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Remote auditing for academies

| Rachel Barrett | 18 September 2020

Combining our years of expertise in academies’ finances with the latest cloud software and artificial intelligence, we are helping academies to benefit from straight forward and non-disruptive remote auditing.

Even before the pandemic, we had the tools and expertise in place to support remote auditing which, as well as having several advantages over more traditional processes, is perfectly suited for the ‘new normal’ post-lockdown.

Now that remote auditing is both preferable and necessary, we are helping more schools to unlock the potential of this new way of working.

We make the process simple, quick and transparent for our clients, enabling school leaders to place their trust in our award-winning team while they focus on managing their academies.

With school resources stretched and team members going above and beyond to care for the education and wellbeing of students, it has never been more important for internal and external audit reports to be completed to the very highest standards.

In line with guidance from the Education Skills and Funding Agency (EFSA) and the new requirements set out for academy trusts, we can carry out detailed and reliable audits for academies which equip leaders and decision makers with the information they need.

As well as adhering to COVID-secure guidance, one of the most significant changes in financial requirements for academies is that internal and external audits must now be carried out by different firms. Having supported academies in the UK since they were formed, we can carry out either of these audits, whether it’s an academy’s internal scrutiny report or an external audit.

A programme of internal scrutiny is a requirement of the academies financial handbook. With the ever growing level of responsibility placed on those charged with governance, a detailed internal scrutiny report can be an invaluable resource. The reports we produce give leaders an insight into how the finances of a school or trust are being run throughout the year, helping to guide decisions and identify opportunities for improvement.

For external audits, we provide a comprehensive and detailed analysis of an academy’s finances to report on the truth and fairness of its records as well as management information which can aid the development of improved systems and controls. These reports are completed as required by an academy’s funding agreement with the ESFA.

Our remote-auditing systems enable us to work with flexibility to suit a school’s needs, without disrupting activities or taking up much-needed space. Remote auditing also enables us to follow all COVID-secure guidelines to keep your team and pupils safe.

Using our state-of-the-art systems, we can combine our experience and expertise in academies finances with fast cloud auditing software, simple file and data uploading and sharing services and artificial intelligence to pinpoint areas that warrant particular attention.

With us, academies can access the services of an award-winning team with a reputation for excellent client service. Our team members include former academy workers, school governors and parents. As one of the Midlands’ largest accountancy practices, our reports are also scrutinised by industry-leading specialists who ensure our team is across every update and requirement for your school.

While some other accountants still use paper-based systems, our expert team is empowered by the latest technology to carry out forensically detailed, reliable and trustworthy audits for all of our academy clients.

We are a trusted partner for academies across the East Midlands and beyond. Find out more about our services for academies here.

 

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