Assurance tells you where you are; advisory helps you move forward. Through our partnership with EPI Consulting, we offer a dedicated suite of finance and operational advisory services designed to help trusts build financial sustainability, strengthen their operating model and grow with confidence — all delivered by people who have led and managed in the sector.

Because this sits alongside our internal audit work, advice is always grounded in a real understanding of your controls, your context and the regulatory environment you operate in.

• Financial Planning & ICFP: sector-specific medium-term financial planning, benchmarking and Integrated Curriculum and Financial Planning (ICFP) modelling. We help you connect curriculum design, staffing structures and capital plans to a realistic financial strategy — unlocking value for pupils while securing long-term financial sustainability.
• Central Services Development: reviewing and redesigning the central team’s operating model. By streamlining workflows, reducing duplication and strengthening governance, we help you build scalable, joined-up and accountable systems that deliver value, consistency and capacity across every function — ready for sustainable growth.
• Trust Growth & Financial Due Diligence: support across the whole growth lifecycle — from feasibility and strategy through set-up, compliance and governance structuring to planning and launch — including rigorous financial due diligence on mergers and acquisitions, so your board can commit to growth fully informed.

We can also provide School Resource Management Adviser (SRMA)-style reviews and governance advisory support. Whatever the engagement, children remain at the heart of the advice — we act as your critical friend, asking the questions that make sure decisions are right for the pupils in your care today and those you will serve in future.