A leading education finance company has hired two new senior consultants to provide valuable expertise as it continues to expand its operations with innovative products specially designed for schools and academies.

Jenny Goy and Phil Andrews have joined HCSS Education, part of the Access Group, to support with implementing and providing training for HCSS Accounting – a brand new accountancy software created specifically for the education sector. Their skills and experience complements the existing consultant team who already have decades of education finance experience between them.

Phil has over 20 years’ finance experience in the education sector and has previously worked in the Education Financial Services business unit at Hampshire County Council, where he led a team that provided strategic financial support and guidance to over 230 schools across East Hampshire.

During the last two years, Phil also worked on the Hampshire/Isle of Wight partnership, providing key financial support and guidance alongside the school improvement team as they worked to improve standards and the financial position of schools on the island.

A former school business manager at a Lancashire grammar school from 2012-2016, Jenny supported the school through its academy conversion process, including migration to a new accounting system. Jenny was responsible for support services for the school (including finance, HR, payroll, ICT and administration) and hopes to bring this invaluable knowledge and experience of day-to-day life within a school to her new role.

Jenny later took on the position of chief financial officer within the academy where she was involved with financial management, monthly financial reporting, producing annual accounts and statutory returns.

Both Jenny and Phil have had prior experience of working with HCSS Education. They were part of the industry focus group that helped to develop the new HCSS Accounting software.

Commenting on her new role, Jenny said: “I am really looking forward to bringing my experience as a school business manager to HCSS Education because I understand the challenges customers face with managing school budgets.

“I completely relied on HCSS Education’s software in my last role and found it really easy to use. I could get up to date figures, pull off accurate reporting and I didn’t have to do anything manually. I am hoping the skills and experience I have gained from using the software will help with training others to use it effectively.”

Having already been familiar with the brand and its products, Phil has always thought that HCSS Education was the kind of company that he would like to work for.

He said: “My past experience of dealing with HCSS Education’s customer services has always been good and they appealed to me as a company that I wanted to be associated with. I’m really looking forward to being part of this exciting journey with the launch of HCSS Accounting. I believe this product will give schools the edge when it comes to financial management and strategic planning. I think it will really take off and be a big hit with schools.”

Howard Jackson, head of education and founder of HCSS Education, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to welcome so much talent and expertise to the HCSS Education team. It’s great that both Jenny and Phil have previously experienced what it’s like to be our customers and they have also used our products before. They bring a customer-focused perspective with their background in the education sector and I’m pleased to have them join our experienced consultant team.”

For more information, please visit: www.hcsseducation.co.uk/software/hcss-accounting