Overview Academies & schools Charities

Compliance is a given. We take a broader view.

Having advised the government on the implementation of the academy accounts model, our involvement with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) auditors’ forum along with other large providers of academy audits has enabled us to help shape the sector’s bespoke auditing and accounting regulations. This also ensures that we are aware at an early stage of technical developments and significant updates, such as changes to the Academies Accounts Direction.

In recognition of our high standard of work for faith academies, we are a preferred supplier of financial services by Churchmarketplace. We were heavily involved in resolving an historic issue surrounding the accounting treatment of land and buildings, specific to faith academies, which has since been widely adopted across the sector.

Our expertise includes internal scrutiny (internal audit provision): in line with the Academy Trust Handbook (ATH), giving independent assurance to your board and the DfE that your systems, controls and risk management procedures are operating effectively.

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Turning ambition into action

Trustees’ Reports -Timing and Templates

Carly Pinkus and Ed Passmore discuss why the Academy Trust Trustees’ Report is far more than a compliance requirement. It is one of the key documents reviewed by the Department for Education (DfE), the ESFA, auditors and other stakeholders to understand how a trust is governed, how funds are being used and what its future plans look like.

They explain how trusts can approach the report more effectively – starting preparation early, using templates aligned with the Academies Accounts Direction (AAD) and ensuring the report clearly reflects the trust’s strategy, governance and financial stewardship.

Reserves – Getting the Balance Right

Carly Pinkus and Ed Passmore explain why reserves are an important measure of financial sustainability for academy trusts.

While trusts must prioritise spending on education and pupil outcomes today, they also need to plan for future pressures such as capital investment, inflation and unexpected costs.

Carly and Ed discuss how trustees can approach reserves in a balanced and practical way – considering sector benchmarks, linking reserves to risk management and long-term strategy, and explaining the trust’s approach clearly in the Trustees’ Report so regulators, auditors and other stakeholders understand how financial resilience is being managed.

Getting Your Trial Balance Ready for Audit

Carly Pinkus and Nayim Rahman discuss why preparing a clean and accurate trial balance is one of the most important steps in ensuring a smooth academy trust audit.

A well-prepared trial balance helps reduce delays, minimise last-minute adjustments and gives trustees confidence that the numbers are complete before accounts are finalised.

They talk through the most common issues that slow audits down such as unreconciled control accounts, missing year-end adjustments and incomplete fixed asset records and share practical steps finance teams can take to prepare early and keep the year-end process on track ahead of the 31 December ESFA submission deadline.

Our Insights

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March 23, 2026

Event: 19 May – Trustee Breakfast

Join us for a morning of insight and discussion focused on the key challenges facing academy trustees today

March 19, 2026

Related party transactions: how academy trusts should deal with them

Key information for academy trustees on how to identify and disclose RPTs, and why.

March 19, 2026

Academy trust trustees: understanding your role

Academy trust governance explained: understand the key responsibilities of MAT trustees in the UK, from oversight and compliance to supporting schools and communities.