The DOWMAT finance team provides professional support to school headteachers and administration staff to enable them to plan and manage their budgets effectively and to ensure compliance with good financial practice.

The team works with each academy to achieve effective financial leadership, controls, management and assurance in governance, ensuring compliance with the Academy Trust Handbook.

DOWMAT academies will receive:

• Strategic finance support from a central finance function
• Support for all financial, back office and business functions
• Provision of Trust financial handbook, policy guidance, and liaison with the DFE
• Bespoke financial packages and finance software licencing, which includes training and support
• Budget monitoring including monthly meetings with the Headteacher and DoWMAT Finance Team including preparation of monthly management accounts
• Procurement, best value and contract negotiation support
• Centralised financial processing of month end procedures and submissions e.g. VAT returns
• Support with the administration of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme and Local Government Pension Scheme including annual certificates and audit administration
• Preparation and Reporting of external audit of annual accounts
• Preparation and submission of the SORP – charity accounts
• Completion and submission of all reports required by DfE
• Ensure compliance to the Academy Trust Handbook and Accounts Direction
• School Administrators forum

Our experienced, highly-qualified central finance team are available to support schools over the phone or via email, and through on-site visits or over Teams.

Whole-trust meetings for Administrators are held regularly, and are a valuable way for SBMs to meet and develop collaborative links with peers from across our DoWMAT academies, gain the latest updates and share information and best practice.