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Across the country, from growing local trusts to large-scale federations, finance leaders are saying the same thing: Access Education Financial Management Software doesn’t just help them manage the money. It helps them manage the mission.
Because when your systems align with your strategy, when staff feel supported and when finance empowers rather than overwhelms, and most importantly, when it just does what you need it to do, the results speak for themselves.
What trusts tell us: The real impact of Access
The CFOs and business directors leading today’s Multi-Academy Trusts are pragmatic visionaries. They don’t have time for gimmicks, they want software that simply works, adapts and delivers.
At Carlton Academy Trust, that meant transforming a complex network of nine schools into one cohesive operation.
“It’s easy, intuitive and works for everyone, from finance professionals to school staff. The fact that finance and budgets are aligned in one system makes everything more streamlined.”
— Lisa Reeder, CFO, Carlton Academy Trust
For The Circle Trust, a growing organisation in the Southeast, it was about finding a true partner.
“It never felt like we were just buying a product. It was more like, ‘We’re here to work with you. What do you need?’ It feels like a real partnership, not just a transaction.”
— Debra Briault, COO, The Circle Trust
In the West Midlands Academy Trust, finance transformation went hand-in-hand with empowerment.
“Payroll reconciliation is literally one button — it’s fantastic. I can drill into trial balances, export to Excel or PDF, and auditors have read-only access. It’s brilliant.”
— Clare, CFOO, West Midlands Academy Trust
And for The Vale Federation, having all their software work seemlessly is everything.
“The integration between HR, payroll and finance has been a game-changer, it’s saved us time and eliminated human error.”
— Steve Parkinson, Business Director, The Vale Federation
These stories all point to one truth: Access doesn’t just provide software. It provides headspace, freeing up trust leaders to focus on strategy, people and students.
The features that make the difference
When you talk to finance leaders about why they chose Access over other providers, their answers are consistent, and refreshingly human.
1. Simplicity that works for everyone
Trust finance is complex, but using it shouldn’t be.
The Access Education Financial Management Solution is designed to feel intuitive even for those who aren’t accountants.
Simple drop-downs, clear processes, and familiar terminology mean staff across schools can pick it up with minimal training. At Carlton Academy Trust, new staff reportedly need “just a five-minute demo” during induction.
2. Central oversight without the heavy hand
Access supports both autonomy and control.
Headteachers and budget holders can view real-time data, while the central team retains oversight and approval. This balance, empowering schools while ensuring compliance — is a recurring theme across every case study.
3. One cloud-based system that connects everything
Finance. Budgets. HR. Payroll. Recruitment.
Each module is powerful on its own, but transformative when combined. The seamless flow of data between departments eliminates duplication, reduces errors, and accelerates decision-making.
As The Swan Trust explained:
“It’s allowed us to focus more on strategic growth rather than getting caught up in administrative challenges.”
— Shanna Hall, CFO, The Swan Trust
4. Scenario planning and smarter forecasting
The ability to model multiple “what if” scenarios, whether that’s staffing changes, energy costs, or new joiner schools, is a feature trusts describe as indispensable.
Delta Academies Trust used Access to navigate a staggering 423% rise in energy costs.
Learning Accord MAT now models restructuring costs in minutes, rather than waiting a week for answers.
Access turns uncertainty into insight, and insight into strategy.
5. Outstanding audit and compliance confidence
When audits once took 40 days, DEALT reduced them to just 20 with Access.
Read-only access for auditors, digital records, and secure cloud storage mean transparency is no longer a burden, it’s a built-in benefit.
Built for growth: From small MATs to large-scale trusts
Whether it’s six schools or sixty, the right finance system should grow with you, not against you.
For Little Way Catholic Educational Trust, formed in 2024, Access became the foundation for a future-proof trust.
“It just works. You can rely on it and know it’s right. Fully cloud-based, intuitive, secure, everything you need to run a trust efficiently.”
— Kevin Parker, CFO, Little Way Catholic Educational Trust
Delta Academies Trust, one of the UK’s largest and most established trusts, echoes that sentiment:
“Access has worked well for us over the years, and we haven’t felt the need to switch.”
— David Pitchfork, Senior Finance Manager, Delta Academies Trust
And at St Bartholomew’s CE Multi Academy Trust, the same story unfolds: rapid expansion supported by Access’s flexibility and continuous product innovation.
“The team at Access continue to exceed our expectations, remain competitive on price, and invest in countless improvements.”
— Christopher Dryer, Director of Finance and Operations
This is technology designed not just to handle today’s workload, but to anticipate tomorrow’s.
The power of partnership
Every CFO knows that implementation is only the beginning. What defines long-term success is the relationship that follows.
That’s where the Premier Customer Success Plan sets Access apart. Each trust is assigned a dedicated expert, someone who knows their schools, their pressures, and their people.
Lisa Reeder, CFO at Carlton Academy Trust, puts it best:
“I thought I’d drop it after a year or two, but honestly, I don’t know what I’d do without our Customer Success Manager. He’s part of our team.”
From exclusive CFO networks to proactive roadmap sessions, Access ensures customers stay connected, supported and informed. Because we listen, our customers are heard, and our products constantly evolve to meet their changing needs. This level of partnership isn’t an add-on; it’s at the heart of the Access experience.
Why Multi-Academy Trusts stay with Access
After years of collaboration with education leaders, Access has learned that technology alone doesn’t change schools, people using it well do. That’s why our solutions are built around empathy, efficiency and evolution.
MAT leaders stay with Access because they see measurable impact:
- Less admin. More strategy.
- Greater visibility. Stronger governance.
- Happier staff. Faster audits.
- One system that unites finance, HR and payroll.
When software works in harmony with your people, you don’t just run a smoother organisation, you build a stronger trust.
The last word
The best endorsement doesn’t come from marketing. It comes from the finance leaders who live it every day, those who’ve seen clunky systems replaced with calm, clarity and control.
Access Education Finance Management Solution isn’t the loudest voice in the market, but it is the most trusted. It’s evolved with schools for decades, shaped by feedback from thousands of educators who wanted something better.
Because at the heart of every trust is a promise to improve outcomes for pupils, and that’s a mission worth managing well.
Discover why leading Multi-Academy Trusts trust Access
Book a chat or request a demo and see how we can help your trust simplify finance, strengthen strategy, and focus on what really matters — your schools.
