Financial Management
School financial management software
Your school's finances, sorted.
The Access Education Financial Management solution combines the strengths of Access Education Budgets and Access Education Finance, offering a unified set of tools that help schools, academies, and multi-academy trusts (MATs) manage their finances with ease and precision.
Thousands of schools and trusts across the UK love to use our financial management tools!
All the financial management tools you need, in one place
Join over 9,000 schools and 42 local authorities who rely on our school financial management software to simplify, streamline and modernise their budgeting and finance processes.
Fully compliant (DfE & ESFA)
Stay worry-free with automatic compliance updates, ensuring your school meets all Department for Education and ESFA requirements effortlessly using our school financial management software.
All on one platform (SSO)
Access your budgeting, finance, payroll, and reporting tools from one secure, cloud-based platform with single sign-on for seamless integration.
Education-specific tools
Designed with input from school leaders, our financial management software for schools simplifies budgeting, reporting, and financial oversight for both finance and non-finance staff.
Real-time insights & reporting
Make informed decisions faster with real-time financial reports that offer a clear view of your school’s financial performance at a glance.
Plan for the future: Scenario planning & 5-year forecasting
Scenarios, modeled. Stability, secured.
Our school financial management system offers powerful scenario planning and 5-year forecasting tools, enabling schools to model multiple financial outcomes with ease. Quickly assess the impact of changes in staffing, pupil numbers, and funding, so you can make proactive decisions that safeguard your school’s financial health. By forecasting up to five years ahead, our financial management software for schools provides the insights you need to avoid deficits, adapt to funding shifts, and ensure long-term financial stability.
Payroll & staff cost management, integrated
Staff costs, tracked. Accuracy, ensured.
Accurately calculate and track staff costs with automated payroll features, including National Insurance, pensions, and pay scale updates. Our school finance management tools allow for quick adjustments to staffing expenses, ensuring your budget reflects real-time changes. By seamlessly linking with your HR system, our education financial management software keeps payroll and budget data aligned, reducing errors and saving you valuable time.
Connect your systems. Gain total financial clarity.
Integration, smooth. Financial clarity, achieved.
Our school financial management system integrates smoothly with your existing systems, including HR, payroll, and third-party financial management platforms. This seamless connectivity ensures that data flows effortlessly between budgeting, accounting, and reporting tools, minimising manual entry and enhancing accuracy. With real-time updates and comprehensive data syncing, you’ll save time and maintain a clear, unified view of your school’s financial status.
Turn your school's finances into something you enjoy, not endure!
School? Trust? Local authority? We’ve got you covered.
Our school financial management software is designed with the unique needs of various educational establishments in mind. We’ve introduced features and enhancements to support schools, multi-academy trusts, independent schools, local authorities, and higher education institutions.
Schools
- Custom budgeting: Create and manage detailed budgets tailored to individual school needs.
- Real-time reporting: Access up-to-date financial performance and compliance reports.
- Scenario planning: Model different financial scenarios to plan for future needs.
Multi-Academy Trusts
- Consolidated reporting: Aggregate financial data across multiple academies for a unified view.
- Centralised budgeting: Streamline budget management and allocation for all academies.
- Compliance management: Ensure adherence to DfE and ESFA regulations across the trust.
Independent schools
- Flexible forecasting: Adapt budgeting and forecasting to unique financial structures and funding models.
- Detailed analysis: Generate comprehensive reports to support governance and financial oversight.
- Integration flexibility: Connect with various third-party systems for enhanced financial management.
Local authorities
- Multi-school oversight: Monitor and manage budgets across numerous schools within the authority.
- Data aggregation: Collect and analyse financial data for improved resource allocation and planning.
- Regulatory reporting: Streamline submissions and compliance reporting to meet local and national requirements.
Higher education
- Complex budgeting: Handle intricate budgeting needs with multi-year forecasting and scenario modeling.
- Integrated financials: Link financial data with academic and operational systems for cohesive management.
- Advanced reporting: Produce detailed financial reports for internal analysis and external audits.
Why customers love our school financial management software
It really has transformed the day-to-day running of the finance department
By removing time-consuming processes, Access Education Finance & Budgets provided us with the time to focus on important analysis - identifying any issues or worrying trends before they become problematic.
The team continues to exceed our expectations
Having transitioned from a maintained school to a MAT, we knew we needed a system that was intuitive and simple to use to help our team get to grips with new processes and ways of working.
Helping to bridge the skills gap
Schools face a need for expertise, yet a lack of highly skilled, informed specialists to fulfill these roles. As a result, schools are being forced to delegate responsibilities to individuals who do not have the background or skills in things such as finance.
Comprehensive training and robust support!
The training sessions were tailored to address the specific needs and nuances of each school within the local authority, ensuring a seamless integration of the new system into their unique operational contexts.
We’ve worked with those who have walked in your shoes…
See how we’ve transformed financial management in education settings like yours.
Latest insights on financial management in education
Discover valuable resources and updates to support your research and purchasing decisions. Our news and articles offer expert advice, case studies, and industry trends to help you make informed choices for your school’s financial management.
View all resources
School financial year-end: everything you need to know
Empower your school or LA with tailored finance reporting
What is the best financial accounting software for schools?
Leadership rountable: Perspectives on the education financial landscape
The ultimate guide to education finance software
Access Budgets Reforecasting resources
Benefits of integrated Budgets & Finance for academies & MATs
Access Central Budgets resources
Switching finance system for your MAT or academy
How to build a business case for school or MAT finance software
Software support when you switch to Access Education Finance
Benefits of integrated Budgets & Finance for schools and LAs
Switching finance systems for your school or LA
Ultimate guide to school budget planning
Frequently asked questions
Software specific FAQs
What makes your school financial management system different from other solutions?
Our school financial management system is designed specifically for the education sector, integrating budgeting, payroll, and finance tools in one cloud-based platform. It offers school-specific features like scenario planning, 5-year forecasting, and compliance with DfE and ESFA requirements. With real-time reporting and seamless integrations, it helps schools, academies, and higher education institutions manage their finances more effectively.
Can your financial management software for schools be used by institutions with no dedicated finance staff?
Yes! Our financial management software for schools is intuitive and designed for use by both finance professionals and non-finance staff. Its easy-to-use interface and automated features make budgeting and financial management straightforward for all users, regardless of their financial expertise.
Does your education financial management software support multi-academy trusts (MATs)?
Absolutely. Our software provides multi-academy trusts with consolidated reporting, centralised budget management, and compliance oversight. You can streamline financial processes across all your academies while maintaining control over individual budgets.
Find out more:
Finance for MATs | Access Education Finance (theaccessgroup.com)
Budgeting for MATs | Access Education Budgets (theaccessgroup.com)
How does your school financial management software help with compliance and regulatory reporting?
Our software is fully compliant with DfE and ESFA requirements, ensuring schools and academies can easily meet their regulatory obligations. Automated updates ensure you are always in line with the latest regulations, and you can generate reports like the Consistent Financial Report (CFR) quickly and accurately.
Is your school financial management system cloud-based, and can it be accessed remotely?
Yes, our financial management software is 100% cloud-based. You can access it anytime, anywhere, from any device through our secure Access Workspace platform. This reduces IT costs, ensures data security, and provides real-time updates, which can improve collaboration and decision-making across departments.
How does the software integrate with other systems?
Our software integrates seamlessly with your existing HR, payroll, and financial management systems, including third-party platforms like PS Financials, Sage, and SIMS. This ensures data flows smoothly between your systems, reducing manual entry and improving accuracy.
Can the software handle complex staff payroll and cost calculations?
Yes, our software includes robust payroll and staff cost management features. It automatically calculates payroll costs, including National Insurance, pensions, and pay scale updates, and allows for easy monitoring and adjustments in real time. You can even reconcile payroll with your budget for greater accuracy.
How does the school financial management software support long-term financial planning?
Our scenario planning and 5-year forecasting tools allow you to model multiple financial scenarios and plan for the future with confidence. Whether it’s changes in staffing, pupil numbers, or income, you can assess the financial impact and make data-driven decisions to ensure long-term stability.
Can the school financial management system be customised to fit the specific needs of my institution?
Yes, our financial management software is highly customisable. You can tailor the chart of accounts, reports, and user access profiles to meet the specific needs of your school, academy, or higher education institution.
Is customer support available if we need assistance?
Absolutely. We offer dedicated customer support to help with any questions or issues you may encounter. Our team is here to assist you with everything from setup and training to ongoing use of the software.
Find out more: Access Financial software support webinar (theaccessgroup.com)
General FAQs
Why is financial management in education and scenario plannning important for schools?
Effective financial management in education ensures that schools use their resources efficiently, meet educational goals, and remain financially stable. It helps schools plan for the future, allocate funds appropriately, manage staff costs, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
Scenario planning allows schools to model different financial situations, such as changes in pupil enrollment, staffing levels, or government funding. This helps schools understand the potential impact of different variables on their finances, enabling them to make informed decisions and plan for the future.
What are the key challenges schools face with financial management in education?
Schools often face challenges such as fluctuating funding, rising staff costs, maintaining compliance with regulatory bodies, and ensuring accurate budgeting and forecasting. Managing these financial complexities with limited administrative resources can be daunting, which is why the right financial management tools are essential.
Find out more: Finance leadership roundtable webinar: Insider perspectives on the education financial landscape (theaccessgroup.com)
How can schools better manage their budgets?
Schools can manage their budgets more effectively by creating detailed, long-term financial plans, tracking income and expenditure in real time, and using scenario planning tools to model different financial situations. Regular monitoring and adjustment of budgets can also help prevent overspending and deficits.
Find out more: How to plan and forecast your school budget effectively (theaccessgroup.com)
How do changes in pupil numbers impact school budgets?
Pupil numbers directly affect funding and income for schools, as many funding formulas are based on the number of students enrolled. A drop in pupil numbers can lead to decreased funding, making it important for schools to plan for potential fluctuations and adjust their budgets accordingly.
What are some best practices for managing payroll and staff costs in schools?
Best practices include automating payroll calculations, regularly reviewing staffing costs, reconciling payroll data with your budget, and modeling the financial impact of staffing changes. Schools should also stay up to date with changes to pay scales, pensions, and tax regulations to ensure accuracy.
How often should schools update their financial forecasts?
Schools should regularly update their financial forecasts—ideally every term or after any significant changes in funding, staff, or pupil numbers. Regular updates allow schools to stay on top of their financial health and make proactive adjustments as needed.
What are the most important financial reports schools should generate?
Key financial reports for schools include income and expenditure statements, budget forecasts, cash flow reports, payroll reconciliation, and regulatory reports like the Consistent Financial Report (CFR). These reports provide insights into the school’s financial performance and help ensure compliance with local and national regulations.
Solutions created by educators, for educators
At Access Education, we believe in simplicity. Our suite of integrated solutions is designed to seamlessly work together, creating a unified experience that transforms how you manage your school or trust.
- Financial Management: Optimise budgeting and financial management with real-time insights and simplified reporting.
- People Management: Manage recruitment, payroll, and staff well-being effortlessly.
- Parental Engagement: Consolidate communications and administrative tasks into one intuitive system.
- Curriculum & Assessment: Enrich learning with Access GCSEPod and Key Stage 3 resources, offering comprehensive content and insights.
Explore our full educational software solutions
Experience effortless integration, enhanced efficiency, and a unified user experience. Our solutions work together to simplify your processes, so you can focus on what truly matters: delivering exceptional education.
