Budgeting
Streamlining financial management for independent schools
As an independent school, your commitment to delivering exceptional learning experiences is unwavering. And you no doubt understand the critical role of effective financial management, particularly in this challenging climate.
Access Budgets is here to make this process efficient and strategic, enabling you to allocate resources wisely, plan for the future, and maintain a sustainable financial model.
Discover how you can boss your budgets, seamlessly by watching our Spotlight on Access Education Budgets for independent schools demo video.
Over 8,500+ school business professionals trust our budgeting software
Join the growing number of independent schools who have switched to Access Education products to help streamline their school management processes. Designed by education experts, your independent school is in safe hands with Access Education Budgets.
Addressing your financial challenges
No two independent schools are the same. Therefore, managing the financial aspects of your setting is a complex endeavor. We're here to help you overcome the hurdles.
Tuition fee management
Setting tuition fees is a delicate balance. Our software provides data-driven insights into your school's financial health, helping you understand the real costs associated with education delivery.
By analysing historical data and future projections, you can make informed decisions about tuition rates that strike the right balance between fairness, competitiveness, and operational sustainability.
Resource allocation
Our software simplifies the complex process of allocating funds across different departments. With real-time financial visibility, you can ensure that funds are distributed efficiently to maintain academic excellence, facilities upkeep, and staff satisfaction.
The software's scenario planning feature lets you experiment with various allocation strategies to find the optimal distribution that supports your school's mission.
Strategic planning
Mapping out your school's financial future requires strategic foresight. Our software aids in long-term financial planning by analysing trends, forecasting revenue and expenses, and aligning your financial strategies with your school's vision.
This enables you to make proactive decisions that fuel growth, enhance educational offerings, and elevate your institution's reputation.
Tailored reporting
Monitoring current and forecasted financial position, reporting to the board of trustees and taking any necessary actions is a critical aspect of independent school management.
Our software streamlines that reporting by generating accurate, standardised and customised financial reports that deliver exactly what your school needs. You can have peace of mind knowing that your financial data is organised, auditable, and ready for scrutiny.
Why choose our school budget software for your independent setting?
School specific
Designed for schools, our easy-to-use software makes it easy for non-finance staff as well as school finance professionals to manage budgets.
Secure and cloud-based
100% cloud-based with secure access through Access Workspace, anytime, anywhere.
5-year forecasting
Forecast and plan your school budget for up to 5 years, increasing your visibility so your school can avoid deficits and track spending. Tweak as needed from the ‘snapshot’ view, avoiding manual data analysis and entry.
Scenario planning
Model the financial impact of multiple scenarios such as changes in staff, pay, pupils, income, expenditure and more. This is now even easier with our latest budget forecasting functionality, allowing you to make changes within the ‘snapshot’ view.
Powerful reporting
Produce and view powerful reports, including income and expenditure, monthly staffing profile and pupil reports all in real-time.
Customised reporting
We work with you to ensure you have all the reports you need at your fingertips to communicate your financial health to key stakeholders.
Salary modelling
Understand the impact of your school’s biggest cost to estimate your end of year outturn and plan your school budget. Easily model and monitor changes to staff costs and benefit from automatic payroll calculations.
Income & expenditure
Track, manage and report on all your school’s income and expenditure to ensure your budget stays on track.
Find out how our school budgeting software can help you plan for the future
BRAND NEW! Reforecasting feature now available in the Snapshot view
Revolutionise budget management with direct adjustments, eliminating manual updates
Now you can track your budget year-round, tweaking it as needed - based on expected outcomes, end-of-year projections, and variances, all from one convenient view.
Bid farewell to manual data analysis and entry, and welcome faster decision-making, time savings, and enhanced data quality.
Calculate, plan and model staff costs
Your biggest cost is your staff. Ensuring your numbers are accurate and adaptable is crucial.
- Quick salary calculator
- Automatic payroll calculations
- Staff costs for contracts, pay scales, pensions and allowances
- Payroll reconciliation
Scenario planning and 5-year forecasting with our school budgeting software
Create precise 5-year budgets and forecasts with school-specific settings
Our system calculates staff costs, considering contracts, scales, FTE hours, pensions, and allowances.
Easily model 'What if?' scenarios for staff, pay, pupil numbers, income, or expenses, empowering you to craft effective short, medium, and long-term plans. This saves time with simplified decision-making for short, medium, and long-term plans.
Plus, utilise our latest budget adjustment feature for real-time modifications based on evolving variables.
Generate comprehensive reports and returns
An extensive reporting suite allows you to quickly generate customisable, easy-to-understand reports in a variety of formats, including:
- Income and expenditure
- Monthly staffing profile and pupil reports
- Payroll reconciliation
- A comprehensive budget dashboard
Budgeting resources for independent schools
School financial management software vs budgeting spreadsheets: Which is better for independent schools?
In this article, learn all about financial management software for independent schools, including:
- Pros and cons of using it in place of spreadsheets
- How Access Education Budgets can benefit your independent school
Independent schools: Futureproofing your school budget
In our webinar, Education Software Expert Michelle Sadler introduces Access Education Budgets and its new features for independent schools.
- See an overview of Access Education Budgets, our cost-effective solution that allows you to easily and efficiently manage your finances in the short, medium and long-term
- See the new features specifically built for the needs of independent schools
Introducing Budget Monitoring Snapshots – Budget Adjustments
This press release covers:
- About Access Education Budgets
- Evolution of our snapshot functionality
- New budget adjustments: what is it? How does it benefit you?
- What else is planned for development
Independent schools: A guide to effectively managing your budget in changing times
Download the guide to discover...
- Current educational climate
- Benefits of effective budgeting management
- Actionable steps to set your school up for success
Why consider education budgeting for your independent school?
This fact sheet covers...
- What is budgeting software?
- How can education budgeting software help independent schools?
Planning and forecasting your school budget effectively
This guide takes you through...
- Key stages of the school budget preparation process
- Gives you practical advice for better planning
- Provides hints and tips for more accurate forecasting
Budget deficits - A guide to avoidance and recovery
Our guide looks at:
- The importance of planning and most common budgeting mistakes
- Key tips for budgeting your staffing costs
- Key recruitment tips
- Keeping costs under control and what budgeting tools are available to help
Best practices for school budget planning
The positive impact behind a comprehensive, robust budgeting process can be financial, reputational and educationally beneficial. Schools and trusts that have control over their budgeting process can focus on wider school objectives around teaching, attainment and student wellbeing.
Still have some unanswered questions? Check out our FAQs
What is Budgeting Software for Independent Schools, and how can it benefit my institution?
Our software is a tailored solution designed to streamline financial management for independent schools. It offers features like automated payroll calculations, scenario planning, staff cost analysis, fee billing and more. By using this software, you can efficiently manage your school's finances and make data-driven decisions.
How can the software assist in resource allocation across various departments?
The software simplifies resource allocation by offering real-time financial visibility. It helps distribute funds efficiently for academic excellence, facilities maintenance, and staff compensation.
The scenario planning feature lets you experiment with allocation strategies to find the best fit for your school's goals.
Is the software customisable to our school's unique needs?
Yes, the software can be tailored to fit your school's specific requirements. Our solution includes dedicated time with an experienced consultant who will ensure the system is setup in the way you need it to be. You can customise expense categories, revenue streams, school fees and reporting formats to align with your institution's unique financial structure.
How can we get started with budgeting software for independent schools?
To get started, simply reach out to our team for a demonstration and consultation. We'll walk you through the software's features, discuss your school's specific needs, and guide you through the implementation and training process.
