7. Tracy Jackson, Finance Business Consultant for the Academy Sector
Release Date: 08/15/2019
DTT Edward Thomas Nov 2022
Developing the Trust
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20. Phil Reynolds; Formerly of Kreston Reeves and now PLR Advisory
Developing the Trust
For this episode Tim Warneford is in Sittingbourne in Kent to speak to Phil Reynolds. Phil has spent over 20 years specialising in academy schools accountancy firstly at pecialist accountants Kreston Reeves and now with his own consultancy PLR Advisory We explore how specialist accountancy can assist schools determine a trust strategy and how upskilling in house SLTT through training and development can achieve operational wins.
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19. James Robson, Chairman of Powerful Allies
Developing the Trust
For this episode Tim Warneford travels to Wiltshire to speak to Powerful Allies Chairman, James Robson, about the risks posed to academy schools for energy procurement in an un-regulated market place.
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18. CIF Update and How to Create a Successful Bid
Developing the Trust
The hot topic of conversation across the sector is the recent update from the ESFA, revealing that the much awaited publication of the 2021-22 round of Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) awards, have been postponed until ‘mid-June’.
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17. Harvey Sinclair, CEO E Energy PLC
Developing the Trust
On this episode Tim talks to Harvey Sinclair, a technology entrepreneur and CEO of E Energy PLC about the fast-moving world of lighting and also electrified heating discussing how schools can save energy and indeed costs by changing their electrics.
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16. Steve Bolt, Director of BCR Associates
Developing the Trust
Tim Warneford is in Alton, Hampshire, with Steve Bolt, director of BCR Associates, a cost management consultancy that support clients – including academies - to increase efficiency, manage risk, ensure compliance and rationalise procurement costs. Tim and Steve are also working on a collaboration with Lloyds Bank education team to support academy trusts seeking to assist academy trust to optimise resources and maximise potential.
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15. Kevin Yardley, Director of Income Generation of The Generations Multi Academy Trust
Developing the Trust
Tim Warneford is once again out and about now lockdown is easing – travelling and recording with all social distancing in mind of course - to speak to Kevin Yardley at The Generations Multi Academy Trust. Kevin is director of income generation and his role is to ensure the estates facilities yield substantial revenue streams through optimising letting opportunities and via external partnerships.
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14. Jeremy Pilgrim, School Property Matters
Developing the Trust
For this episode Tim Warneford is in Bedfordshire to speak to Jeremy Pilgrim from School Property Matters who are independent experts in pupil capacity and have worked with over 2500 schools so far.
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13. Graham Fitzgerald, General Practice and Audit Director at Baldwin Accountants, Baldwin Accountants
Developing the Trust
This week Tim Warneford is in Stockton-on-Tees to speak to Graham Fitzgerald, general practice and audit director at Baldwin Accountants. As well as dealing with commercial organisations, Graham specialises in the education sector, providing audit and advisory services and working with over forty academy schools including an increasing number of multi academy trusts.
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12. Lara Harvard and Zoe Forbes from Ecosphere and Gareth Williams from Eden Sustainable
Developing the Trust
Tim Warneford is in London’s West End with Lara Harvard and Zoe Forbes from Ecosphere and Gareth Williams from Eden Sustainable talking about how schools and academy trusts can both save money and also be much greener by installing better energy systems and also their exclusive offer available to both academy trusts and state schools.
info_outlineOn this episode of Developing the Trust, the podcast dedicated to the schools academy sector, Tim Warneford is in a school in Batley to speak to Tracy Jackson, finance business consultant, about her experience of many conversions.
On this episode we cover:
What brought Tracy into the academy sector
Starting as a trainee accounting technician
Working in the internal audit department with schools and education
Moving to a local high school as bursar (when 8 months pregnant with twins!)
Recognising her area of strength was finance but learning about managing premises, health and safety, HR and more
Outsourcing work and buying in expertise
Being part of many academy conversion processes
How the ideal time to get to schools is before they transfer
Helping schools better prepare to academise
Due diligence should start the moment the school decides to convert
Tracy supporting a number of schools with due diligence process – starting in 2011 when there was little blueprint
Setting up her own business to support trust
Finding is frustrating that she’s often brought in after conversion
Schools being unaware of some of the liabilities for which they become responsible
Money being wasted by due diligence being repeated
‘Failing schools’ being rebrokered
Unfair incentives for schools being rebrokered
Seeing so many SPN’s struggle with the financial compliance and policies
Primary schools understandably less keen on joining a trust
Local schools becoming direct competition to each other
Tracy being a trustee of an academy trust
The importance of having trustees who have a connection to the school
The professional development opportunities for staff from working with other schools in a MAT
Some of the successes identified in academy conversions
How the education sector has become far more business like
Accountability being a good thing, buying power increasing
The bigger trusts now being very savvy to the systems
Negotiating contracts, collective buying power, pooling resources and staff
UTCs experiencing financial difficulties as they set themselves up
SRMAs need to help identify potential savings but focusing on those in deficit
Schools being asked to publish 14 days once received financial measures to improve
Three-year deficit budgets
Primary schools needing incentives to convert
The uncertainty and unknown about taking on a free school
Special Education Needs needing more attention
ISBL needing to listen to people who are supporting the sector
CIF changing the rules by increasing the weighting of schools value for money being almost means testing – almost discriminating against some schools
Tracy feeling that there will be a revisit of the academy system, in particular the geographical spread
Rebrokering schools to make them more local
LEA budgets being cut impacting on schools
Feeling there is a real desire from the sector just to make things better and to deliver a first class education service