Financial Support

Core Service

This service is part of an annual service level agreement which offers schools all of the following at an annual cost which will assist when budget planning and provides excellent value for money: Telephone helpline – This service is available from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday during term time, with a reduced level of service in school holidays which will be notified in advance. Please note voice mail service may operate during certain times. However, every effort will be made to return any voice mail messages before the end of that working day.

General, basic support is available via email and telephone, including:

  • Sims-FMS Accounting System advice
  • Budgeting issues
  • Monitoring and reporting issues
  • Accountancy Procedures
  • Control Procedures
  • Extended use of school
  • Reconciliation and closure of accounts
  • Government Initiatives and policies
  • Assistance, advice and resolution of accounting queries/problems

For more complex issues, a site visit may be deemed more appropriate and this will be arranged with the school bursar at a time which is convenient to both the school and LBS Ltd.

Excel Spread sheets/Budgeting Tool

A 3 year budget building tool including salary calculations will be provided as part of the service – this tool will be in CFR format which can be used to complete the Borough Councils budget plan.

Assistance with design or use of excel spread sheets will be available on request.

School Business Manager/Bursar Training

An invitation will be sent to attend three training events/workshops per year dealing with current issues and sharing best practice. (These meetings are scheduled one per term).

Conference Day for School Business Manager

This annual event is designed to offer School Business Managers the opportunity to receive training and have time for valuable Networking with other School Business Managers.

New School Business Manager/Bursar Training

There will be on-going support via the helpdesk after the initial New Bursar Induction Programme (see additional services). Additional support for Budget Building and Year End will be available in the first year; this support may consist of off-site training if other schools have new staff or on-site training and will be arranged with the school/s.

Other Services