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.

updated on 6 June 2023
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School types: Academy · School phases: All
Ref: 3931
Contents
  1. Summary and deadlines
  2. What your trust needs to produce
  3. Requirements from 2022-23 onwards
  4. Model accounts and examples
  5. Who should prepare the draft accounts?  
  6. The process from drafting the accounts to approving them

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.

The audited accounts will also be received by the members of the trust at the AGM.

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. For 2022-23, the accounts return will go live from 12 September 2023. The deadline to submit is 30 January 2024. 

The information you need to include is set out in the Academies Accounts Direction 2022 to 2023 document, which this article is based on. If you have questions on the specific details, we’d recommend you ask your accountants

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