CIPFA’s Kerry Ace outlines the importance of a finance committee for an academy, and how it can prove an invaluable source of guidance for governing bodies when making financial decisions

Leasing could be an ideal solution for schools that want the latest equipment, without the large one-off payment needed for an outright purchase. But you need to do your homework first, advises Simon Goldie, head of asset finance at the Finance & Leasing Association

All academies face a range of uncertain factors that may affect the achievement of their objectives. Kerry Ace, Policy advisor at CIPFA, outlines the importance of understanding and undertaking risk management to minimise lost opportunities

Kerry Ace, a policy manager with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), on the importance of having strong, ethical governing bodies in schools

With academies and free schools having control over their own finances, Helen Hargreaves of the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals examines the different payroll options for these types of educational establishments

In recent years many schools have fallen victim to the widely publicised large-scale equipment leasing scandal, with some schools signing to pay as much as 10 times the value of the leased equipment. BESA director Caroline Wright gives advice on leasing and provides an outline of the work BESA is doing with the government to reduce the chances of this mis-selling happening again