Eversley Primary School: Expert financial support when it’s needed most

When Eversley Primary School's business manager left, Office Manager Allison Hills suddenly became responsible for managing the school's finances, an area she had little experience in. With limited internal capacity and important strategic decisions underway, including discussions about academisation, the school needed reliable expertise and reassurance.

Juniper Finance Services stepped in to give structured support, clear guidance, and long-term stability.

Actions

Juniper provided a blend of hands-on support, training, and advisory services:

• Weekly in-school support from a dedicated Juniper finance professional who became embedded in the office team.
• Strategic oversight and guidance from Senior Finance Consultant, Nicole Ramsay, including support with budget setting and presenting financial information to governors.
• Training for new finance staff, ensuring processes were completed accurately and confidently.
• Responsive helpdesk support, available promptly whenever the team needed answers.
• Payroll support, including swift assistance during a complex summer staffing issue.

Juniper's combination of expertise, availability, and continuity gave Eversley the stability it needed as the office team adapted to new responsibilities.

Outcomes and Benefits

Juniper's support has led to a fully trained finance assistant who now manages the school's core financial processes confidently and independently. This has strengthened Eversley's in-house capacity and reduces the school's reliance on external support.

Budgeting has become more accurate and efficient, supported by expert guidance and clear oversight. Leadership also benefits from faster, reliable responses to urgent queries, ensuring they always have the information they need.