Smarter Reserves Management for Trusts

With interest rates higher than many trusts are used to, cash sitting idle in current accounts is a missed opportunity.  Recent DfE guidance on academy reserves has also sharpened the focus on how much is held, why it is held, and what boards should be doing with surplus funds.

This Academy focused session cuts through the noise and sets out a clear, compliant approach to creating an investment policy and deposit strategy that works in the real world.  We will explore how trusts can balance security, access and return, meet DfE expectations, and generate additional income without putting capital at risk.

You will leave with a practical framework, clarity on what the guidance really means, and a ready-to-use policy template to support confident board discussions and better financial decision-making.

In this session we explore

• What the latest DfE reserves guidance means in practice for academy trusts

• Setting a clear, compliant investment policy that trustees can stand behind

• Building a deposit strategy that balances access, security and return

• Using multiple banks and accounts safely and within DfE requirements

• Easy access, notice and fixed accounts.  

• Common pitfalls and low-risk opportunities trusts often miss

Take home points

• Clear understanding of how to create a deposit strategy

• A practical approach to improving returns without capital risk

• A ready-made investment policy template to adapt for your trust

• Next steps to review and improve your current banking and deposit setup

This session is for

CFOs, COOs, finance directors and senior business leaders working in MATs who are responsible for reserves, treasury management and board reporting, and want a compliant, low-risk way to make trust funds work harder.

Ian Buss