Narrow Quay Solutions

Decision making support

Succinct and focused advice based on sector experience, financial expertise and report writing capability. Reports will focus on the specific question in hand to assist decisions makers by providing an independent third-party perspective.

• Feasibility reports: looking at potential growth opportunities, such as mergers, acquisitions, diversifying, or downsizing.
• Commercial due diligence: particularly for schools who are being acquired to get to know the acquirer.
• Efficiency reviews: looking at the school as a whole, specific team processes or on a project-specific basis.
• Pensions reviews

Fractional support

Creating capacity, on a flexible basis, such as emergency short term cover, project focused support or on an ongoing basis.  Fractional support provides guarantees specialist expertise which is cost efficient and quick compared to hiring more staff.

• Fractional Finance Director support - creating breathing space for in house teams to complete their work, taking on discrete tasks, assisting with recruitment of finance staff and reviewing and updating current systems
• Fractional Admissions support - creating capacity in admissions teams, supporting identified pinch points in the school calendar, ensuring the smooth operation of events such as open days.

Financial due diligence

Supporting schools through the M&A process by undertaking financial DD at a fraction of the price of auditors.  

Pupil recruitment and retention

Helping schools build effective admissions and retention policies and build a culture of recruitment within the school:

• Review and critique of current admissions and recruitment processes
• Develop robust strategy including regular reporting, forecasting to enable effective budgeting and strategy
• Fractional support to build capacity in admissions teams

VAT support

Ongoing support with reclaims and preparing for the end of the first VAT year, or reviewing current practices to ensure compliance.