FMSWire - Edition 2

Supplier NewsletterThis article sits within the Supplier Newsletter section

Welcome to the second edition of the FMSWire, the newsletter that brings you the latest information about the Academies Chart of Accounts & Automation.

Note from the editors:

Welcome to the second edition of the FMSWire.

The DfE's Chart of Accounts & Automation Team aim to send out these quarterly newsletters so that we can keep you all informed of updates, developments and timelines.

The team would like to thank all FMS providers on their ongoing efforts to increase automation uptake. Let's keep it going for the next round. There is still lots of work to do to enable and influence trusts to use automation to improve efficiencies and data quality.

To help keep the conversation going, we will be attending the next Schools & Academies Show on 1st May in London and hope to see you there. If you have time during the day, please pop over to the Government Education Village & DfE Theatre to support us during our automation presentation.

Please use the link at the end of this newsletter to provide feedback.

If you wish to receive a response or want a meeting to discuss your comments, leave your contact details.

Automation figures for AR 2022/23

Now that the Accounts Return has closed, we know what the automation uptake looks like for 2022/23.

Whilst overall numbers remain lower for automation than we'd like, adoption of the chart of accounts is now over half of the academies sector which is great news!

We have already been working with you to identify ways that we can improve take up of automation, please approach us to discuss ways we can work in partnership to achieve this.

FMS comparison matrix

Our FMS comparison matrix has been live now for a number of months and some of you have provided very helpful feedback.

If you do see anything that needs amending for your product, get in touch by contacting us at BFRP.APISupport@education.gov.uk and we will endeavour to update the matrix within one working week.

Helpdesk development

Work is progressing well with our supplier helpdesk and we aim to have it up and running in the next month.

Our accompanying knowledge base will contain self-help articles aimed at resolving queries before they potentially become a problem. This area is also for trust use should they wish, but only suppliers are able to raise a ticket.

DfE Sign-In

The department is in the process of moving all externally facing DfE services onto a new authentication system called DfE Sign In (DSI)

DfE Sign In (DSI) will ensure that users can access a wide variety of DfE externally facing systems using one set of log in detail.

It will allow users to authenticate and access DfE services that they have been given permission to, based on pre-existing rules relating to the type of organisation.

Additionally, there is user account management within the organisation – specific users will be assigned the role of ‘Approver (previously called Super User)’. The approver can create and maintain additional users within their organisation.

There will be no change in the way FMS providers link to our authentication services as access will be automatically redirected. However, the branding will be updated and we will send you updated images for your guidance and marketing by June.

We will require a couple of FMS providers to test the updated authentication process and will request volunteers in due course.

We will also notify you in due course of the dates for migration.

Supplier OCS test accounts

FMS suppliers will no longer be able to use their mailinator test accounts.

New OCS test accounts have been set up and we are aiming to send these out following migration from IDAMS to DfE Sign In.

If you require a test account in the meantime, please contact us and we will link it to the current IDAMS authentication process as an interim measure.