Our Background

Specialist Financial Solutions has established a bespoke specialist team to work with our Education and Training sector clients as a result of the numerous changes in compliance requirements and practices made by The ESFA in recent years.

Managing Director, Andy Jewitt, heads up all work in the sector and has extensive experience of many aspects of training organizations, not just in the provision of ‘traditional’ accountancy services, but in the direct involvement in both operational and financial aspects of ESFA funded training providers.

ESFA Financial Assurance

Andy has, over the last few years, partnered with many lead providers, both regionally and nationally, who required an assurance report in respect of their subcontracted provision and has also engaged with lead providers on a consultancy basis in respect of their systems and controls ahead of ESFA financial assurance reviews. Furthermore, our other director, Jennifer Jewitt, sits on a working party that gives feedback to the ESFA on the conduct, expectations and financial reports that the ESFA requires, whilst Andy sits as lead advisor on the Advisory Board a long established local Training Organisation supporting on Ofsted, ESFA and its future strategic planning.

Put simply, we believe that our experience and knowledge of the sector is second to none and that we can genuinely add value above and beyond the service provided by most accountancy firms.

Direct Involvement

Having been directly involved with clients in the current collaborative process with the ESFA, we are well placed to offer sound, useful and valuable financial advice and support.

Robust Financial Planning

With the imminent changes in, and continued uncertainty over, the funding of training provision, we are increasingly seeing the need for robust financial planning, the preparation of detailed financial forecasts and the establishment of strong financial systems for both training providers and employers if they are to face all future threats to funding streams with confidence.