Choosing a trust's financial management system (FMS)
This page helps you compare different FMS providers so your academy trust is able to choose a provider who will enable you to automate your financial returns to DfE.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
Choosing the right FMS software has the potential to greatly improve efficiencies in a trusts financial administration processes and financial reporting. This FMS comparison matrix helps you compare systems and choose the right one for you.
This matrix is provided to help schools compare FMS providers when they are considering upgrading their existing software or procuring new software.
It is not designed to provide all the information required by schools when making this decision but clarify key features of known FMS providers in the academy trust sector and speed up the time taken to narrow down the options to a provider shortlist.
If you would like to get in touch with us about the matrix, please contact us using the online enquiry form. Please enter “Automation/API” at the top of your enquiry.
Last updated
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We have updated the FMS comparison matrix, and have also updated links within the Guide to the FMS comparison matrix.
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Updated 'FMS comparison matrix '.
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Updated 'FMS comparison matrix' to include FMS providers accounts return date for 2022 to 2023.
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New FMS supplier added to the FMS supplier matrix.
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FMS comparison matrix workbook updated, please see 'Change log' tab for details.
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FMS comparison matrix workbook updated, please see 'Change log' tab for details.
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FMS comparison matrix workbook updated, please see 'Change log' tab for these details.
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First published.
Update history
2026-01-16 12:58
Updated ‘FMS comparison matrix’ with latest version.
2025-09-15 15:37
Replaced the ‘Comparison matrix V3.0.0’ with ‘Comparison matrix V4.0.0’, and carried out other updates for 2025 to 2026.
2024-08-12 11:59
We’ve included a new link to the ‘Customer help portal’ and added a new FMS provider support helpdesk link. We’ve added a link to ‘Transforming Public Procurement’ in section 5 of the ‘Guide to the FMS comparison matrix’ to help trusts make spending decisions.
2024-06-18 10:13
The FMS comparison matrix has been updated to remove a provider ‘Dream’, add the new ‘Software cloud solution’ criteria, add the new ‘Cloud definitions’ tab and update the FMS provider progress tab with the new column ‘Number of Trusts per FMS supplier 2022/23’.
2024-04-18 12:22
We have updated the FMS comparison matrix, and have also updated links within the Guide to the FMS comparison matrix.
2024-04-04 14:28
Updated ‘FMS comparison matrix ‘.
2024-03-13 15:33
Updated ‘FMS comparison matrix’ to include FMS providers accounts return date for 2022 to 2023.
2024-02-22 13:10
New FMS supplier added to the FMS supplier matrix.
2023-12-20 10:51
FMS comparison matrix workbook updated, please see ‘Change log’ tab for details.
2023-12-13 11:03
FMS comparison matrix workbook updated, please see ‘Change log’ tab for details.
2023-11-30 10:03
FMS comparison matrix workbook updated, please see ‘Change log’ tab for these details.
2023-11-21 13:42
First published.