Education accountants

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Specialist support for academy schools, MATs, higher education and independent schools

The education sector faces strong financial pressures and is heavily regulated. Our experience supporting MATs, higher education and independent schools means we’re ideally placed to help.

You need an advisor who understands the stresses and strains of running an education establishment. Whether that is a multi-academy trust, further education college or an independent school. We are focussed on delivering tailored, personal services to each organisation – one size does not fit all.

Our dedicated education and not-for-profit team understand the complex nature of the sector. leave you free to do what you do best, delivering excellent education.

We support trustees, governors, finance and senior leadership teams with the whole range of compliance and advisory services including audit, accountancy, VAT, tax and governance advice.

We can also guide you through the complex regulation and compliance requirements imposed on academy schools and other education organisations.

Full support for schools and further education providers

  • External audit and regulatory assurance

  • Statutory accounts preparation

  • Academies Accounts Returns

  • Teachers’ pensions end of year certificates

  • Budget forecast returns

  • Land and buildings collection tool

  • Tax support including employment taxes and corporation tax (where applicable)

  • Specialist VAT advice including partial exemption, treatment of grants and property transactions

  • Cyber security services including vulnerability testing and accreditation

Academy schools

We can assist schools as the transition to academy status and as Multi Academy Trusts are continuing to grow we can advise those joining schools or the MAT itself on due diligence.

In addition, we offer a free annual academy update seminar to co-incide with the publication of the academies accounts direction, the academy trust handbook and other topical updates.

Independent schools

Independent schools face increasing financial pressures and require support that goes beyond compliance. This includes:

  • Funding for capital developments
  • Advice on accounting solutions
  • Governance and risk management advice
  • Cashflow forecasting
  • VAT advisory – including how to deal with the recent introduction of VAT on school fees

Further education

We can assist you with the transition back into the public sector and the additional regulations that this will bring, such as complying with handling public money.

Advice on managing budgets, grants and funding streams.

We also offer support on the Further and Higher Education Statement SORP and the Department of Education College Financial Handbook and the College Accounts Direction.

Find out more

If you’re considering accountancy support for your MAT, independent school or further education college, the next step is a short, informal chat where we can discuss your needs in a bit more detail.