# Finance and Interim Leadership

## Capacity and control from in-school people

![Image](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/svgs/underline-long-darkblue.svg)

###### School finance support explicitly designed for MATs, delivered by leaders who’ve run trust finances before. We steady the ship and deliver returns without adding to your workload.

[BOOK A CONSULTATION](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/contact-us)

![Female manager assisting colleagues during a meeting](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/employment-law-and-hr-advisory/education-specific-hr-support-for-school-leaders.webp)

### Clear forecasts and a path to steady function

###### Does this sound familiar?

![Exclamation mark in blue](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/svgs/exclamation2.svg)### Your finance leader has moved on, or you’ve got a short-term gap you need to fill.

![Exclamation mark in teal](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/svgs/exclamation5.svg)### Returns deadlines are looming (BFR/AARs, Annex G, grant returns, etc.) and the team is stretched.

![Exclamation mark in pink](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/svgs/exclamation3.svg)### Month-end slips; forecasting confidence is low; the board wants clearer numbers.

![Exclamation mark in yellow](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/svgs/exclamation4.svg)### You’re changing systems/processes and can’t afford downtime.

![Two female teachers walking through a school hallway while talking happily and holding paper folders](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/employment-law-and-hr-advisory/clarity-and-capacity.webp)

We specialise in the education sector, working with academies like yours, so we integrate quickly, protect compliance, and give leaders the headspace to lead. We also have system knowledge; we know all of the major systems used across schools, including IMP, Iris, Sage, Access, Xero, etc.

## What you get from us

### Immediate capacity

![Image](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/svgs/underline-long-yellow.svg)

An experienced finance leader embedded quickly.

### Board-ready reporting

![Image](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/svgs/underline-long-pink.svg)

Clear management accounts, cash flow, and a forecast you can defend.

### Returns delivered

![Image](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/svgs/underline-long-teal.svg)

BFR and other annual returns handled on time and in line with the Academy Trust Handbook.

### Rhythms that replace firefighting

![Image](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/svgs/underline-long-yellow.svg)

Month-end timetable, responsibilities, and a simple control framework.

### ICFP built in

![Image](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/svgs/underline-long-teal.svg)

Budget and staffing decisions supported by an integrated curriculum and financial planning.

### Systems fluency

![Image](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/svgs/underline-long-pink.svg)

Experience with major education finance systems, including PS Financials, Access, and IMP (we adapt quickly to your setup).

### Audit-ready

![Image](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/svgs/underline-long-pink.svg)

Pragmatic audit prep and coordination, supported by strong working relationships with sector auditors.

### CFO/finance team development

![Image](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/svgs/underline-long-pink.svg)

Training for finance staff, headteachers, and budget holders; mentoring for new/in-post CFOs.

![Speech marks in teal](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/svgs/quote-marks.svg)

## “What makes Keystone invaluable to us is their deep understanding of the educational landscape.”

**MATTHEW BROOKES, DIRECTOR OF PRIMARIES, SYMPHONY LEARNING TRUST**

![Young female teacher answering a pupils question during class](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/employment-law-and-hr-advisory/pragmatic-hr-advice-for-schools.webp)

## Ways we can help

(choose one or combine)

##### Interim CFO/FD cover

Leadership to stabilise, set direction, and keep the board confident.

##### Interim Finance Manager / Financial Controller

Hands-on delivery to keep month-end returns and reconciliations on track.

##### Budgeting & forecasting sprint

Clarity on in-year position and next year’s plan, with ICFP insights to support decisions.

##### Returns and compliance package

BFR, audit prep and year-end coordination, completed without drama.

##### Month-end and reporting reset

Create a reliable timetable and robust templates and review cadence (committee-ready packs, clear KPIs).

##### Systems and process change

Practical migration and optimisation (PS Financials, Access, IMP, etc.), with low disruption.

##### Outsourced finance function

Complete operational coverage from transactional processing to month-end, freeing your team for strategic work.

##### Transactional finance and management accounts

Backbone support from Finance Officer to Director level, accurate reporting that keeps day-to-day operations running smoothly.

##### Audit preparation and BFR

Streamlined budgeting, trust-wide forecasting, and board-ready assurance ahead of external audit.

##### Recruitment and onboarding support

Help to scope, recruit, and onboard your next CFO/finance leaders; mentoring to set them up for success.

##### Mentoring and development (CFOs/FDs/SBMs)

On-hand guidance from seasoned MAT finance leaders to lift confidence and capability in-house. Engagements are time-bound secondments or scoped projects with fixed outcomes and clear milestones, not a retainer.

##### Recruitment and onboarding support

Help to scope, recruit, and onboard your next CFO/finance leaders; mentoring to set them up for success.

## Need help **choosing tools?**

###### We’ll help you assess HR systems for schools, shortlist HR software for schools,

and ensure that any education HR software actually gets adopted.

[FIND OUT MORE](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/contact-us)

![Image](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/svgs/underline-long-yellow.svg)

![Female teacher sat on a desk, reading from a book](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/employment-law-and-hr-advisory/school-hr-support-you-can-trust.webp)

![Group of primary school students during a lesson](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/employment-law-and-hr-advisory/actionable-educational-hr-support.webp)

### Why trusts choose Keystone Knowledge

### We’re your people

![Image](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/svgs/underline-long-yellow.svg)

We know MAT governance, committee cycles, and the Academy Trust Handbook.

### In-school experience

![Image](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/svgs/underline-long-pink.svg)

Delivered by leaders who’ve worked in academies themselves.

### Board-ready outputs

![Image](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/svgs/underline-long-teal.svg)

Numbers that can be used with confidence in meetings, decisions that move forward.

### Capacity that leaves capability

![Image](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/svgs/underline-long-teal.svg)

You stay strong after we step out.

### Get finance and

interim support quickly

### 1

### Quick 15-minute (or as long as you need), no-obligation consultation

Goals, constraints, and deadlines (returns, cash, board dates).

### 2

### Proposal and planning

Written scope, price, timeline, named lead, and agreed start date.

### 3

### Delivery with board-ready numbers

On-site/remote with minimal disruption; month-end and returns on time; clear actions, owners, and dates, plus a clean handover.

### FAQ’s

In short, it can be. We can be flexible to the needs of your trust, so whatever support you're looking for, we can accommodate.

We can begin discovery quickly; interim cover can start as soon as agreed.

Yes. We can handle BFR and other annual returns.

We know all of the major systems used across schools, including IMP, Iris, Sage, Access, PSF, Xero, etc., and we adapt to your setup quickly.

You receive a documented process, templates, and a trained team, ensuring that the improvements are sustained.

![Q&A in speech bubbles](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/svgs/qanda.svg)

![Two teachers in a happy meeting](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/images/v3/employment-law-and-hr-advisory/school-hr-support-faqs.webp)

## Ready to get a grip on finance?

Put experienced leaders in your corner.
Steady the ship, deliver the essentials, and build financial confidence that lasts.

[BOOK A QUICK CALL](https://www.keystoneknowledge.com/contact-us)