Finance Automation for MATs: Why Summer Is the Smart Time to Start

Summer Is the Smart Season for Change 

For multi-academy trusts, summer brings a much-needed lull. With schools closed and fewer day-to-day pressures, it’s the ideal time to step back and tackle improvements that are hard to prioritise during the academic year. 

One of the most valuable changes you can make? Automating your purchasing and accounts payable processes. Get it done in summer, and you’ll head into September with more control, better compliance, and a lot less paperwork. 

You’ve Got the Time So Use It Well 

During term time, finance teams are in constant motion. Orders fly in, approvals get stuck, invoices pile up, and matching them to purchases can feel never-ending. It’s hard to think long-term when you’re just trying to stay afloat. 

Summer, on the other hand, gives you the time and space to breathe. It’s easier to focus, make decisions, and work through setup and testing without being pulled in five directions. 

Build Better Workflows Now, Save Time All Year 

The real benefit of summer setup is how smoothly everything runs when the school year starts. 

When automation is in place: 

• Staff submit purchase requests through clear, digital workflows 

• Approvals are routed automatically, reducing delays 

• Invoices are matched to orders in seconds, not hours 

This means fewer mistakes, faster processing, and complete visibility on what’s been approved (and what hasn’t). 

Start September with Stronger Controls 

For trusts, financial control is more than just a nice-to-have. Whether it’s sticking to budgets, preparing for audits, or answering to governors, you need a solid grasp on spending. 

Automation puts control at the heart of every purchase. You’ll be able to enforce approval rules, track spend by department, and access full histories of every transaction. Summer is the best time to set those rules in motion and avoid the chaos of “catch-up” later. 

Make Compliance a By-Product, Not a Burden 

Nobody loves preparing for an audit, but automation makes it easier. With digital trails for every PO, approval, and invoice, you can respond to audits and reporting requirements quickly and accurately. 

Setting this up over the summer ensures your trust is audit-ready from day one of the new school year, without the stress. 

Connect to What You Already Use 

The good news? You don’t need to overhaul your whole finance system. Most automation tools now integrate directly with popular accounting software using APIs. That means you can keep your core system and simply connect automation on top. 

Better yet, as a Multi Academy Trust, you may have disparate systems the were inherited along with each academy – the right tools can connect to multiple systems at a time, sending the right data into the right system. 

Summer is the perfect time to complete those integrations without disrupting your day-to-day operations. 

Stretch Your Budget Further 

Summer is when many trusts invest in big-ticket items: new tech, refurbishments, bulk classroom supplies, etc. With automation, you can manage these purchases through controlled workflows that reduce errors and keep everything compliant. 

Some tools also offer built-in access to trusted suppliers, with added perks like pre-negotiated discounts. Yet another reason to get everything in place before the spending rush begins. 

The Payoff? A Smoother, More Efficient September 

Spending a few hours on automation now can save your team hundreds over the year. Less chasing approvals. No more manual matching. Clear records, better visibility, and a lot less guesswork. 

If you’ve been putting off automation because there’s never a good time, this summer might be your best chance. 

Ready to make your finance function faster, cleaner, and more controlled? Start planning your automation rollout today and make this summer the turning point for your trust’s efficiency.