Education Financial Services (EFS)

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