Financial compliance and returns

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Ensuring financial sustainability

Complying with financial requirements

Academies accounts direction You'll be able to submit your trust's financial statements and auditing documents from 15 October 2019 and the deadline is 31 December 2019. Find out about this year's Academies Accounts Direction, so you can get ready to meet the requirements.
Academies accounts return The accounts return online form will be available on 4 November 2019 and the deadline is 20 January 2020. Find out how to get ready to meet the requirements and submit the form.
Academies chart of accounts The DfE recommend adopting the new academies chart of accounts from September 2019. Find out what it is, how you use it, and how it'll save you time completing your financial returns.
Academies Financial Handbook 2018: changes The 2019 version is now in effect, but you'll need to refer to the 2018 version in financial statements for the year ending August 2019. This summarises what was new and significant in the 2018 version.
Academies Financial Handbook: changes from September 2019 Read about the major changes that you should be aware of, including new requirements for audit committees and whistle-blowing procedures.
Budget forecast return 3 year (BFR3Y) UpdatedThe budget forecast return 3 year (BFR3Y) is used to collect a 3 year forecast of your financial information. In 2020 the collection is due to open on 23 June and the deadline is 28 July.
Budget forecast return outturn: requirements and guidance The 2020 budget forecast return outturn (BFRO) is no longer required.
Business continuity and contingency planning: templates and guidance You must carry out business continuity and contingency planning as part of your overall risk management strategy. Be prepared with the templates, guidance and examples we link to.
Charities Act 2016: fundraising requirements for MATs Find out what the fundraising requirements are, whether they apply to your MAT, and if so how to comply.
Declaration and register of interests: template You are required to publish a register of interests online. Our templates will help you collect the necessary information and publish it in line with this requirement.

Employer contributions to the Teachers' Pension Scheme Employer contribution rate for teachers' pensions are increasing from September 2019 to 23.6%. Get more information on the planned government funding that will be provided to academies for the 2019/20 academic year to cover this rise.
Gender pay gap reporting: requirements, calculator and template If you’ve got more than 250 employees in your trust, you need to publish and report specific figures about your trust’s gender pay gap. Download our calculator to help you work out these numbers, and use our report template to present your data.
Key performance indicators (KPIs): requirements and guidance You must set financial key performance indicators (KPIs), and report on them to trustees. It's also a good idea to set other KPIs as part of your improvement planning. Have a look at examples of KPIs you might use, and see approaches from other trusts.
Land and building collection tool The land and building collection tool (LBCT) opened on 1 October 2019 and the deadline is 4 November. Find out what you need to fill in (and how it differs from last years).
Monthly budget monitoring reports for academy trusts We provide the information you need on the requirements of monthly budget monitoring reports for academy trusts. Here we also link to a template for these and guidance on what should be prepared.
Related party transactions: requirements and guidance Ensure that your academy's transactions and relationships with related parties are compliant with guidance on meeting 'at cost' requirements, maintaining transparency, and managing conflicts of interests.
School resource management self-assessment: requirements and tool The self-assessment tool, which was previously optional, is now compulsory. It's intended to help you see where you're managing resources well in the trust, and where you need to improve.
Teachers' pension grant: how much you could get The employer contribution rate for teachers' pensions is increasing from September 2019. Find out what funding you could get to cover the cost of this rise for the 2019-20 financial year.
Template annual report and financial statements All academy trusts must submit an annual report and financial statements. We link you to the model report to be filled in and explain what it includes.
Top-slicing academy budgets Top-slicing is a key aspect of MAT finance. Learn about the rules of top-slicing and read case studies on how 2 trusts set their top-slicing strategies. You can also see examples of how other trusts approach central financing.

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Ensuring financial sustainability

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