Running an academy can be incredibly rewarding and invigorating. It can also be incredibly tough.

Our dedicated academies team understand the complex nature of academies and the challenges they face. From the ever-increasing regulatory burden to the need to prove financial performance and pressure on budgets, we know just how much there is to juggle.

As an extension of your team, our experts are able to provide your academy with services and solutions that leave you free to focus on what you do best: delivering excellent education.

We have successfully worked with over 200 academy trusts in the UK for almost fifteen years and we are one of the largest providers of audit services to the sector. We support trustees, governors, finance and senior leadership teams with a whole range of accountancy and advisory services and have helped many schools with the conversion process to becoming high-performing academies. We are increasingly sought after to help groups of schools to form MATs or existing trusts evolve and grow.

Our specialist team helps the sector navigate through the complicated regulatory and compliance requirements imposed on academy trusts. We can also guide trusts through their development and growth. We pride ourselves on the level of support and advice we provide year-round, whilst maintaining and independent an compliant approach to the audit process.

To ensure we understand our clients, we immerse ourselves in the sector, exhibiting at key events across the country and regularly liaising with the ESFA and NAO. As part of our ongoing commitment to helping academy trusts, we provide a free seminar, webinar and workshop programme for academy staff, senior leadership team and trustees, as well as regular updates on the latest sector issues including new legislation, ESFA frameworks, funding and VAT changes.

Our academy-specific services include:

• Academy Accounts Return (AAR) preparation and review
• Advice on accounting software and financial systems and controls
• Application of accounting standards
• Company secretarial support
• Corporation tax compliance and returns
• External audit and regularity assurance
• Governance reviews
• Internal audit
• Management accounts and bookkeeping
• Payroll
• Review of budget forecast and other returns
• Statutory accounts preparation
• Teachers’ Pension Scheme EOYC reporting
• Trading subsidiary requirements
• Training and support for trustees, leaders and finance teams
• VAT reviews and advice