FMSWire Edition 9

Notes from the editors - 

Dear FMS software partner, 
 

We hope you had an enjoyable long weekend break.
 

This edition focuses on the information you need to be aware of when automating your clients/trusts account return (AR) 2025/26. 
 

Thank you to all those partners who we have met with during February and March to discuss the AR 2024/25 and discuss marketing strategies to improve academy trusts use of the automation functionality for AR 2025/26. We always find those meetings very insightful. 
 

Please do not forget to get in touch with us if you wish to include us in your marketing webinars. 
 

With best wishes,
 

Academies Chart of Account and Automation Team

Team Update

Aaminah has now moved from our team to a new role within the Department, and Kathy Harding will now be leading on the comm’s for our team.  
 

Therefore, just a reminder of our current team structure: 
 

• Nicky Summers - Team lead  
   

• Mahesh Chauhan - FMS provider technical support  
   

• Kathy Harding – Comms and FMS provider liaison 

API developments – AR 25/26 

We briefed you in our last newsletter that there are couple of key developments you need to be aware of in preparing for this year’s accounts return. 
 

All FMS software providers who have developed the automation functionality need to be aware of 2 key changes that will affect the API functionality in your software,  
 

Development 1 – API platform 
 

Changes have been made to the consent process as the DfE has moved their API functionality to a new platform, from EAPIM/Developer Hub to Find and Use an API (FaUAPI). 
 

For the previous 2 years, the API functionality has been on a redirect URL to FaUAPI, but from this year, FMS providers need to re-register their credentials on FaUAPI and copy the new subscription keys, client ID and client secret ID into your API coding. 
 

To support you with this change we have:
 

1. Produced an updated version of the Software Integration Guide, which is still in ‘Draft’ as it hasn’t received final sign off from management and doesn’t have the final AR go live dates at this point in time. This draft version can be found on our Help Centre Guide for software integration with automation API V.8 – DfE Chart of Accounts and Automation .
    
2. Produced a handy guide for FMS providers who have already embedded the automation functionality, to walk you through the actions you need to take to update your software. This can also be found on our Help Centre FMS API Integration with Fau API - Supplier Test Environment (STE) & Production Environment (Prod) – DfE Chart of Accounts and Automation . 
    

We have already tested this update with one FMS provider to ensure the change is quick and smooth for remaining FMS providers to apply the updates.  
 

The Supplier Test Environment (STE) is now set up for AR 2025/26 and is populated with version 9.2.1 of the Academies Chart of Accounts (see below article). Therefore, we can now do all the testing at once in readiness for 2025/26 at any time from now that is convenient for yourselves. As we are aiming to go live on 1st September for the Draft Financial Statements, the automation functionality should be ready by this time.   
 

Therefore, please plan this development into this year and contact us to let us know when you are ready to start your development. We can either support you through the whole process or you can work your way through the guidance and we can pick up any issues and then test the solution with you using your test accounts. 
 

We have not updated our webpage yet but will do so in due course, once the software integration guide is approved. 
 

Development 2 – Phasing out trust UPINs 
 

The DfE will no longer be using UPINS as the trust identifier from AR 2026/27. Therefore, those providers who are using UPINS (six digits) will have to amend this to the relevant Companies House Number (8 digits): 
 

• Either voluntarily for AR 2025/26 
   

• Or wait until AR 2026/27 when this will need to be done so that the API is successful 
   

The DfE's automation functionality is set up to accept either reference and we know that some providers already use Companies House Number. Those providers needing to change from UPIN to software will need consider coding in the back end and the clients front end. We will be able to provide you with a list of Companies House Number references for your Trust clients if required.

Academies Chart of accounts (ACoA) 

ACoA 2025/26: 

We have loaded version 9.2.1 of the ACoA into the supplier test environment (STE). There will be future updates to the mapping before the AR 2025/26 goes live, and therefore subsequent versions, but for the purposes of automation, it is key that FMS software embeds a version beginning with 9, as the API will recognise any version beginning with a 9. We will keep you informed of any further updates in case FMS providers require this for writing their own AR and BFR reports. 

Currently version 9.2.0 of ACoA can be found on our website Academies chart of accounts and automating the accounts return - GOV.UK. As we are currently experiencing technical difficulties with our ACoA admin function, we will send the latest version out as soon as we are able.

ACoA 2026/27: 

The ACoA for 2026/27 is likely to be released end of May/beginning of June. We will let you know as soon as we have agreed this version. 

Automation stat’s AR 24/25 

The final Automation stats for AR 2024/25 are as follows:

FMS provider leader board:

Overall, the results were disappointing as there was only an overall increase of 1 trust, although there were some positive increases for some providers within this total. 
 

We have talked to providers about strategies to help improve take up for future years so that trusts can benefit from greater efficiency of completing their financial returns, therefore, please remember we are here to support you in improving take up so FaUAPI. 
 

Having said that, there was really positive feedback from the 15 trust responses we received from the AR 24/25 automation questionnaire. Highlights from the feedback include: 
 

Responses to the question ‘How satisfied were you with the overall automation experience?’:  

• 8 trusts scored 8 out of 10  
• 7 trusts scored 7 out of 10 

Responses to the question ‘How likely are you to recommend automating  the AR?’: 

• 9 trusts scored 10 out of 10 
• 3 trusts scored 9 out of 10 
• 2 trusts scored 8 out of 10 
• 1 trust scored 7 out of 10 

Responses to the question ‘Do you feel automation helped you achieved your expected outcome?’ 

• 15 trusts said ‘Yes’ 
• 0 trusts said ‘No’ 
   

Thank you for your part in this great feedback! 

Upcoming events

We have set a schedule of webinars for trusts up until the end of May which can be booked through Eventbrite. Please find a list of the dates below if you wish to share with your clients in your newsletters.

Q&A Monthly drop-in session: Academies Chart of Accounts and Automation - Online event

Wednesday 15th April at 10am

Webinar: An introduction to using the FMS software comparison matrix - Online event

Tuesday 5th May at 11am

Q&A Monthly drop-in session: Academies Chart of Accounts and Automation - Online event

Thursday 15th May at 12pm

Contact us!

Enquiries:

If you need to reach the team, please use our FMS provider helpdesk. This is the preferred route over email as we are able to track queries much more effectively this way.

Last updated on 09 April 2026 10:57