We can help your school to:

  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records
  • Provide statutory returns and meet annual requirements
  • Comply with regulations set out by Oxfordshire County Council

What does the service offer?

  • Qualified and experienced Finance Officers, based in Oxfordshire.
  • Dedicated named Finance Officer
  • Advice and support for your operational and strategic financial management with support also given on compliance including budget planning, statutory regulations compliance, financial modelling and forecasting and sensitivity analysis

Helpline:

  • “How to” support for SAP finance applications
  • First-line finance query handling
  • Hints and tips update
  • Management of school finance help and intranet guidance 
  • Central email account contact
  • Improved information on usage and key/frequently asked questions

Training and events/information and additional advice:

  • Network meetings in the local area
  • Additional help notes and training manuals
  • Financial Planning Software (FPS) support for financial monitoring and reporting
  • On-site visits from Oxfordshire-based finance staff

Budget planner

  • A web-based multi-year budget planner
  • Annual rollover of data to avoid input from scratch
  • Upload/download of data for maximum flexibility in monitoring at minimum input

Budget setting:

  • Budget surgery face-to-face session or remote support
  • Advice on producing a balanced budget
  • Development and maintenance of budget planning tool

Budget monitoring:

  • Budget monitoring visits
  • Review of budget monitoring
  • Payroll review

Further finance services also included

  • School Finance Officer inductions
  • Headteacher Finance inductions
  • Closedown guidance
  •  Finance “how to” help desk queries
  • Support with school finance staff recruitment process
  • Up to 12 hours of free bursar service to cover emergency absence

Targeted and preventative support (identified schools):

  • Strategic challenge, support and advice
  • Action planning

Academy conversion:

  • Pre-decision support and advice
  • Support on the financial aspects of the academy conversion process

Key benefits to the school

  • Dedicated finance officer based in Oxfordshire who understands and responds to individual school’s needs
  • Easy access to the finance team access via email and telephone.
  • Focused approach for schools that need extra support
  • Supports schools in fulfilling their statutory obligations and facilitates good practice

Pricing

Charges reflect the full amount payable for 12 month period from 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018

This service will be provided by arrangement with Hampshire County Council

School type Pupil numbers Price
Primary

Up to 50

£1,627.00

Primary 51-150 £2,037.00
Primary 151-300 £2,928.00
Primary 301 - 1000 £3,464.00
Secondary - £5,098.00