Change description : 2023-09-05 13:57:00: The accounts return webpage has been updated with the latest pension example statements and other associated documentation. [Guidance and regulation]
toset out the differences between the financial statements prepared by trusts in accordance with the Academies Accounts Direction (AAD) and the information required for thethe AR
New trusts that open their first academies at any point during the period from 1 September 20222023 to 31 August 20232024 will be expected to complete an AR for the academic year 2022/23.2023/24.
New Thistrusts willneed beto availableregister for an IDAMS account to ensure they can access the accounts return online live form later in Autumnthe 2023.year.
Closed trust and academies transfers
Academy trusts that ceased operating or whose academies all transferred to a new trust between 1 September 20222023 and 31 August 2023,2024, must submit a finalfinal AR. We will contact these trusts directly.
1st September 20222023 transfers
For trusts that ceased operating on 31 August 20222023 and all academies transferred to another trust on 1 September 2022,2023, we must be able to identify the transferring balances to the receiving academy trust. This requires the closing trust to complete a 1-day stand-alonestand-alone AR for for1 September 2022,2023, as if the trust were operational on that day. This 1-day1-day AR should shouldbe submitted via thethe AR2022/23 ARreturnExcel workbook by 1930 January 2023.2024.
In-year closures 2022/232023/24
Trusts that cease to be operational at any other time in the year must also complete a closingclosing AR. Again, this should be prepared using thethe AR2022/23 Excel ARExcelworkbook until such time that thethe AR2023/24 online ARonlineform is available in the Autumn.Autumn 2024. From that point on, all returns must be submitted online.
Your auditors must sign off the closingclosing AR and andit must reflect all of the transferring/closing balance of the trust. This can be completed whilst preparing the final financial statements for the trust.
Detailed guidance for academy trusts and auditors on preparing and auditing academy trusts’ annual financial statements can be found on the Academies Accounts Direction GOV.UK page.
AR Excel workbook
The AR Excel workbook, for accounting year 2021/22,2022/23, iswill be available to help users prepare their AR, from the week commencing 11 September. Once published it can also be used for closed and transferred trusts to complete their accounts return. However, in the meantime please refer to the below, accounting period 2021/22, for general format and layout information.