• Governance
  • Governance Health Check & Support
  • Strategic / Business Planning
  • Value for Money
  • Performance Management
  • Change Management
• Audit
  • Internal Audit
  • External Audit of Public Bodies
  • Compliance
  • Outsourcing
    • Whistleblowing Service
    • Risk Management
    • IT Security and Monitoring
  • Grant Certification & Project Assurance
• IT
  • IT Governance
  • IT Infrastructure
  • Business Systems
  • IT Audit
• Sectors
  • Public Sector
  • Third Sector
    • Muslim Faith Sector
  • GP Consortiums
  • Education Sector
  • Industry

Sectors

• Public Sector
• Third Sector
• Muslim Faith Sector
• GP Consortiums
• Education Sector
• Industry

"We provide governance advisory and internal audit services to Universities, Colleges and Academies"

College and Higher Education

Our services to the Education sector are led by our Director Nasir Rafiq who has extensive experience of managing financial and regulatory audits of FE colleges and universities.

We understand the internal control frame work relating to Colleges and Higher Education sector and therefore have developed a cost-effective and bespoke internal audit and governance advisory service.

Our internal audit service to Colleges and Higher Education bodies covers all aspects, including governance, financial systems, student numbers, franchise partnerships and IT systems.

Academies

The new education secretary, Michael Gove introduced legislation to let schools deemed outstanding by inspectors to become Academies. Since this announcement, More than 1,500 schools have expressed interest in becoming academies.

The new Academy Status will give schools greater freedom and flexibility over how they are run taking them out of Local Authority control. They will have the freedom to have a wide range of sponsors including universities, colleges, the business community, charities and faith communities.

The new independent status with wide ranging stakeholder relationship will increase the burden on those charged with governance to ensure good governance is achieved and demonstrated.

Our Approach

We work closely with independent schools providing bespoke solutions on good governance and financial control. In addition to the standard audit and accountancy services provided by Haines Watts offices within the Haines Watts Group, we can provide your Academy with the following services:

• Detailed gap analysis of your existing governance arrangements against good practice and the Academy Principals Handbook leading to a bespoke action plan to address identified weaknesses, and


• Advice and practical help on improving underlying management information systems to support trustee decision making, performance management and adherence to the Academies Financial Handbook.