Finance Link Governor Support Pack

This adaptable pack is designed to support the effective governance of finance in schools. It contains the following three comprehensive resources:

1. Finance Audit Questions for Governors and Trustees - This document is designed to allow collaboration between the finance governor and the key finance staff members in school, such as the SBM, headteacher or administrators with responsibility for the school budget. Containing 12 pages of questions, it helps governors and school leaders to evaluate their setting's current position, which allows further opportunities for growth to be identified as well as enabling the finance link governor or trustee to gain a deeper understanding about the school's current position. The audit could also be used by a school leader and then shared with the finance link governor afterwards; a helpful section on triangulating evidence is also included to support this approach. Once the audit is complete, an action plan template is provided, allowing you to document your next steps.
2. Finance Report to Governors - This document is designed to support school leaders and the finance link governor to report to their full governing board. It contains sections for both finance data and commentary about the school's current position, giving all school governors insight.
3. Finance Link Governor Role and Responsibilities - This document outlines the key parts of a finance governor's role and what areas of school governance they are responsible for. It can be used as-is or amended to reflect what your school needs from its finance link governor. Either way, it's a helpful document that allows a new finance governor to understand what they need to do.

The resources in this pack are designed to support long-term strategic collaboration between schools leaders and the finance link governor, allowing for a full picture to be built and fulfilling one of the key functions of an effective governing body - the sound, proper and effective use of the school’s financial resources.

A finance link governor - whether new to role or experienced but seeking further support - will find this pack extremely useful.

It will also support headteachers, trust leaders, governance professionals, chairs of governors or anyone else involved in building effective governance in school. School leaders or another governor can use the pack and its templates to provide a new or struggling finance link governor with the support they need.

This finance governor resource pack will help schools answer key questions such as:

• What are a finance governor’s roles and responsibilities?
• How can finance governors effectively evaluate the school’s financial procedures and policies?
• What questions should finance governors ask during audits?
• What data and insights should be included in a finance report to the full governing board?
• How can governors collaborate with school leaders to identify areas for improvement and ensure the best outcomes for pupils?

It'll also provide you with the structure and tools that finance governors need to understand, fulfil and excel in their role.

You may find our other governance resources helpful too!