Finance

The head teacher as accounting officer

The responsibilities of the head teacher as accounting officer are crucial to the smooth running of an academy and in ensuring probity and financial stewardship. It is therefore vital they are supported by administrative staff and the CFO, writes Kerry Ace, CIPFA’s expert on academies

Taking cash out of the school

Finance

With the current trend to make cashless payments in the consumer, business and financial sectors, Education Business examines whether schools are taking the same path

The information to stay financially viable

Finance

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

Looking up to the head teacher

Finance

Kerry Ace, CIPFA’s expert on academies, examines the role of a head teacher as an accounting officer in a single academy trust

Leasing: Getting it right

Finance

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

Administering payroll: what to be aware of

Finance

Samantha Mann from the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals, explains three changes to payroll legislation that employers will need to familiarise themselves with this year

Managing risk in academies

Finance

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

Dig up the audit trail

Finance

When it comes to that impending interview with the auditors, academy principals all to often wish they’d made better use of their chief financial officer, writes the Independent Academies Association’s Vice Chair, Gareth Dawkins

Advice for effective school governance

Finance

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

Pennies in the Pension Pot

Finance

The regulations underpinning public sector pensions are due to change dramatically, with major implications for teachers. Sarah Willis sums up the key points

Exercising financial freedom

Finance

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

The future of teacher pay

Finance

In September there will be a radical change to the way teacher pay is determined. Martin Freedman of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) discusses the main issues

The need for clear leasing guidance

Finance

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