This course focusses on the basis principles and introductions to academy finance. It is designed to help both those with financial and non-financial backgrounds actively participate in financial planning, monitoring and reporting matters. You will come away with practical tools, tips and understanding of academy finance to help implement straight away. Academy Trust finance can be daunting with a lot of information to digest and understand all whilst keeping the budget balanced. Many new to academy finance are unprepared and untrained to take on this complex and demanding role. This course will provide you with some important aspects that you need to know from day one. The course will look at the role of the finance team and highlight the key annual deadlines to be aware of. In addition, there will be a focus on the key hot topics of the academy trust handbook to highlight areas where many trusts can go wrong. Some of the more niche areas such as cashflow and taxation will also be discussed. Cash is king and the importance of basic cashflow principles can often be missed. Taxation is an area trusts should be aware of and monitoring. The course will highlight the areas to monitor from the start of your journey to avoid any nasty surprises. An overview of a set of academy trust accounts will also be provided – highlighting the various key notes and providing understanding so that when accounts are prepared the finance team can read and articulate them.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
School Business Managers and Chief Financial Officers newly appointed to the role. Other members of the trust finance team. Chief Executive Officers, governors, directors and trustees from academies are also welcome to attend.
KEY LEARNING OBJECTIVES
This session will enable you to:
Give new CFOs and SBMs an overview of their strategic role
Offer support and guidance on the application and understanding of basic key accounting concepts
Have increased awareness of the top areas where academy trusts fall foul of the academy trust handbook
Provide opportunities to discuss your role and responsibilities with a network of other finance personnel
Understand the key components of a set of academy trust financial statements
Basic principles of cash flows
Taxation in trusts – what to be aware of and the nasty surprises to avoid
FACILITATOR: Phil Reynolds
Phil has 15 years’ experience in the academies sector as an auditor, CFO and governor. From 2012 to 2022 Phil was an auditor in a top 30 firm of accountants supporting finance teams as the sector developed and matured. He also was finance governor in a local school which went through academy conversion. He now acts as a part-time CFO whilst providing internal audit and training services to trusts.
