2. Chris James, Senior Accountant at Alan Patient & Co
Release Date: 05/13/2019
DTT Edward Thomas Nov 2022
Developing the Trust
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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’.
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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 travels to Woodford to the offices of Chris James, a Senior Accountant at Alan Patient & Co a London firm providing accountancy services to schools across the UK.
On this episode Chris James talks:
The first academy they worked with
How the above panned out
Schools’ experience prior to academising
'Good housekeeping’ prior to academisation
The higher level of accountancy scrutiny after academisation
Investing in higher accountancy systems to address the above
The benefit of increase financial clarity in helping make decisions
Ensuring the children get the best education possible
The skill-level of site managers required to operate investments
Whether accountants need to be involved earlier in the process
The key times to prepare schools for the conversion process
The important of the due diligence stage
Advising schools’ liabilities at as early a stage as possible
Finding ways in which everyone can work collaboratively so that schools have a better service at the front end
What successes they have noted with schools going from public sector to private
How conversions work best when schools go to them at an earlier stage
The potential confusion of schools at their first audit
How investing in decent systems and skills leads to better audits
How audits can be helpful to identify ways forward
How larger MATs and secondary levels with directors of finance grasp the changes quicker
Supporting smaller primaries that don’t have the resources for directors of finance
Lloyds Bank dominating the sector by providing single points of contact
How they started in the commercial sector
The brand new element of compliance and reporting academisation brings schools
Teachers being asked to be accounting officers
Important to show understanding in terms of what they’re going through
The importance of supporting and reassuring schools
How many schools have converted at risk
Supporting schools in cutting costs and setting up new revenue streams
Hammering it home that ‘they are a business now’
How the revenue from the business is reinvested into education
Finding themselves advising more on the above options
Obtaining value for money being paramount
Results from the Improvement Fund
Value for money raising from 15 to 25%
The impact the above has on schools
50% of academised schools in year deficit
The potentially bleak future for schools that cannot support themselves
Small trusts or stand alone schools being encouraged to join larger ones
Potential future funding streams to help schools stay in small MATs – trying to maximise income, allowing more uses of their facilities, trying to minimise their costs
The benefits of working with professionals early on in academisation process
How schools should approach professional services before they convert to put them in a far stronger position
How all parties involved would better prepare schools with if they provided a more unified wraparound service
The aim to help as many schools as possible to make sure that they have the financial reporting and information that they are compliant and can also make the best decisions so they know they can provide the best education for the children
Passing on skills to the trustees so that they can be better equipped to cope with academisation