Finance policy (academies): how to and examples

Use statutory guidance to structure your policy

This should include:

• The Academy Trust Handbook – to develop a policy that covers aspects of finance in a workable order. Cross-reference your procedures with the handbook, and pay particular attention to section 2 of the handbook, which covers your main financial requirements
• The financial management and governance self-assessment – to help you to cover most of the financial requirements you must comply with. Read the list of questions and make sure to consider how you would answer them when writing your policy

Treat the document as a whole-business manual

You should look at your policy as more than just a financial document.

Use your policy to cover areas such as:

• Your school's decision-making structure, outlining the roles of different responsible groups
• Business ethics
• Financial planning and administration
• Ordering and purchasing
• Payroll
• Insurance and risk management
• School security
• Asset management

You could also include your policies on:

• Premises hire 
• Charging and remissions 
• Accounting

It's good practice to do this