“I have four young girls of my own, and I’ve enjoyed a close affiliation with their school having been the Home and School Treasurer for four years. I’ve come to understand the trials, difficulties, and challenges that schools face, and the lack of funds they have to provide the resources they want for their students. That’s where we can really help – stretching that dollar a little bit further, so Kiwi kids can get the best education possible.”
– Ben Duflou - Director, Accounting For Schools
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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.
