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Financial management software for LEA-maintained schools
We work closely with local authorities to make school finance simpler and more joined-up, whether you're managing it centrally or supporting schools to make their own choices.
Here’s how we support you:
- LA-wide visibility and reporting tools
- Cloud-based budgeting and finance software that’s easy to roll out across schools
- Support for centralised, decentralised or hybrid buying models
- Templates and automation to reduce admin and manual entry
- Expert guidance from people who know LA finance inside out
Watch the video to find out more.
Why choose our financial management solution for your schools?
School specific & LA compliant
Designed for schools, our software makes it easy for non-finance staff as well as school finance professionals to manage budgets.
Secure & cloud-based
100% cloud-based with secure access through Access Evo, anytime, anywhere.
DFE & ESFA compliant
Supports accounting processes in line with DfE and ESFA requirements.
Powerful, customised reporting
Reports for income and expenditure, monthly staffing and more. Plus, we now have customised reporting to meet individual LA requirements.
Electronic bank reconciliation
Reconciling multiple or single bank accounts can be time-consuming. Upload a CSV statement to auto-match transactions.
Income & expenditure
Track, manage and report on all your school’s income and expenditure to ensure your budget stays on track.
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 & salary modeling
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.
Customised reporting for local education authorities
Custom reports for your LA, delivered faster
We understand that local authorities have unique and specific reporting requirements. But don’t let that hold you back. With our new customised reporting functionality, we leverage an API to create custom reports that meet your LA’s specific needs. No matter what LA you’re part of, we’ve got you covered.
Discover how in this short clip featuring our pre-sales consultant, Jack Webster. For a 6 minute demo video (including a product tour), hit the link below.
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.
Support schools with integrated curriculum & financial planning
Many local authorities are already supporting schools to bring curriculum and budget planning closer together. It’s a simple but powerful way to make sure staffing, timetables and spending decisions all work towards the same goals.
Built into Access Education Budgets, our ICFP module helps schools make confident, informed decisions, and gives you a clearer picture of how resources are being used.
Whether you offer traded services, support maintained schools, or help with school improvement, ICFP is a practical way to encourage better planning and long-term thinking.
Tailored finance solutions for local authorities
The procurement process differs from authority to authority. But don’t worry. Access Education has you covered.
Buying for schools and using the software at local authority level?
If you intend on using the software at local authority level, you need to have confidence in your supplier - confidence that they’ll provide the right tools and training, and confidence that the software is easy to use and effective.
Our team is on hand to ensure your team is best prepared to use our software:
- All the training you need: Our experts will deliver training sessions to give your team the right level of knowledge.
- Ongoing support: Our software is always developing and improving. We’ll provide you with ongoing ‘refresher’ sessions as and when you need them.
- A software solution you will love: Our software has been designed to be both high quality and easy to use. Say goodbye to clunky, dated systems and hello to slick software that you, your team and your schools will love.
Buying on behalf of schools, for schools to use themselves?
If you’re buying on behalf of your schools, the pressure is on. Your schools are relying on you to:
- Select an effective software
- Solve their problems when they occur
Our flexible, ‘train the trainer’ approach empowers your team to become the experts on our solutions.
With Access Education in your corner, you get:
- All the training you need: Our experts will deliver training sessions to give your team the right level of knowledge to support your schools.
- Ongoing support: Our software is always developing and improving. We’ll provide you with ongoing ‘refresher’ sessions as and when you need them.
- A flexible approach: We can work with you on a ‘train the trainer’ basis, or if you prefer, your schools can go direct to Access for support.
Put simply, you can be confident that your schools will be properly implemented, supported, and trained.
Encouraging schools to procure budgets and finance software themselves?
If you’re encouraging schools to procure their own budgets and finance software, they’ll be relying on you for guidance.
Don’t allow them to settle for the dated, clunky solutions that first spring to mind.
Instead, provide them with a solution that they’ll enjoy using on a day-to-day basis.
Trust us, they will thank you for it.
Join the growing number of LEAs switching to Access Education Finance & Budgets
Here’s the simple way to manage your school’s finances
Keeping track of school budgets and finances doesn’t have to be a challenge. With our Financial Management solution, you can bring together Access Education Budgets and Access Education Finance into one intuitive system designed for LA maintained schools. Want to make it even easier?
Our Access Education suite bundles offer the ultimate convenience:
- One platform, one contract, one price - built to simplify school finances.
- Customise your bundle to suit your school’s needs and unlock exclusive discounts based on your contract term.
- Say goodbye to per-pupil pricing with a simple, transparent ‘per school’ rate.
Designed with your school in mind, Access Education helps you save time, reduce complexity, and focus on what matters most - supporting your students.
Why local authorities love our financial management software
Modernising school financial management
Within the first 6-9 months, the first school in Liverpool had gone completely paperless with its financial management. Many more schools are expected to achieve this milestone in the near future.
It has saved me a huge amount of time
Working across multiple schools has never been easier. I can switch between schools instantly and manage everything in one place.
Access Education Budgets has massively improved budgeting efficiency across maintained schools in the borough
The cloud-based software removes any of the risk associated with spreadsheets, staff turnover and doing aspects of budgeting manually.
Latest insights on finance & budgeting software for LAs
Discover valuable resources and updates to support your research and purchasing decisions. Our news and articles offer expert advice, case studies, and industry trends to help you make informed choices for your financial management software.
View all resources
Streamlining local authority reporting with Access Education Finance
Empower your school or LA with tailored finance reporting
A buyer's guide to software for LAs
The benefits of integrated Budgets & Finance software for schools and LAs
Frequently asked questions
What are the benefits of early engagement with providers in software procurement?
Our Education Finance Expert, James Kirby details the benefits of talking to software providers early in the procurement process.
What are the initial steps for schools purchasing Access Finance software?
Our Education Finance Expert, James Kirby explains the initial steps for schools purchasing Access Finance software.
How do we customise the finance software for each school’s needs?
James Kirby, Education Finance Expert at Access, explains how we customise finance software setups for each school, ensuring smooth implementation.
How do we support local authorities?
Education Finance Expert Expert James Kirby shares how Access Education can support both your LA and your schools.
How do we customise software training?
After onboarding, schools receive customised training to effortlessly master the software and reduce workload, with our expert, James Kirby, explaining the process.
Why choose Access Education Finance & Budgets?
At Access, our Education Finance Expert offers extensive finance expertise, making us the top choice for education finance and budgeting solutions.
Solutions created by educators, for educators
At Access Education, we believe in simplicity. Our suite of integrated solutions is designed to seamlessly work together, creating a unified experience that transforms how you manage your school or trust.
- Financial Management: Optimise budgeting and financial management with real-time insights and simplified reporting.
- People Management: Manage recruitment, payroll, and staff well-being effortlessly.
- Parental Engagement: Consolidate communications and administrative tasks into one intuitive system.
- Curriculum & Assessment: Enrich learning with Access GCSEPod and Key Stage 3 resources, offering comprehensive content and insights.
Explore our full educational software solutions
Experience effortless integration, enhanced efficiency, and a unified user experience. Our solutions work together to simplify your processes, so you can focus on what truly matters: delivering exceptional education.
