When you are at the planning stages of converting to academy status, joining or becoming a multi-academy trust, or expanding your trust, there are many areas to consider

You might be leaving the Local Authority accounting function and standing on your own, or you might be looking to expand your existing Academy Trust by taking on additional schools/existing Trusts. Both scenarios raise the need to consider:

• legal structure of the academy entity

• employment law, TUPE, pension arrangements

• property and leases

• finance issues, budgets and forecasts, internal controls

• accounting function

• payroll and human resources

• governance

• fundraising and income generation

• VAT and other taxation issues.

You’re not expected to do this on your own. We can help with accounts preparation in compliance with the Academy Trust Handbook and the Academies Accounts Direction, as well as providing external audit services.