Manchester accountants find business in academy schools

Manchester accountancy outfit, UHY Hacker Young, is capitalising on the emerging academy schools market.

The business has doubled the number of academy school clients in less than a year and now acts for more than 60 academies - around 3% of the UK total.

Most recently the firm has been appointed to guide Webster Primary School through the financial process of converting to academy status.

Marjorie Bell said: “Our governing body took the decision last year, following much consultation, to convert to an academy in order to help protect the school’s individual nature as well as its ethos of diversity and inclusion.

“Independence from the local authority can be a complicated and lengthy process and, during that process, strong financial foundations must be built for the future. It was imperative we worked with a firm with both the experience and expertise to help us ensure a secure financial future.”

Mark Robertson, partner at UHY Hacker Young Manchester, said: “Our particular expertise in academy schools has seen us double the amount of those we work with, both regionally and nationally, within a year.

“It is always an honour to be appointed by a school to offer financial advice during and after a conversion, one of the most significant changes it will ever make.”