Michaela Johns, Director of Hampshire accountants HWB based at Chandler’s Ford
Essential advice on the financial management of academy schools is the focus of a free online session hosted by Hampshire accountancy firm HWB.
Business managers, governors, bursars, heads of finance and trustees are among those set to attend the Academy Schools Forum from 12 noon to 1.30pm on Wednesday, 7 June 2023.
HWB Director Michaela Johns, who is leading the session, said: “Academies are heavily regulated with strict requirements on governance and financial management. It’s essential to understand and stay up to date on all the technical accounting requirements. Our forum offers the opportunity to discuss the latest guidance.”
A key theme of the forum is the new Academies Accounts Direction (AAD), published in April 2023 by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
AAD compliance, including how ‘model’ accounts are to be shown, is a mandatory condition of an academy trust’s funding agreement.
Michaela said: “AAD provides annually updated guidance on how academies should fulfil their financial reporting obligations. This year there is additional information to clarify issues such as how loans should be treated in financial statements and how teaching assistant costs are reflected in payroll postings.”
As well as AAD, the agenda will cover topics such as investment policies, internal scrutiny, teachers’ pensions returns and assumptions underlying budget forecast returns.
Joining HWB as speakers at the event are Kirsteen Hook, a Partner at law firm Trethowans, and two team members from chartered surveyors Eddisons: Head of Business Development Jenny Fram and Building Surveyor Annabel Huffer.
Kirsteen, a specialist charities solicitor with more than ten years’ experience of advising academy trust companies, will discuss a range of issues around governance.
And in their presentation, Jenny and Annabel will focus on the requirements involved in assessing buildings and estates for valuation and forward budgeting for repairs and replacement purposes.
Michaela said: “Kirsteen, Jenny and Annabel will bring invaluable insight from their individual specialisms to help all attendees who are involved in academy governance or estate planning.
“This is whether they represent a single local authority school looking to convert to academy status, a small trust needing help with condition surveys and navigating estates funding, or a large multi-academy trust that requires advice on, for example, valuations, working towards net zero or project management.”
HWB runs academy forums three times a year. For more information and to register for the 7 June 2023 forum, visit https://www.hwb-accountants.com/events/academy-schools-forum-june-2023-online/.
Chartered accountants HWB, based at Chandler’s Ford, near Southampton, provides business and tax advice.
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LATEST GUIDANCE. HWB Director Michaela Johns, who is leading the firm’s Academy Schools Forum on 7 June 2023.
NOTES TO REPORTERS – HWB Chartered Accountants, Highland House, Mayflower Close, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO53 4AR. http://www.hwb-accountants.com. 023 8046 1200, admin@hwb-accountants.com. Twitter: @HWB_Accountants, LinkedIn: hwb-accountants, Facebook: @hwbaccountants
HWB Chartered Accountants was founded in 1985 as Hopper Williams & Bell and is based near Southampton. The firm provides accounting, tax and business advisory services to organisations across Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset & West Sussex and beyond. As one of the leading firms of chartered accountants and business and tax advisers in the region, HWB offers the depth of resource and specialist skills of a national practice but remains dedicated to the personal approach. Services include: accounting services, audit and assurance, auto enrolment, business strategy & planning, corporate finance, HMRC enquiry fee protection, human resources, international services, online accounting, payroll services, personal tax services, probate & estate administration, specialist tax and financial planning. Specialisms include: education sector and academies, architects, charities, FCA accountants, healthcare, legal, logistics, property accountants, recruitment and travel. HWB’s motto is Experience the difference. The firm produces a series of guides and tax cards and has a resources centre on its website, as well as staging seminars and events on a regular basis. The HWBulletin is published bi-annually. HWB is registered to carry on audit work in the UK and regulated for a range of investment business activities by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
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