School Fund / Private Accounts - guidance on accounting, reporting and audit arrangements New
Most schools are no longer required to submit a basic annual return for each such account to the Chief Internal Auditor. The attached document provides guidance to schools on what is expected in terms of the production of annual final accounts and the audit or independent examination of these.

• Word 2003, 49kb/6 pages, 03/05/2011, reporting_audit_guidance_apr11.doc

Year End Statement of Accounts - Financial Return forms to be completed
An excel workbook containing all the forms necessary for the completion of the Year End Statement of Accounts.

• Excel 2003, 143kb/11 sheets, 15/02/2011, yearend_forms_10-11.xls

Declaration for Year End Statement of Accounts 2010/11

• Excel 2003, 47kb/3 sheets, 15/02/2011, yearend_declaration_mar2011.xls

Consortia Balance Return 31 March 2011

• Excel 2003, 18kb/1 sheet, 15/02/2011, consortia_balances_return_mar2011.xls

Guidance Notes on Accounting Issues Relating to the Treatment of Income & Payments in Consortia and Between Schools

• Word 2003, 52kb/3 pages, 15/02/2011, guidance_notes_issues_relating_income.doc

Approved Budget Return

To be submitted to the School Funding Unit by 31 May 2010

• Solero

Best Value Statement updated

To be retained in school with the Approved Budget Return

• Word 2003, 46kb/2 pages, 04/05/2011,
  best-value-statement_11-12.doc

Help and Contacts for Nat West Bank Pooled Banking Arrangements and Banking Services

• Word2003, 33kb/1 page, 13/09/2005, contacts.doc

Bank Signatory Mandate Forms for Bank Accounts in the Pooled Banking Arrangements

The following forms must be used to register the schools authorised cheque signatories for bank accounts within the Nat West Bank pooled banking arrangements. Please refer to the following guidance notes before completing the forms. Completed forms must be sent to Karen Gibbs, School Funding Team for processing and registration with the bank.

Completion Instructions

• Word2003, 28kb/2 pages, 13/09/2005, bank_completion.doc

Bank Signatory Mandate Form for General Account

• Word2003, 26kb/2 pages, 13/09/2005, bank_form_gen.doc

Bank Signatory Mandate Form for School Fund

• Word2003, 24kb/2 pages, 13/09/2005, bank_form_sch.doc

The following form must be used to register a password for use with the Nat West Bank Liaison Team. This enables school staff who are not authorised signatories to the bank accounts, to raise queries with the Liaison Team. Please refer to the following guidance notes before completing the forms. Completed forms must be sent to Karen Gibbs, School Funding Team for processing and registration with the bank.

Completion Instructions

• Word2003, 25kb/2 pages, 13/09/2005, password_completion.doc

Password Registration Form

• Word2003, 24kb/3 pages, 13/09/2005, password_form.doc

The following form must be used to register a cashing facility which enables nominated members of the school staff, who are not authorised signatories, to withdraw cash from a local Nat West Bank branch. Please refer to the following guidance notes before completing the forms. Completed forms must be sent to Karen Gibbs, School Funding Team for processing and registration with the bank.

Completion Instructions

• Word2003, 25kb/3 pages, 13/09/2005, cashing_completion.doc

Cashing Facility Registration Form

• Word2003, 24kb/2 pages, 13/09/2005, cashing_form.doc

Online Banking Registration Form for Bank  Accounts in the Pooled Banking Arrangements

The following form should be used to register authorised employees for access to the online banking facilities. Please refer to the guidance notes included under Publications on this web page. Completed forms should be sent to Karen Gibbs, School Funding Team.

• Word 2003, 34kb/1 page, 02/03/2007, online_banking_registration.doc

Authorised Signatory Forms for SERCO (formerly ITNET)

For changes to authorised signatories held by Serco (formerly ITNET). Schools must register authorised signatories to enable Serco to process invoices and payroll transactions on behalf of the school.

There are separate forms for Schools with Other Payroll Providers and Academies.

• Word 2003, 395kb/2 pages, 12/11/2009, SERCO_guidelines_2009.doc
• Word 2003, 353kb/1 page, 21/11/2011, serco_sigform_2011.doc

• Word 2003, 352kb/1 page, 21/11/2011, opp_sigform_2011.doc

• Word 2003, 352kb/1 page, 21/11/2011, academy_sigform_2011.doc

The preferred method of submitting a termly financial return is the e-based return using Solero. Instructions can be found on the School Funding Unit Timetables and Deadlines page.

• Solero