External Audit Services

We are tendering for external audit services for the LEARNERs' Trust. The LEARNERs' Trust is a medium to large Trust with eighteen open schools across Rotherham, Derbyshire and Derby.

Our requirements are:

We are seeking to procure a service that provides:

• External Audit Services

The Trust requirements are as follows:

• Preparation of the LEARNERs' Trust Annual Report and Accounts;

• Expressing an opinion of the above Financial Statements;

• Accounts Assurance Report on Regularity as required by the ESFA;

• Accounts Assurance Report on the Annual Accounts Return as required by the ESFA;

• Attendance at the Trust Board of Directors meeting at which the Statutory Accounts are scrutinised;

• Attendance at the appropriate Leadership & Management committee meetings to present the audit plan;

• Audit of the Teachers' Pension Scheme End of Year Certificate;

• Preparation and submission of the Academies Accounts return;

• A working knowledge of the Access financial management system;

• Other ad hoc services as required;

• Taxation advice as required;

• Accountancy advice as required;

• VAT advice as required.

All tenders should specifically identify:

• A total annual cost proposal;

• A clear indication of services provided as part of the fee;

• The variable costs for the proposal, including charge per new school/ ad-hoc advice, if applicable;

• Any inflationary or other provisions for periodic increase in fees;

• Fees chargeable for additional services that are not included in as part of the annual cost proposal;

• Your firms approach ti client management and how you offer ongoing support;

• Evidence of working with Multi Academy Trusts and/ or charitable trusts;

• Evidence of working with Access Finance software;

• Example management letter;

• Statistics on client retention and recruitment rates;

• Biographies of staff the Trust will be working with, listing expertise and experience;

• The reports available to the Trust;

• Two references from organisations that you have worked with within the educational sector;

• Compliance measures for meeting the requirements of the Data Protection Act;

• A brief description of your business continuity plan that mitigate against an interrupted service should this arise;

• Confirmation that you will carry out code of conduct of the professional body;

• Details of any additional measurable benefits you can provide in terms of quality and cost which impact on social value indicators;

• Explanation of training/ events provided to clients. Are these FOC?

• What "added value" you can offer LEARNERs' Trust

All tenderers must be complete and submitted to COO@learnerstrust.org by 23.59 on the 29th March 2023.