Education accountants

We provide specialist accounting, audit and advisory services to the education sector, including standalone academy trusts (SATs), multi-academy trusts (MATs) and independent schools across the North.

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Education accountants and academy finance specialists in the UK

We provide specialist accounting, audit and advisory services to the education sector, including standalone academy trusts (SATs), multi-academy trusts (MATs) and independent schools across the North.

We understand the increasing financial and regulatory pressures education providers face. Our role is to provide clear, practical support that helps you manage compliance, improve financial performance and focus on delivering high-quality education.

Over time, we have seen our relationships with education clients evolve. Schools and trusts are now more commercially aware and proactive, which means they are looking for deeper insight and more value from their finance partner. We help you achieve exactly that.

 

Education organisations need more than just year-end compliance. They need ongoing support to manage budgets, control costs and ensure financial sustainability.

We support SATs, MATs and schools with:

  • Year-end accounts and financial reporting
  • External audit of financial statements and the Academy Accounts Return (AAR)
  • Internal audit
  • Teachers’ pension scheme audits (TPS)
  • Annex G and other grant audits
  • Budget setting and monitoring
  • Cash flow management
  • Cost control and efficiency reviews
  • Tax and VAT compliance
  • Strategic financial planning

Our aim is to give you clarity, confidence and control over your finances throughout the year, not just at year end.

Education sector support services

We provide a full range of services designed specifically for education providers:

  • Year-end accounts preparation
  • Academy trust financial statements
  • Charity SORP compliance
  • DfE reporting support

 

Support for independent schools

We also work with independent schools to improve financial sustainability, strengthen governance and manage compliance.

Our support includes:

  • Financial reporting and budgeting
  • VAT and tax advice
  • Cash flow and cost management
  • Strategic planning and growth support
  • Risk and governance reviews

VAT support for education providers

VAT is a complex area for independent schools, academy trusts.

We provide clear, practical VAT advice to help you stay compliant and recover VAT where possible.

We support with:

  • VAT on academy and school expenditure
  • Partial exemption calculations
  • Trading company VAT issues
  • Capital project VAT planning

A long-term partner for education finance

We build long-term relationships with education providers, supporting you through every stage, from academy conversion to expansion and ongoing financial management.

Whether you need day-to-day support or strategic advice, we help you make confident financial decisions that support educational outcomes.

Speak to our education specialists

If you are looking for experienced education accountants for SATs, MATs or independent schools in the UK, we are here to help.

Contact us today to find out how we can support your organisation with expert financial advice, compliance support and long-term strategic planning.

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Real clients

AV Dawson

AV Dawson are a multimodal freight logistics organisation based in Teesside and have been working with the Clive Owen LLP team for many years. The team discuss some of the services we have provided for the Group, notably accessing grant funding as well as audit services.

It is such a pleasure for us to work with the team at AV Dawson and we would like to thank John Young, Craig Lloyd and Charlie Nettle for taking the time to talk about how we work with them.

AV Dawson see Clive Owen LLP as a ‘safety net and a trusted partner’. Following a recent group restructure, they have exciting times ahead and we are privileged to be part of their journey.

To find out more about how we could support your business, click here to contact our experts.

AV Dawson

Silcoates

Clive Owen LLP has been the ideal professional partner for the school for many years. Chris and his team are helpful, supportive and genuinely interested in our progress and success. With an extensive understanding of the education sector and its ongoing challenges, advice is pragmatic and clearly presented whilst projects are delivered in a timely and collaborative manner and within budget. I cannot recommend the team highly enough.

 

Silcoates School

I have worked with Clive Owen LLP for over five years now and I would highly recommend their services. Historically we used Big 4 advisors and I am pleased we made the move as we very much feel a valued client of the firm.

Currently they act as auditors and assist with tax advisory and compliance work. In addition, we have worked with their grant advisory team in order to secure a grant to assist with our business growth.

Over the years they have developed a good understanding of our business, managing expectations and delivering to agreed timescales. This continued throughout the pandemic where through good communication and team work on both sides, we were able to sign off the 2020 audit in line with previous timescales whilst conducting the audit remotely.

The staff team are professional and flexible. Kevin Shotton is always available to support and provide proactive advice.

We get great service and support from the team at Clive Owen LLP.

Royston

PCE

PCE is headquartered in Teesside and has branches throughout Europe.  As the Group Finance Director, it is vital that I can rely on my advisors to help navigate the compliance and taxation issues that running a European group entails.  The business has used Clive Owen for nearly twenty five years and have worked specifically with Kevin Shotton for the last five.

Kevin and his team perform the full Group audit including our overseas subsidiaries. Further, as well as giving significant input on our UK taxation position, I can and do call on the team’s expertise to help with transfer pricing and other issues associated with running a multinational business.  I genuinely appreciate the time and effort that Kevin puts into the relationship; I know during our meetings that he will have considered issues from a number of different angles meaning he is able to present us with options that we might not otherwise have thought of.

This breadth of knowledge and ownership of the relationship mean that I cannot recommend him highly enough.

Ben Williamson