Education

Our services to the sector range from the external audits of universities to the due diligence on mergers and acquisitions and governance reviews to the application of SORP and preparation for IFRS conversion.  Our clients include a diverse range of HEIs, schools and colleges, language colleges and training providers as well as government agencies and NDPBs.  Our work crosses both private and public sectors and runs from nursery to post graduate.

Our expertise in education is acknowledged through our membership of several government frameworks (‘approved adviser’ lists) including the Building Schools of the Future framework and the HEFCE framework.

The HE sector is facing new challenges as a result of the difficult economic climate.  Those that want to grow, or even maintain their current level of operations, will encounter some interesting times ahead. The agenda around data quality has focussed minds, research funding is in a new era and there are challenges to achieve strategic objectives on quality and estates with constraints on funded numbers and increasing competition for overseas students.  Access to new finance, ability to grow third stream income and meeting national pay settlements whilst coping with funding geared for efficiency savings are just some of the current issues that mean it's no longer 'business as usual'.  With 20 years of experience in education our team, led by James Aston, provides a full offering of advisory services and contributes to the sector through participation in sector conferences and publications including our own HEI bulletins which are published throughout the year.

We provide a wide range of financial and procurement advisory services across the education sector.  We have advised on successful projects with capital values ranging from £5million to over £100million, and have the strength and depth to support our clients at all project stages from initial feasibility through to deal close and mobilisation.

Our core services in education include:

• Statutory external audit
• Internal audit
• Financial viability reviews
• Corporate tax planning and compliance, including group restructuring and international tax
• Due diligence, especially in connection with merger discussions
• Employee taxes and social security advice
• Risk advisory services, including forensics investigations
• Information Technology strategy, appraisal and testing
• e-Business solutions
• Governor training
• Business case development
• Procurement advisory
• Financial modelling
• Debt advisory
• Investment advice

Clients also have access to regular information on matters of interest in the sector including sector bulletins and seminar programmes.

For more information please contact James Aston or your local BDO advisor.