AU & NZ
SG
MY
US
IE
Access Education Finance
When is it time to make a change to your MAT finance software?
If you’re leading finance across a growing multi-academy trust, you’ll know how complex things can get — multiple schools, different processes, and an endless cycle of reports, reconciliations, and approvals. The challenge isn’t just balancing budgets anymore; it’s making sure every decision is based on accurate, timely data that reflects the whole trust.
But even the most capable teams struggle when their systems can’t keep up. Legacy finance software that worked for one school can quickly become a barrier once you’re managing five, ten, or twenty. What used to be a simple month-end becomes a spreadsheet marathon. Consolidated reporting takes days instead of hours. And while everyone’s doing their best, too much energy goes into workarounds, not strategy.
That’s when it’s worth asking the question: is it time to change your finance system?
The hidden cost of “making do”
Many trusts hold onto their existing finance systems longer than they should — not because they work well, but because change feels risky. It’s easy to convince yourself that a few extra spreadsheets or manual uploads are manageable. But over time, those inefficiencies compound.
The cost isn’t just financial; it’s strategic.
- Decisions get delayed because the data isn’t ready.
- Teams lose time to repetitive, low-value tasks.
- Visibility across schools becomes patchy.
- Year-end and audit prep feel like starting from scratch.
- And while you’re firefighting, growth plans can start to stall.
How growing trusts outgrow legacy systems
As your trust expands, your finance system needs to handle new levels of complexity: multi-site budgeting, DfE-compliant reporting, and consolidated accounts that accurately reflect every school. A system designed for a single school simply isn’t built to cope with that.
You need a platform that can scale with you — one that supports real-time visibility, automation, and consistency across all your academies.
That’s where many trusts start looking for something better.
The reality of switching — structured, supported, and faster than you think
Change doesn’t have to be disruptive. At Access Education, we’ve helped hundreds of schools and trusts switch their finance systems with minimal disruption using our structured implementation approach, known as FlightPath.
It’s a clear, predictable journey:
- You’ll have a dedicated consultant from day one.
- We’ll handle the setup, data migration, and configuration.
- You’ll complete guided training inside the system, at your own pace.
- Most trusts go live within 8 to 12 weeks.
And if you’re still under contract with your current supplier, our Buy Now, Pay Later option means you can start the move early, without paying twice.
“We were nervous about switching mid-year, but the Buy Now, Pay Later option made it simple. We got everything set up, trained the team, and went live before our old contract even ended — without paying twice. It completely took the pressure off.”
— School Business Manager, Liverpool
Progress without disruption
The best time to switch isn’t when you’ve hit breaking point — it’s when you can make the move on your own terms. With the right support, it’s not a leap into the unknown. It’s a managed, step-by-step process that frees your finance team to do what they do best: focus on the numbers that drive decisions, not the admin that slows them down.
Access Education Finance is built around how trusts actually work — with clear visibility, seamless integrations, and the backing of an education-focused support team that stays with you long after go-live.
Switching doesn’t mean disruption. It means progress.
Ready to see how the switch works?
Our free guide, Switching Your Finance System Made Easy, walks you through the full process — from data migration to training — and explains how trusts like yours have moved to Access Education Finance quickly, confidently, and without downtime.
Take control of your finances with Access Education
