Whitley Stimpson has won a competitive tender to become auditors of the Aspirations Academies Trust, the organisation behind the Banbury Space Studio, the recently announced West London Space Studio and a further eight Academies nationwide.
This appointment continues the significant growth of Whitley Stimpson’s dedicated Education Services team, which now works with over 50 Academies and schools throughout the UK, having advised them through the conversion process as well as continuing to provide a range of financial support and advice in addition to the annual audit and financial reporting compliance processes.
The Aspirations Academies Trust, which includes Academies in West London, Banbury, Poole and Bournemouth, is a charitable organisation dedicated to promoting and putting into practice the conditions that foster student aspirations in schools and learning communities.
Commenting on Whitley Stimpson’s appointment, Steve Kenning, CEO of Aspirations Academies Trust, said: “We are delighted to be working with Whitley Stimpson’s expert team who have demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the education sector and importantly, a strong commitment to our core values. We are confident that through the team’s guidance and ongoing support, we will continue growing to become one of the leading Multi-Academy Trusts in the UK.”
The transition to Academy status requires schools to negotiate a myriad of business and government regulations, which makes seeking professional advice from financial experts fundamental to making a successful Academy.
All members of Whitley Stimpson’s dedicated Education Services team are fully trained on the financial, governance and reporting requirements for Academies, including those set out in the Academies Financial Handbook and related guidance issued by the Education Funding Agency.
Martin Wyatt, Head of Education Services at Whitley Stimpson, said: “It’s fantastic news that we are going to be working with one of the most dynamic and exciting Multi-Academy Trusts in the country and a reflection of my team’s commitment to the continuous improvement of services for the education sector. We are all very much looking forward to helping the Aspirations Academies Trust in achieving their students’ dreams by ensuring the financial operations and accountability in each Academy are seamless and robust.”
As part of their continuing commitment to the sector, Whitley Stimpson recently launched an Academies Brunch Club (ABC), designed to provide a free and open platform for School Business Managers, Finance Directors, Bursars and Finance Governors to share knowledge and best practices, and comes at a time when the government is calling for tighter regulations and financial accountability.
The next ABC event will be held at Banbury Cricket Club in late June 2014. Please contactacademies@whitleystimpson.co.uk for further information or visit www.whitleystimpson.co.uk for details of Whitley Stimpson’s Education Services.
