Academy accounts: a guide for trustees
Your trust must submit its annual accounts to the ESFA by 31 December. Get up to speed on the process so you know what to expect.
Contents
Summary and deadlines
For every financial year (ending on 31 August), academies must produce:
- An annual report
- Financial statements
These are collectively known as ‘the accounts’, and must be audited by an independent, registered auditor.
Deadlines
- 31 December: submit accounts to the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) via the online form
- 31 January: publish accounts on your trust’s website
- 31 May: file accounts with Companies House
As well as the accounts, your trust needs to submit an annual accounts return by 19 January 2023 (for the 2021-22 accounts). Read about this here.
What your trust needs to produce
The information you need to include is made very clear in the Academies Accounts Direction document, which this article is based on. If you have questions on the specific details, we’d recommend you ask your accountants or auditors.
Trustees’ report: covers the governance and management arrangements of the trust, a strategic report and a financial review. It must also
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