Is your school or kura doing amazing things in education? Nominate them for the New Zealand Education Excellence Awards and get their hard work recognised! These awards, launched by the Ministry of Education, celebrate schools and kura excelling in: Excellence in raising student achievement Excellence in student engagement and attendance Excellence in quality teaching and instruction Excellence in educational leadership Anyone can nominate a school or kura, including students, whānau, staff, or members of the wider community. Nominated schools are then invited to submit a full application with evidence of their achievements. Nominations close Friday 10 April, and applications close Friday 1 May. Winners will receive $20,000, and finalists will be formally recognised at a national awards ceremony in Wellington on Wednesday 24 June. To access the full details on the nomination and application process, assessment criteria and conditions of entry, visit: https://bit.ly/4kT5xGB

School reserves are more than just a safety net - they’re a vital tool to ensure financial stability and fund future initiatives. Managing these reserves effectively requires a long-term perspective and a clear strategy. Why Long-Term Planning Matters: Reserves give schools the flexibility to: Invest in infrastructure or technology upgrades. Smooth out cash flow during low-income periods. Support unexpected expenses or emergencies. Key Investment Strategies: Define Your Goals: Understand what the reserves are for- capital projects, emergency funds, or future programs. The purpose will shape your investment approach. Assess Risk Tolerance: Schools typically need a conservative approach. Consider low-risk options such as term deposits, government bonds, or high-interest savings accounts. Diversify Investments: Even within conservative options, spreading funds across different products can help reduce risk. Monitor and Review: Regularly review reserve balances and investment performance to ensure they align with your goals and the school’s changing needs. Seek Professional Advice: Financial advisors can provide tailored strategies to balance growth and security for school reserves. The Benefits of a Strategic Approach A well-planned investment strategy maximises returns while protecting the school’s financial future. By planning ahead, schools can fund essential programs, weather unexpected financial pressures, and maintain long-term stability. At Accounting for Schools, we help school leaders develop clear, effective strategies for their reserves - ensuring funds are secure, productive, and aligned with your long-term vision.

Good news! Xero has just introduced a fresh new look for credit notes, bringing the design and navigation more in line with the invoicing experience you’re already familiar with. The updated layout makes creating and reviewing credit notes feel more intuitive, with clearer history details, improved feedback when errors occur, and a smoother data‑entry experience overall. For schools, this makes handling refunds for camps or activities, correcting overpayments from parents, or recording supplier credits easier - all while maintaining a strong audit trail. What’s different: Manual Save: Credit notes now need to be manually saved, giving you more control. Protected Paid Credits: Paid credits are protected to ensure your audit trail stays accurate. Detailed History: You can now see more granular detail in the 'History' section, making it easier to track exactly what changes were made and by whom. Improved Error Messages: No more guessing! If something is missing, the new error messages tell you exactly what’s needed so you can approve notes faster. Keyboard Efficiency: For the power users among you, the tabbing and data entry experience is now much more efficient. To explore the updated experience, simply go to Sales > Invoices and select ‘New Credit Note’ . You’ll notice the interface is cleaner, and allocating credits across one or multiple invoices is straightforward.

View our Chalkboard - March 2026: - 2025 Annual Accounts - Important Notices - Banking Reminder - Accessing Higher Interest Rates - Xero Tip of the Month: Save Time With Xero’s New Credit Note Design - Long-Term Investment Strategies for School Reserves - Looking ahead  https://public2.bomamarketing.com/email/n9Bb

Schools across New Zealand face common financial pressures, and even experienced Boards and Principals can feel stretched when it comes to managing them. Some of the challenges we often see include: - Staffing costs gradually exceeding budget - Tagged funding not clearly tracked or reported - Cashflow not monitored regularly - Board reports that are accurate but hard to interpret These issues are completely normal, and with the right systems and support, they are manageable. At Accounting For Schools, we specialise in helping Boards and school leaders gain clear, confident insight into their finances so schools can focus on what matters most, their students. Want to see how we can help your school stay on top of finances? Get in touch to learn more.

Every dollar counts when it comes to supporting your school and providing the best possible environment for your students and staff. Fundraisers can be an excellent way to generate additional funds for needs that your budget may not cover, from special projects and extracurricular activities to facility improvements. The key to success is planning carefully and thinking strategically so your efforts have the greatest possible impact. Here are some quick tips to spark ideas: Set clear goals - know what you’re raising money for and communicate it clearly. Leverage your community - parents, whānau, and local businesses often have skills and connections that can help. Pick the right fundraiser - from chocolate and wrapping paper sales to gala events or sponsorship campaigns. Keep it meaningful - fundraisers can also teach teamwork, planning, and other valuable skills to students. For a full guide with fundraising ideas, tips, and planning advice, check out our School Revenue Handbook (pages 4-6). Download it for free from our Resources Hub and get your next fundraiser off to a flying start.

Financial risk is an unavoidable part of running any school. Unexpected expenses, changes in funding, or compliance challenges can have a significant impact if not identified and managed early. Proactively managing these risks is key to protecting your school’s financial sustainability and ensuring your resources remain focused on students’ learning and wellbeing. The following key areas outline practical steps schools can take to identify, manage, and reduce financial risk in a structured and effective way. 1. Identify Key Financial Risks: Understanding where your school may be exposed is the first step. Common risks include: Dependence on a single or limited funding source Budget overruns or inaccurate forecasting Cashflow pressures during the year Fraud, error, or misuse of funds Non-compliance with reporting or audit requirements Regular review by the Board and finance team helps ensure potential issues are identified early. 2. Budgeting and Forecasting: A realistic, well-planned budget is one of the most effective tools for managing financial risk. Reviewing actual results against your budget throughout the year highlights discrepancies early, allowing you to take corrective action before problems escalate. Scenario planning, such as modelling the impact of reduced funding or unexpected costs, can help you prepare for uncertainty. 3. Cashflow Management and Reserves: Monitoring cashflow ensures that you can meet your obligations at all times. Maintaining adequate reserves provides a buffer against unexpected costs or delays in funding, helping your school operate smoothly even during challenging periods. 4. Internal Controls: Strong internal controls reduce the risk of error, fraud, and mismanagement. Key practices include: Clear delegation of financial authority Separation of duties for approvals and payments Regular reconciliation and review processes Transparent reporting to the Board Documented policies and procedures also help maintain consistency, particularly during staff changes. 5. Compliance and Reporting: Staying up to date with Ministry requirements, audit obligations, and other regulatory changes is essential. Accurate and timely reporting not only ensures compliance but also supports informed decision-making by your Board. 6. Planning for Uncertainty: Embedding risk awareness into everyday financial practices prepares you for unexpected events. Scenario planning, regular review of policies, and maintaining contingency funds all help reduce surprises and enable confident decision-making. Managing financial risk is a core part of good school governance. By identifying risks early, maintaining strong controls, and planning for uncertainty, you can protect your school’s financial position and continue focusing on providing high-quality education for your students.

View our Chalkboard - February 2026: - 2025 Annual Accounts - Important Notices - 2025 Notional Lease Figures Now Available - Xero Tip of the Month: Review Your Repeating Bills - Managing Risk in School Finances: Protecting Your School’s Future - Looking ahead https://public2.bomamarketing.com/email/ZLV6