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Financial Services

We are a friendly, experienced team supporting education settings with dependable outsourced school finance services for trusts, primary and first schools. Whether you need strategic guidance or day-to-day help, we shape our support around what works best for your organisation.

We’re proud of the strong, trusted relationships we build with the schools and trusts we support. You can rely on a flexible, professional service from a motivated, fully trained team who understands the realities and requirements of the education sector.

We also know that budgets are under real pressure. Drawing on our wider network, we’ll work with you to explore practical options and identify suitable funding and grant opportunities, helping you understand what’s available and how to make the most of it.

We offer an extensive array of support encompassing crucial financial operations, including budget modelling, forward planning, reporting, management accounting, independent reviews and preparation of statutory financial returns.

Every setting is different, so we take time to understand your priorities and tailor our support to fit. We’ll help you meet growing financial responsibilities with confidence, while staying compliant with statutory requirements—so you can focus on delivering the best outcomes for your pupils.

Summary of finance services Voyage can offer

 

Strategic finance leadership

  • Provide a named, suitably qualified Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead financial strategy, oversight and reporting, working closely with the Headteacher and governing board.
  • Support and assurance for the Accounting Officer role, aligned to the Academy Trust Handbook requirements.
  • Attend governing board meetings (or provide a suitable representative) to share financial updates, explain reports and answer questions.

Day-to-day finance operations

  • Purchase ledger support, including processing supplier invoices, matching to orders/receipts where applicable, and preparing payment runs in line with delegated authorities.
  • Sales ledger support, including raising invoices, monitoring income, and credit control/follow-up where required.
  • Payroll administration and liaison, including starters/leavers/contract changes, and supporting timely pension and statutory submissions (as applicable).
  • VAT administration, including preparing returns and supporting compliant VAT treatment across income and expenditure.
  • Banking and cash management, including bank reconciliations, monitoring cash flow, and maintaining clear audit trails for all transactions.
  • Month-end routines, including journals, accruals/prepayments support, and maintaining clean, well-documented records to support reporting and audit.
  • Practical support for school leaders and administrators on finance processes, deadlines and good practice.
  • Implement and monitor a strong control framework, including regular reconciliations, segregation of duties and clear authorisation processes.
  • Multi-layered processes to reduce reliance on one individual and help reduce the risk of error or fraud.

Management accounts and reporting

  • Prepare and circulate monthly management accounts and financial updates to support management and governing board oversight.
  • Reporting includes: income and expenditure (month and year-to-date), balance sheet, cash flow, variances to budget, and an in-year forecast.

Budget setting, monitoring and forecasting

  • Develop annual budgets and support timely approval.
  • Ongoing budget monitoring and regular forecasting to support evidence-based decisions and keep spending within delegated funding.
  • Challenge and support leaders through the budget-setting process, including preparation for required submissions.

Procurement and value for money

  • Support compliant procurement activity in line with your finance policy, scheme of delegation and relevant procurement requirements.
  • Help demonstrate value for money through robust process and documentation.

Audit preparation and liaison

  • Coordinate audit activity with appointed external bodies and support internal scrutiny, providing timely and accurate information.
  • Help ensure statutory timescales are met and the academy is well-prepared for audit requirements.

Statutory and regulatory returns

  • Prepare and submit DfE financial returns and statutory reporting in line with required deadlines (e.g., annual accounts, Academies Accounts Return, school resource management self-assessment, budget forecast return).
  • Support reporting and escalation of any suspected fraud, theft or irregularity in line with the Academy Trust Handbook.

Our support is designed to deliver more than transactional finance support. We help schools and trusts improve financial visibility, plan sustainably, evidence value for money, and make confident decisions that support long-term educational outcomes.

For more information, email enquiries@voyage-education.org or call 01205 331900.

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