Banbury & High Wycombe: Whitley Stimpson launches ABC Academies

Leading Banbury and High Wycombe accountancy firm Whitley Stimpson has launched an Academies Brunch Club, known as ABC, with the aim of bringing finance directors, business managers, bursars and finance governors together under one roof to share common insights, experience and knowledge.

The first event for 2014 will take place at Banbury Cricket Club on March 27 from 10.30–14.00, and will be launched by guest speaker Jennifer Jewitt, finance director at South Hunsley School and sixth form college.

ABC is the initiative of Andy Jones, who joined Whitley Stimpson’s education services team headed up by Martin Wyatt, at the end of last year.

“Whether schools are in the process of converting to academy status or are already an established academy, they face many similar challenges in terms of their financial systems and compliance,” said Jones. “The aim of ABC is to empower people in their roles with the knowledge and expertise to really make a difference to their academies.”

The launch of ABC comes at a time when the government is continuing to encourage schools to convert to academy status, while also developing tighter regulations to ensure each academy is accountable for its finances.

The focus of the first ABC event will be around management information and Jewitt will highlight its importance and the type of financial information that should be prepared, in addition to sharing her own practical experiences and knowledge.

Whitley Stimpson acts for over 40 academies and schools, including primary and secondary converter academies, free schools, SEN schools and several multi-academy trusts.

All members of the firm’s education services team are fully trained on the financial, governance and reporting requirements for academies, and the team will be on hand at each ABC event to provide insights and answer queries.

To register to attend the March 27 event, email: academies@whitleystimpson.co.uk by March 20.