Academy trust financial management good practice guides
Information outlining good practice in academy trust financial management and assurance.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
Guides for academy trust:
- trustees
- accounting officers
- principals/executive leaders
- chief financial officers (CFOs)
These guides do not replace or modify any requirements set out in the Academy Trust Handbook (ATH) and the Academies Accounts Direction (AAD). They aim to provide suggestions about good practice.
ESFA produced these guides with input from experienced practitioners from working group 1 and working group 3 of the Academies Finance and Assurance Steering Group.
You can find more good practice information at the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL) good practice library.
Last updated 14 February 2024 + show all updates
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The Internal scrutiny in academy trusts guide has been updated.
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We've added a good practice guide on academy trust reserves.
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We've updated the guidance on Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) for academy trusts.
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We have updated the example in the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) for academy trusts guide for 2022 reflecting the new conversion factors.
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We have updated the guide to choosing an external auditor for an academy trust.
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We have updated the 'Tendering 'jargon busting' guide for academy trusts' with the thresholds for 2022 to 2023.
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We have updated this page to add a good practice guide on tendering 'jargon busting' for academy trusts.
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We have updated the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting good practice guide with new requirements and calculations for 2021.
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We have updated the academy trust risk management good practice guide.
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Routine update to the guide to choosing an academy trust auditor.
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We have updated the 'Operating an academy trust as a going concern' good practice guide.
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We have updated the internal scrutiny good practice guide for academy trusts. The update includes clarification that internal scrutiny covers both financial and non-financial controls [3.1 in the Academies Financial Handbook (AFH)], removal of the option for internal audit to be performed by the external auditor [AFH 3.17 and 3.20] and confirmation that trusts can use additional individuals or organisations to support internal scrutiny where specialist non-financial knowledge is required [AFH 3.18 and 3.23].
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Added a new good practice guide on Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR)
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We've added a new good practice guide - 'External audit preparation checklist' and 'External audit preparation checklist guide'.
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Updated to add a new good practice guide on academy trust management letters.
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Page updated to add a guide to academy trust internal scrutiny.
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First published.