Academies accounts return - for trusts using automation
The Academies accounts return (AR ) 2021/22 is now in read-only mode. The AR for 2022/23 will go live on Tuesday 12 September 2023 with a submission deadline of Tuesday 30 January 2024.
AR and financial statements login
Trust will also be able to run their draft financial statements for 2022/23, using automated data, from September 2023.
Introduction to the chart of accounts
The academies chart of accounts (CoA) is the Department for Education’s (DfE’s) standard for financial data that underpins the academies accounts return and budget forecast returns.
Introduction to automation
Using the academies CoA, the department has developed automation technology to help reduce the burden of submitting your financial information. This technology enables you to electronically submit your trial balance data directly from your financial management software (FMS) to the department, where it will then be used to pre-populate up to 80% of your accounts return (AR ).
Introduction to the draft trust financial statements
Trusts who send automated data to populate the accounts return, may also now use this data to produce draft trust financial statements for the trust. The template is now available to view on this page and trusts will able to populate it, using the automation functionality, from early September.
For more information, please click the following link to the Quick start guide to automating the accounts return and financial statements for more information.
Webinars, Workshops and Q&A sessions:
Webinar: Introduction to the academies chart of accounts and automation
Please join our webinars for an introduction to the chart of accounts and automation to see how it could benefit your trust.
To join, select the link at the time of the session.
You can also dial into these sessions using:
020 3321 5238 (conference ID: 191 510 554#)
We will be delivering a Power Hour on Friday 15 September 2023 10.00am. There will be a focus on using the automation functionality for complete the accounts return 2022/23.
A webinar is available below which introduces the academies chart of account and automation of the accounts return.
Academies chart of account and automation webinar .
Workshop: Academies chart of accounts mapping review
This workshop is intended to promote best practice of using CoA account codes to maximise efficiency and provide quality data. The session is aimed at:
Academy trusts who are currently using the CoA
Academy trusts who are in the process of adopting and mapping to the CoA
Academy trusts who are thinking of adopted the CoA in the near future
To join, select the link at the time of the session.
You can also dial into these sessions using:
020 3321 5238 (conference ID: 952 701 97#)
Q&A dial-in sessions: Academies chart of accounts and automation
We host monthly dial-in sessions in MS Teams for people to ask questions about the chart of accounts and automation.
To join, select the link at the time of the session.
You can also dial into these sessions using:
020 3321 5238 (conference ID: 332 127 134#)
Webinar: CoA technical update 2023/24
These sessions have now finished, but there is a recorded version of the webinar, The presentation slides can also be sent out on request.
Academies CoA 2023/24 technical update
This page includes:
a guide for academy trusts about adopting the academies chart of accounts, which includes a summary of updates since the previous version released in May 2022
two academies chart of accounts spreadsheets for financial years 2022-23 and 2023-24, please refer to the ‘information’ worksheet to find out more about the structure of the chart of accounts
a spreadsheet providing guidance for each income and expenditure account code within the academies chart of accounts
a quick start guide to automating the academies accounts return
a user guide for automating the academies accounts return
the draft trust financial statements statement template
Further enquiries
Chart of accounts enquiries
If you have further questions about the chart of accounts, please contact the DfE using the online enquiry form . Please put “Academies chart of accounts” at the top of your enquiry.
Automation enquiries
If you have further questions about automation, please contact us using the online enquiry form . Please put “Automation/API” at the top of your enquiry.