A handbook issued by ESFA that describes financial requirements for academy trusts.

Documents

Academies Financial Handbook 2019

PDF, 1.12MB, 66 pages

Academies Financial Handbook 2018

PDF, 1.11MB, 56 pages

Details

The Academies Financial Handbook sets out the financial management, control and reporting requirements that apply to all academy trusts. It describes a financial framework for trusts that focuses on principles rather than detailed guidance and reflects their accountability to Parliament and to the public.

Compliance with the handbook is a condition of each trust’s funding agreement.

Academies Financial Handbook 2019

The 2019 edition of the handbook is effective from 1 September 2019. We’ve summarised the main changes on page 9.

Academies Financial Handbook 2018

Academy trusts completing financial statements for the period ending 31 August 2019 should refer to the 2018 edition of the handbook.

Letters to academy trust accounting officers

You can read letters to academy trust accounting officers from the accounting officer of the Education and Skills Funding Agency. The letters highlight key responsibilities of academy trust accounting officers on financial management and governance. You should read these letters as well as the Academies Financial Handbook.

Related party transactions

Academy trusts declaring or seeking approval for related party transactions should refer to related party transactions: information for academy trusts.

Severance and other payments

Severance and other payments

The role of the accounting officer

This video features Gareth Dawkins who sadly passed away in October 2016. Gareth’s family has given permission for the video to continue to be available to help other schools and academies.

The role of the accounting officer

Published 1 July 2016
Last updated 27 June 2019 + show all updates

  1. Updated to add the 2019 edition of the Academies Financial Handbook.
  2. Updated to add the 2018 edition of the Academies Financial Handbook
  3. Updated with the 2017 edition of the Academies Financial Handbook.
  4. EFA has updated this page to replace the links to video guides, which can now be watched on this page.
  5. First published.