| Keep up-to-date with us and what's happening in the education sector |
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- 2026 Annual Budget
- Budget Webinar for Schools - Thank You
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Important Notices
- Xero Tip of the Month: Introducing Xero’s New AI Assistant - Jax
- Welcome to the Team: AJ & Zack
- Update of Current Resources Available and How to Utilise Them
- Looking ahead
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We have now prepared the 2026 Budget Template reports for our regular monthly schools. These reports are located in Google Drive (2026 Accts - Budget).
If you haven't done so already, can you please upload the 2026 provisional roll and resourcing entitlement notices from Pourato so that we can include this information within the budget template.
You should have now received our 2026 Budget Chalkboard special, which provides further information about how to complete the budget templates (link to the 2026 Budget Chalkboard). Please let us know if you have any questions about the process.
If you are not one of the schools we generally assist around the annual budget, but would like us to prepare a Budget Template report for your school, please send us an email at admin@afsl.nz. |
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BUDGET WEBINAR FOR SCHOOLS - THANK YOU |
A huge thank you to everyone who attended our budget webinar on Wednesday, October 8! We truly appreciate your time and engagement, and we hope the session provided plenty of useful insights.
If you missed the live session or would like to revisit the key insights and practical tips, you can access and download the recording and slides via our website's Resources Hub. |
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As always, we welcome your feedback to help us improve future sessions. If you have any thoughts or suggestions about the recent webinar or ideas for future topics, we’d love to hear from you! Feel free to email us at marketing@afsl.nz. |
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2026 Roll Review:
If you have evidence that your 2026 provisional roll is likely to be higher than what the Ministry of Education has estimated, you can apply for a provisional roll review before 14 November 2025.
More information on how to request a provisional roll review can be found by clicking the button below. |
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Reminder: Staffing and Funding Calculator:
The staffing and funding calculators have been updated for 2026. These tools can be used to provide an estimate of your entitlement staffing and funding figures for the 2026 year based on predicted roll numbers.
Funding calculators - Ministry of Education
Using the 2026 staffing and funding calculators will help you understand whether a roll increase generates a staffing increase for the current year. It's a good idea to use this before submitting a staffing roll increase application.
Banking: Accessing Higher Interest Rates - ASB's Special Term Deposit and Rates
As you will have now received the 2025 Quarter 4 Operational Funding payment, we'd like to remind you that if you have any extra funds sitting in your school's current account that are not required in the short term, it is a good idea to transfer the funds to your Savings or Call account in order to benefit from the higher interest rates that are now available.
And if you have funds that will not be required for more than a month or two, you could also consider putting these on term deposit to earn even higher interest. If you're banking with ASB, they have released special term deposit interest rates (see below). These rates are only available from Wednesday 1 October 2025 to Friday 17 October 2025.
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If you are interested in the above term deposit rates, starting from 1 October 2025, please create your new investment through FastNet Business. This will save you time and simplify the process. Attached below are ASB's step-by-step instructions, which you can access by clicking the button. |
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XERO TIP OF THE MONTH: INTRODUCING XERO’S NEW AI ASSISTANT - JAX |
Xero has just launched a powerful new feature called JAX (Just Ask Xero), an AI-powered assistant designed to make navigating and using Xero even easier.
Whether you’re trying to find a specific report, understand a transaction, or get help with settings, simply type your question into the JAX assistant. It will provide quick, relevant answers or guide you directly to the section you need, saving you time and reducing the need to search through help articles. What can you ask JAX? Here are just a few examples: - “How do I reconcile a bank transaction?”
- “Where can I find my aged receivables report?”
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“How do I add a new user to my Xero account?”
JAX is currently being rolled out across Xero, so if you don’t see it yet, it’s on the way. Look for the JAX icon or search bar in your Xero dashboard and give it a try - it’s a smart, fast way to get the most out of Xero with no digging required.
If you need help with JAX or the new navigation changes mentioned in our previous Chalkboard, please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 04 909 7729. We’re here to help! |
WELCOME TO THE TEAM: AJ & ZACK |
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Originally from Malaysia, Hafidz (AJ) spent the past three years in New Zealand and has recently relocated to Windy Wellington to join our team. Before stepping into his current role as a BAS Accountant, AJ gained valuable experience as an Auditor with EY, working across private companies, a government ministry, and several NZX-listed organisations. This diverse background has given him a strong foundation in financial reporting, compliance, and assurance. Committed to continuous growth, AJ is currently working toward his Chartered Accountant qualification. Known for his attention to detail, positive energy, and collaborative approach, AJ is looking forward to providing clear, accurate, and tailored financial support to help your school thrive.
Outside of work, AJ is a passionate football fan and loyal Manchester United supporter. He also enjoys playing music, exploring different genres and instruments, and travelling the world. |
| Meet Zack, our second new BAS Accountant, who is looking forward to supporting your school with practical and impactful financial solutions.
Born in China, Zack began his career with a Bachelor of Engineering but soon discovered that numbers and accounting were his true passion. This led him to complete a Master of Professional Accounting (MPA) at Victoria University of Wellington. Since then, he has steadily developed his expertise across multiple finance roles and is now preparing to begin his Chartered Accountant qualification.
Zack thrives on problem-solving and enjoys turning complex challenges into practical, meaningful solutions. With an analytical mindset, dedication, and a keen eye for detail, he consistently aims to deliver results that make a real difference. When he’s not crunching numbers, Zack can be found exploring New Zealand’s breathtaking landscapes, hitting the gym, or unwinding with a good series on Netflix. |
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UPDATE OF CURRENT RESOURCES AVAILABLE AND HOW TO UTILISE THEM |
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At Accounting for Schools, we’re committed to supporting school leaders and finance teams with practical tools and expert guidance. Our Resources Hub brings these tools together in one easy-to-access location. With the addition of a new handbook, we thought it was the perfect time for a refresher on what’s available and how you can use these resources to manage school finances with confidence and efficiency.
What’s Available in the Resources Hub:
The AFS Hub offers a growing collection of free, downloadable resources tailored to the unique financial needs of schools. These resources are crafted to help you navigate budgeting, revenue management, procurement, and more. Here’s a snapshot of what you can find: -
Board of Trustees Finance Handbook: Gain insights into education-specific financial terms and key areas for trustees to focus on.
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School Budgeting Finance Handbook: Access guidance on budgeting best practices, resource allocation, expenditure monitoring, and forecasting.
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School Revenue Finance Handbook (New!): Explore strategies for managing revenue effectively and identifying alternative income opportunities.
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Guide to Buying Goods and Services for a School: Understand the steps in running a competitive purchasing process and ensure value for money.
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ApprovalMax: For Xero Users – A Guide to Automating Accounts Payable: Learn how to automate your accounts payable process using ApprovalMax in conjunction with Xero.
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Xero New Invoicing Keyboard Shortcuts: Speed up your invoicing process with handy keyboard shortcuts for Xero's new invoicing system.
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AFS Group Training Session Recordings: Access recordings of past group training sessions for insights and guidance from our experts.
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AFS 2026 Budget Webinar Recording & Slides: Access our latest webinar and download the accompanying slides to help your school prepare its 2026 annual budget.
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Pourato & Secure Data Portal Checklist: Follow step-by-step instructions on downloading and uploading requested data from your school in Pourato and the Secure Data Portal.
How to Make the Most of These Resources:
Downloading the guides is just the first step, the real value comes from putting them into practice. Here are some ways to maximise their benefit: -
Integrate into your processes: Use the finance handbooks as reference tools when preparing budgets, monitoring revenue, or planning procurement. Keep them handy for board meetings or financial reporting discussions.
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Staff training and development: Use the handbooks and AFS Group Training recordings to onboard new team members or as refresher sessions for existing staff.
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Strategic planning: Consult the resources before making major financial decisions, like new purchasing strategies or revenue initiatives, to ensure you’re following best practice.
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Share knowledge across your team: Encourage colleagues and trustees to read the relevant handbooks and guides, fostering consistent understanding and improving financial decision-making across your school.
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Stay up to date: Keep an eye on the Resources Hub for updates and new additions – it’s a living library designed to grow with your school’s needs.
We Value Your Feedback
Your input is invaluable to us. If you have suggestions for additional resources or topics you'd like us to cover, please reach out to us at marketing@afsl.nz. We are here to support you and ensure you have the tools you need to succeed. |
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271 Willis Street, Wellington 6011 |
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