Sectors
Education
Strategic financial leadership and specialist advisory services to help Multi-Academy Trusts and educational institutions navigate regulatory complexity and achieve sustainable growth.
Specialist financial advice for Academy Trusts, Colleges and Independent Schools
The financial landscape for education has reached a critical juncture. As a Chief Financial Officer or Accounting Officer, you are steering an organisation through a period of intense regulatory evolution and fiscal pressure. Beyond the core mission of educational excellence, you must now navigate the 'musts' of the Academy Trust Handbook, manage the complexities of GAG pooling, and ensure institutional resilience against shifting pupil demographics and inflationary costs.
At Armstrong Watson, we act as a strategic partner to Multi-Academy Trusts and the wider education sector. We provide the technical depth required to ensure flawless compliance while offering the foresight needed to scale your trust or school group sustainably. Whether you are leading a growing MAT or an independent school assessing its future viability, our specialist team provides the clarity and data-led insight you need to move from reactive budgeting to proactive financial leadership.
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What our clients say
We're committed to delivering the best client experience. Hear from those who have worked with us and discover how we've helped them achieve their goals.
Armstrong & Watson are a valued and trusted partner to Trafford & Stockport college Group. Their expertise in the FE sector is reassuring when it comes to their audit work for us. Karen, Lucy and their teams deliver a high standard of assurance for our governors and leadership team.
The professional manner in which they plan and conduct our year-end audit during what is already a very busy time for the college and our finance department, helps us enormously. They are efficient and clear in what they ask our internal teams to deliver which lets us balance the needs of the audit and the start of term. Their staff are always approachable and fast to respond with any queries. They go above and beyond to ensure we have a smooth close of year.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to any organisation.
Trafford College
We have enjoyed working with the Armstrong Watson team throughout the audit and have found the experience extremely positive. We were impressed by the efficiency of the process, how well they’ve communicated with us and how timelines have been adhered to — the efforts and support of the Armstrong Watson team have been greatly appreciated.
Jo Robinson
CEO, Yorkshire Collaborative Academy Trust
We brought Armstrong Watson in as auditors and tax advisors and have found them to be excellent. The teams are very professional, knowledgeable and approachable particularly where we have been conducting some complex transactions where advice on accounting and tax were required. A common sense approach to things has been most welcome and I have no hesitation in recommending them.
Stuart Slorach
Vice Principal (Resources), The Northern School of Art
When we set out to find a new audit provider in 2017, we were looking for a company that would not only get to know our organisation well but become a true partner in the process. Throughout the discussion and tender process, the team at Armstrong Watson really sought to understand our needs and to look at how our Trust operated. At all stages the quality of communication was first class. It made it a very simple choice to select them for a 3-year contract.
Armstrong Watson delivered a comprehensive audit service with dedicated and consistent staff. They worked closely to design audit schedules that didn’t disturb the day-to-day operation of the Trust and were able to provide additional service for DfE grant audits and VAT work. Each audit cycle was completed on schedule and had very clear outcomes. There was always a detailed report that the Trust Board could easily review and constructive actions that the Trust executive could lead on.
Our partnership with Armstrong Watson allowed us to have confidence in the audit process, clarity in what we needed to do next to further improve and a strong collegiate working relationship built on consistency and professionalism.
Peter Ashworth
CEO Cidari MAT
We invited Armstrong Watson to submit a bid for our auditor tender. They were one of the few organisations who made the effort to visit us before submitting their bid. They were interested in getting to know us, understand our requirements and our strategic direction. Their written documentation was comprehensive and their presentation to the tender review panel was very professional We were unanimous in our decision to appoint Armstrong Watson.
The first year of their audit was conducted in a thorough and effective manner, working well with our Finance staff. Their presentations to Trustees and Annual General Meeting were well received by our Trustees and Members.
All of the Armstrong Watson team who we have worked with are very knowledgeable, approachable, supportive and good to work with. I have no hesitation in recommending their services.
Stephen Lester MBE
Chief Operating Officer, Changing Lives Learning Trust (previously West Lakes Multi Academy Trust)
We appointed Armstrong Watson to assist with the production of our Year End Accounts and Annual Accounts return to the ESFA and from the first meeting to the completion of the returns, we were impressed by the professional manner in which they dealt with us as a client. The team's extensive understanding of the ESFA Accounts Direction and Academies Financial Handbook ensured that the work completed was to a very high standard and they were able to complete the task in hand in a timely manner. Their ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines ensured that the returns were available when needed.
With the good understanding of the sector, together with attention to detail and professionalism of their staff, we would be happy to recommend Armstrong Watson as a provider of accountancy services for a Multi Academy Trust and other educational setting
Delta Academies Trust
