Accounting for Schools & Academies

Specialist accountancy and advisory support for schools, trusts, and academies across the education sector.

Accountancy and auditing for schools and academies

Since 2009, Forrester Boyd have been working with schools and academies, supporting them with the conversion process and the exciting opportunities this brings.

Today, we act directly for over 55 trusts (including over 30 Multi Academy Trusts), covering a broad range of approximately 350 schools including secondaries, primaries and special schools.

Our experience and knowledge of the education sector means that we really do understand the challenges that you face, and we work with you to ensure you have the advice and support through every stage of the growth and development of your academy.

We provide both

Internal & External Audits

Our experienced audit team provides both external audit and internal audit services, offering independent insight that helps organisations strengthen governance, manage risk, and maintain confidence in their financial reporting.

Our external audit services provide an independent review of your financial statements, giving stakeholders reassurance that your accounts present a true and fair view. Alongside this, our internal audit services assess the effectiveness of your internal controls, risk management, and processes, helping identify opportunities for improvement.

By offering both services, we provide a comprehensive and practical approach to assurance, supporting organisations in building stronger, more resilient operations.

Contact our Education Specialists

Continual learning & development

How we can help

Our Academy team are experts in supporting head teachers, governors and finance executives with:

  • Process efficiency
  • Finance team procedures
  • Trustee documentation & policies

  • Governance
  • Centralisation
  • Procurement
  • Integrated curriculum financial planning
  • Commercial trading activities
  • Subsidiaries

  • Budget setting & reporting
  • Benchmarking
  • KPIs
  • Management Accounts
  • Internal Scrutiny

  • Condition improvement fund
  • Salix funding
  • Revenue maximisation
  • Recovery plans
  • Due diligence

  • Training
  • Software
  • Process updating
  • Supplier contracts
  • Banking
  • Data security

  • End of year/in year reporting
  • DfE reporting/query management
  • Related party transactions
  • Internal/External audits
  • VAT/PAYE/MTD/Corporation tax
  • Financial handbook
  • Companies House
  • Gender reporting
  • Pensions (EOYC)
  • IR35

We live and breathe academies

We understand that our support extends way beyond just compliance, which is why we focus on providing you and your trustees with the solutions before the problems.

We have a highly experienced and exceptional team who all live and breathe academies.

This is reflective in the positions that our team hold. Various members are trustees of charities and members of governing bodies which affords us a more in-depth understanding of your unique needs.

Forrester Boyd auditors

Accountancy & Auditing

For Schools & Academies

We have a highly experienced and exceptional team who all live and breathe academies. This is reflective in the positions that our team hold. Various members are trustees of charities and members of governing bodies which affords us a more in-depth understanding of your unique needs.

Download our Schools & Academies guide and find out more about how we can support you.

Download our dedicated guide for Schools and Academies

Further reading

Headshot of Carrie Jensen

by Carrie Jensen

February 22nd, 2026

by Forrester Boyd

July 3rd, 2025

We provide a wide range of services that may be of interest to you...