As the financial year progresses, now is the perfect time to ensure your processes, systems and budgets are ready for the months ahead. In this edition, you'll find practical year-end resources, important product updates, guidance on staying aligned with the latest DfE requirements, upcoming training opportunities, and insights from a trust successfully using Access Education Finance and Budgets to support confident decision-making.
Your complete guide to school financial year-end
Financial year-end can be one of the busiest periods for education finance teams. To help you stay on track, we've brought together essential resources, expert advice and practical checklists in one easy-to-access hub. Whether you're preparing for month-end, managing year-end activities or getting audit-ready, you'll find guidance tailored to schools, academies and trusts.
Access the hub and simplify your year-end preparation.
Academy Trust Handbook 2026: What Trusts Need to Know
The Academy Trust Handbook 2026 comes into effect on 1 October 2026, introducing new requirements around financial transparency, governance, executive pay, procurement, CFO qualifications and internal scrutiny. Understanding these changes now will help your trust plan ahead and ensure compliance without adding unnecessary pressure to the autumn term.
Education Purchasing now with Integrated Commitments and Pending Totals
Schools using Education Purchasing can now see commitment and pending spend data directly in Access Education Finance, giving finance teams a more complete view of budgets before invoices are approved and posted.
This enhanced integration brings commitments, pending transactions & actuals together across reports, budget checks and forecasting tools, helping schools make more informed financial decisions.
Keep your Chart of Accounts aligned with the latest DfE guidance
The Department for Education's annual Chart of Accounts updates can introduce new ledger codes, description changes and retired codes, making it important for academies to review their setup ahead of the new financial year. Our latest guidance article walks you through the process of identifying the changes, updating your Chart of Accounts in Access Education Finance, and understanding key considerations when adding, amending or deactivating ledger codes.
Read the article to ensure your finance system remains compliant, consistent and ready for the year ahead.
Sharpen your finance skills
Whether you're preparing for year-end, exploring different planning scenarios, or helping new team members get up to speed, our upcoming Finance Workshops are designed to support you every step of the way. Packed with practical advice, best practices, and hands-on demonstrations, these sessions will help you work smarter, stay compliant, and feel confident in your day-to-day processes.
Finance & Budgets Under One Roof: Importing Your Budget into Finance
Take the next step after budget planning by bringing your approved budget directly into Access Education Finance. In this webinar, we'll show you how to successfully import your budget from Access Education Budgets, helping you reduce manual effort, improve accuracy, and ensure your financial monitoring starts from the right foundation. Join our experts for a step-by-step demonstration and learn how to get the most from your integrated Finance and Budgets solution.
Nine Years On and Still the Right Choice
What keeps a finance system at the heart of a trust for nearly a decade? In our latest customer story, Nathan Waites, Chief Financial and Operating Officer at The De Curci Trust, shares how Access Education Finance and Budgets helps his team navigate financial complexity with confidence.
From scenario planning and long-term forecasting to answering trustee questions in real time, discover how the trust uses accurate, accessible financial data to support better decision-making across its three schools, freeing up more time to focus on what matters most: delivering the best outcomes for pupils.
Read the full story to see how The De Curci Trust is using Access Education Finance and Budgets to plan with confidence and make informed decisions every day.
Something exciting is coming to Access Evo for Education.
Imagine starting your day with the right priorities already waiting for you.
Be among the first to discover how Access Evo for Education is changing the way schools and trusts work. Join our exclusive webinar for a first look at what's launching next term.
You'll discover:
What's new in Access Evo for Education
Live demonstrations of the latest capabilities
How routine work can happen before you even ask
How Access Evo for Education can give you more time for the work that really matters
Wednesday 9th September at 11am