Cashflow forecasts: guidance for academies

Learn how to manage cashflow as a school business manager (SBM). See what to include in your monthly forecasts to help monitor and report income and expenditure. Download a template from the ISBL and get tips for filling out cashflow templates.

Last reviewed on 6 March 2026
School types: AcademySchool phases: AllRef: 12419
Contents
  1. Trusts must manage cashflow as part of internal control processes
  2. How to prepare cashflow forecasts
  3. Use this template and guidance to help you fill out your forecast

Trusts must manage cashflow as part of internal control processes

Your control framework must "apply discipline in financial management, including managing debtors, creditors, cash flow and monthly bank reconciliations".

This is set out in the Academy Trust Handbook (part 2.7).

How to prepare cashflow forecasts

The advice in this section comes from Martin Owen, a qualified chartered accountant with experience of working with schools.

While you’ll probably use your accounting software package to create forecasts, it’s also possible to create forecasts manually using a programme such as Excel.

To create them manually, you’ll need to have a good idea of your academy's current bank balance, as well as the value and date of significant expenditure and income, such as wages and the academy's general annual grant (GAG).

A monthly cashflow forecast takes the form of a full bank reconciliation, looking at your academy's income and