School Business Services

What School Business Services does

School Business Services Ltd (SBS) is a Poole-headquartered, privately held UK company founded in December 2007 by Tina Brown and Mark Tadman that provides financial planning software and professional services to Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs), maintained schools, independent schools, and local authorities. The company serves 400+ MATs and 4,000+ schools nationally, employing over 70 staff across three UK offices (Poole, Milton Keynes, Barnsley), and operates as part of Supporting Education Group (SEG) alongside Judicium Consulting and Neo People.

The core software products are SBS Financial Planner, a MAT-led budgeting tool created by CFOs for CFOs that provides central management of budgets and assumptions, scenario what-if modelling, integration with Sage Intacct and Xero, and a financial and KPI reporting suite; and SBS ICFP, an Integrated Curriculum Financial Planning tool that coordinates education and financial planning across MATs. Both products are shortlisted/recognized at sector awards (SBS Financial Planner is shortlisted for MAT Excellence Awards 2026 Product of the Year). The broader portfolio also includes Finance & Accounting Services, Internal Scrutiny, MIS Support (covering SIMS, Arbor, Bromcom, FMS), ICT Support, Interim Finance Cover, Virtual Finance Assistant, Finance Consultancy Packages, Finance Mentoring, Training, and the SRMA programme delivered under partnership with the Department for Education.

The business model combines recurring software subscriptions (SBS Financial Planner, SBS ICFP) with predominantly quote-based, bespoke professional services contracts ranging from month-end close and management accounts to CFO-level interim cover and multi-year finance SLAs. Pricing is non-publicly disclosed and tailored per engagement. Go-to-market is direct, sales-led, with field-based consultants operating across UK school sites supported by office-based service helpdesks, supplemented by DfE programme delivery and sector body partnerships with Schools North East, Confederation of School Trusts (CST), and ISBL. The company has historically grown without external institutional investment and reached scale primarily through word-of-mouth referral.

Name

School Business Services

Legal name

School Business Services Ltd

Website

https://schoolbusinessservices.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

School Business Services is a UK-based, privately held provider of financial planning software (SBS Financial Planner, SBS ICFP) and professional finance, MIS, and ICT services for Multi-Academy Trusts, schools, and local authorities, serving 400+ MATs and 4,000+ schools nationally as part of Supporting Education Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Financial Services and Software

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

School ERP: Finance, Procurement & Budgeting (EDAFAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Funding, Finance & Grants Reporting (Allocations, Claims, Reconciliation) (EDADAIAG), Revenue Cycle & Tuition Billing/Collections Support (Student Accounts BPO) (EDAEALAN), Education Funding Planning (College/529) (FSAEAAAF)

Keywords

• School financial planning
• Academy trust budgeting
• Education finance software
• MIS support services
• School ICT support

Headquarters

HQ city

Poole

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Finance & Accounting Services: Providing qualified advice, support and strategy to improve financial position. Includes managed accounts, payroll assistance, budget monitoring, financial health checks, and CFO-level support services.
2. Software Subscriptions (SBS Financial Planner, ICFP): Subscription-based access to financial planning and budgeting software for MATs and schools, with central management of budgets, assumptions, and reporting capabilities.
3. Interim Finance Cover: Temporary finance staff provision covering absences and vacancies, from CFO level to Finance Assistant roles. Flexible support for short-term or longer-term solutions.
4. Finance Consultancy Packages: Tailored finance consultancy packages including Core Package for maintained schools, MAT Partner packages, Financial Health Checks, Finance Service Desk, and IRIS Financials Support.
5. MIS Support Services: Management Information System support services providing data confidence to MATs, including system support for SIMS, Arbor, Bromcom, and other MIS platforms.
6. ICT Support Services: Strategic technical support for schools and MATs including cyber security audits, network infrastructure, and connectivity solutions.
7. Training Services: MIS Training, Finance Training, SIMS Training, Arbor Training, and Bromcom Training for school staff.
8. SRMA Programme: School Resource Management Adviser programme delivery as DfE partner, supporting schools and trusts with expert peer-led guidance for financial sustainability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

School Business Services develops and delivers financial planning software (SBS Financial Planner and SBS ICFP) alongside a comprehensive suite of professional services for UK schools and Multi-Academy Trusts. The offering spans budgeting, integrated curriculum financial planning, managed accounts, internal scrutiny, interim finance cover, MIS support (SIMS, Arbor, Bromcom), ICT support including cyber security audits, and delivery of the Department for Education's SRMA programme. Services are sold via direct, quote-based enterprise engagements targeting MATs, maintained schools, and independent schools.

Product overview

School Business Services offers a comprehensive portfolio of financial planning software products and professional services for the UK education sector. The core software products are SBS Financial Planner (a MAT-led budgeting tool created by CFOs for CFOs) and SBS ICFP (Integrated Curriculum Financial Planning software). These are complemented by an extensive suite of professional services including Finance & Accounting, Internal Scrutiny, MIS Support, ICT Support, and SRMA Programme. Additional services include Interim Finance Cover, Virtual Finance Assistant, Finance Consultancy packages, Finance Mentoring, and Training. The company serves 400+ Multi-Academy Trusts and 4000+ Schools nationally, providing both software solutions and managed services to support school financial management, data systems, and compliance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SBS Financial Planner: Game-changing finance budgeting and planning software for MATs and Schools
• SBS ICFP
• CFO & COO Insider
• SRMA Programme

Products and services

• SBS Financial Planner A MAT-led budgeting tool created by CFOs for CFOs that streamlines financial planning, simplifies complex budgeting, and ensures funding maximisation. Features central management of budgets and assumptions, integration with leading accounting systems (Sage Intacct and Xero), and a financial and KPI reporting suite. Designed for MATs and schools.
• SBS ICFP Integrated Curriculum Financial Planning software for MAT-wide strategy, enabling coordinated decisions on education and finances. Designed for MATs and schools to align curriculum and financial planning.
• Finance & Accounting Service Qualified finance and accounting services for schools and MATs providing advice, support and strategy to improve financial position. Includes managed accounts, payroll assistance, budget monitoring, and CFO-level support.
• Internal Scrutiny Service Internal scrutiny and returns services providing assurance and expert advice via qualified auditors for financial, non-financial and risk management for MATs.
• MIS Support Service Management Information System support services providing data confidence to MATs, covering SIMS, Arbor, Bromcom, and FMS systems.
• ICT Support Services Strategic technical support for schools and MATs delivering secure solutions aligned to vision and budget, including cyber security audits and Connect the Classroom support.
• SRMA Programme School Resource Management Adviser programme delivered in partnership with the Department for Education, helping schools and trusts strengthen financial sustainability through expert peer-led guidance.
• Training Services Training programmes covering MIS (SIMS, Arbor, Bromcom), Finance, and various education finance and data topics, available as half-day or full-day workshops for school and MAT staff.
• Interim Finance Cover Temporary finance staff support for absences and vacancies, providing cover from CFO level to Finance Assistant roles to ensure continuity in financial operations for schools and MATs.
• Virtual Finance Assistant An outsourced finance processing service delivered under a Service Level Agreement (SLA) providing ongoing finance transaction support, working as an extension of the school or MAT team.
• Finance Consultancy Packages Tailored finance consultancy packages for MATs and maintained schools including Core Package, MAT Partner Package, Partner Plus, Financial Health Check, Finance Service Desk, IRIS Financials Support, and Budget Support and BFR Package.
• Finance Service Desk Finance guidance and technical software support available 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday, providing answers to how-to questions and troubleshooting for finance systems. Can be purchased standalone or as part of a finance package.
• IRIS Financials Support Accredited support for IRIS Financials including health checks, system corrections, setup, training and enhancement services. SBS is accredited to support, enhance, and train staff on IRIS Financials.
• Finance Mentoring & Support Expert financial mentoring and support services providing critical friend support, audit and compliance assurance, leadership development, and strategic project guidance for CFOs, School Business Managers, and Finance Officers.
• Finance Support for Independent Schools Specialist financial support for independent schools including fee billing, VAT returns, finance operations, and absence and vacancy cover.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supporting 400+ MATs and 4000+ schools nationally
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Supporting Education Group (SEG)coreOthersSBS is part of Supporting Education Group (SEG) along with Judicium Consulting and Neo People, operating collectively as the professional services division. SEG is the parent organization providing strategic oversight and shared services across the group companies.
• Department for Education (DfE)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBS is proud to work with the DfE delivering the SRMA (School Resource Management Adviser) programme. As an official delivery partner, SBS supports schools and trusts with expert peer-led guidance to strengthen financial sustainability and improve pupil outcomes.
• IRIS FinancialscoreTechnology or IntegrationSBS Finance & Accounting team is accredited to support IRIS Financials, enhance it and train staff. Delivers health checks, system corrections, setup and ongoing support for IRIS Financials users.
• Confederation of School Trusts (CST)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCST Community Supporter. SBS collaborates with CST on content including webinars featuring CST Trust and School Funding Policy Specialist Susan Fielden CPFA for CFO & COO Insider sessions.
• ASCL (Association of School and College Leaders)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSBS collaborates with ASCL featuring Funding Specialist Julia Harnden on CFO & COO Insider sessions for budget assumptions and sector updates.
• Schools North EastminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSBS is a Commercial Supporter of Schools North East, a sector body representing schools in the North East region.
• ISBL (Institute of School Business Leadership)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSBS is associated with ISBL, the professional body for School Business Leadership in education.
• Sage IntacctcoreTechnology or IntegrationSBS Financial Planner integrates seamlessly with Sage Intacct accounting system for accurate data consolidation across MAT financial operations.
• XerocoreTechnology or IntegrationSBS Financial Planner integrates with Xero for seamless synchronization of financial data and accounting processes.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Juniper Education: UK-based provider of education support services including finance, HR, and operations support to schools and MATs. Directly comparable to SBS in customer base (UK schools and MATs) and in offering outsourced finance and business management services alongside software.
• Furlong Solutions: UK-based supplier of financial management and budget planning software specifically built for schools and academies. Closest direct software competitor to SBS Financial Planner, targeting the same primary buyer (school business managers, MAT CFOs) with comparable budgeting and reporting functionality.
• PS Financials: Long-established UK provider of financial management software for schools, academies, and MATs. Competes head-on with SBS Financial Planner on budgeting, forecasting, and multi-academy trust consolidation, with overlapping customer profiles in the state education sector.
• Strictly Education: UK provider of outsourced finance, HR, and governance services to schools and MATs. Directly comparable to SBS's professional services portfolio (Interim Finance Cover, Finance Consultancy, mentoring), targeting the same school business leader buyer persona.

Broad incumbents

• RM plc: Large UK-listed provider of IT services, devices, and software to schools and MATs, with a broad portfolio that overlaps SBS's ICT Support and MIS Support offerings. A broader incumbent rather than a niche specialist, but a meaningful competitor in the same buyer accounts.
• IRIS Software Group: Major UK accountancy, payroll, and HR software vendor whose IRIS Financials product is both an integration partner and a competitor for school financial management workflows. Significantly larger and broader than SBS, with overlap in school finance accounting and HR/payroll.
• ParentPay Group: UK education payments, MIS, and communications group (incorporating SIMS and Eduspot). Broad incumbent with adjacent product overlap to SBS's MIS Support services and to SBS's independent-school fee billing workflows through its Tucasi line.

Emerging players

• Arbor Education: UK-based MIS provider whose Arbor platform is used by a growing share of schools and MATs and which is extending into financial reporting and parent communication workflows. An emerging player whose MIS footprint increasingly competes with SBS's MIS Support and data-adjacent services.
• Bromcom: UK MIS vendor with a strong footprint in academies and MATs, increasingly bundling financial and reporting functionality. Comparable to SBS in targeting MAT finance and operations leaders, though its primary product is a full MIS rather than a finance-specialist offering.

Others

• Judicium Consulting: Sister company within Supporting Education Group providing governance, HR, employment law, and data protection services to schools. Not a competitor but a group affiliate and cross-sell partner that gives SBS access to adjacent compliance and HR services for its school and MAT customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SBS_Updates
• Facebookfacebook.com/SchoolBusinessServicesLtd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/school-business-services-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about School Business Services