13. Graham Fitzgerald, General Practice and Audit Director at Baldwin Accountants, Baldwin Accountants
Release Date: 02/29/2020
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_outlineThis 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.
On this episode we cover:
How they entered the academy client market
Rapidly expanding through word of mouth recommendations
Applying passion and expertise to the sector
Charity accounting not being straightforward
Giving clients a lot of free support early on
Retaining clients through this
25% of their work being academy based now
Academies being different to commercial clients
People working in the sector finding it very rewarding
Enjoying making a difference to children’s education
Additional revenue schemes still being available for academies
Many schools being blighted by lack of resources
Other schools renting out their resources for cash
Been frustrated about how few academies do financial due diligence
How can suppliers partner to form collaborations to further help academies
Tim wanting to find a pilot to support as above
Previously been in the SFA’s in the best interest to convert, but are there lessons we can learn from this
If a school transfers and gets into deficit there can be a lot of issues
Do the SFA put money back into schools that are failing or into the larger MAT?
Being governed by accounting standards
Lack of clarity when pushing new projects through
Some academies and schools sitting on next to no reserves
Rewards for schools getting returns in on time
GAG pooling pros and cons
If academy trusts know what their funding is going to be they can play ahead
The change of policy and government being very frustrating
Most of the risks being outside of the hands of the clients
Hoping that his legacy is that they have made a difference, working with schools not against them