.uk
What we’re looking for
You will bring:
• Experience working within a student-facing, financial advisory, or similar customer-focused environment
• You may not have worked in Higher Education before, but you will bring relevant expertise in areas such as financial advice, welfare support, regulated funding environments, customer service leadership, or complex case management
• Strong communication skills with the ability to provide clear, specialist advice
• Experience managing or supporting others (line management desirable)
• Ability to analyse financial information and make sound, evidence-based decisions
• Excellent organisational skills with strong attention to detail
• Commitment to delivering high-quality customer service
• Relevant professional knowledge or qualifications in finance, funding, or advisory work (or working towards)
• Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Office and familiarity with CRM or case management systems (desirable)
For more information about the job and the person specification, please refer to the job description.
Application Process
Please apply online, demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the knowledge, qualifications, training, skills and experience elements of the job description in your supporting statement.
Following the closing date of the vacancy, you will be notified on the outcome of your application in due course.
Our Offer
A successful external candidate for this position would be employed by the University of Plymouth Services Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Plymouth. Employees of the University of Plymouth Services Limited work alongside the University of Plymouth colleagues in delivery of Plymouth’s strategic vision, and will adopt the University of Plymouth’s HR policies and procedures in full unless otherwise stated.
We have a wide range of staff benefits available to employees, depending on eligibility:
• Generous annual leave: 25 Days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays & Closure Days
• Generous pension scheme
• Cycle to Work & Electric Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Development opportunities
• Enhanced family leave
• Flexible working
• Retailer discounts
• On-site nursery
Additional Information
The University of Plymouth is an inclusive community where everyone is welcomed regardless of their background. To find out more about our inclusive community initiatives, such as Athena Swan and the Race Equality Charter.
About the role
Reporting to the Student Services Hub Manager, the Student Financial Support Team Lead leads the delivery and ongoing development of a comprehensive, customer-focused financial support advisory service. You will manage a team of two Student Financial Support Advisors, overseeing daily operations and ensuring high-quality, accurate advice is delivered across all areas of student funding, including hardship support, bursaries, scholarships, and complex financial queries.
The role combines operational leadership with specialist advisory expertise, supporting both service excellence and continuous improvement initiatives.
You will:
• Lead and develop an effective student financial support advisory service aligned with institutional priorities and values.
• Line manage, coach and support a team of advisors, ensuring performance targets and service standards are met.
• Provide specialist guidance on complex financial support matters, including eligibility assessments and decision-making.
• Oversee bursaries, scholarships, and financial support schemes, ensuring compliance with regulatory and funding requirements.
• Analyse data and review processes to enhance service delivery, improve student experience, and support evidence-based decision making.
Due to the nature of the role, unfortunately we are unable to accommodate working from home.
For an informal discussion to find out more about the role then please contact Alena Tkacova by email at alena.tkacova@plymouth.ac.uk
What we’re looking for
You will bring:
• Experience working within a student-facing, financial advisory, or similar customer-focused environment
• You may not have worked in Higher Education before, but you will bring relevant expertise in areas such as financial advice, welfare support, regulated funding environments, customer service leadership, or complex case management
• Strong communication skills with the ability to provide clear, specialist advice
• Experience managing or supporting others (line management desirable)
• Ability to analyse financial information and make sound, evidence-based decisions
• Excellent organisational skills with strong attention to detail
• Commitment to delivering high-quality customer service
• Relevant professional knowledge or qualifications in finance, funding, or advisory work (or working towards)
• Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Office and familiarity with CRM or case management systems (desirable)
For more information about the job and the person specification, please refer to the job description.
Application Process
Please apply online, demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the knowledge, qualifications, training, skills and experience elements of the job description in your supporting statement.
Following the closing date of the vacancy, you will be notified on the outcome of your application in due course.
Our Offer
A successful external candidate for this position would be employed by the University of Plymouth Services Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Plymouth. Employees of the University of Plymouth Services Limited work alongside the University of Plymouth colleagues in delivery of Plymouth’s strategic vision, and will adopt the University of Plymouth’s HR policies and procedures in full unless otherwise stated.
We have a wide range of staff benefits available to employees, depending on eligibility:
• Generous annual leave: 25 Days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays & Closure Days
• Generous pension scheme
• Cycle to Work & Electric Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Development opportunities
• Enhanced family leave
• Flexible working
• Retailer discounts
• On-site nursery
Additional Information
The University of Plymouth is an inclusive community where everyone is welcomed regardless of their background. To find out more about our inclusive community initiatives, such as Athena Swan and the Race Equality Charter.