Wave Multi Academy Trust adopts Sage Intacct for Education to support a more scalable finance model.

ION is proud to announce a new partnership with Wave Multi Academy Trust, who have chosen to upgrade their financial management system with Sage Intacct for Education. Supporting 11 alternative provision academies and a central team across the South West, Wave MAT is making a strategic to a modern, cloud-based platform that will improve automation, reporting, and reliability across the Trust.

‍

ABOUT WAVE MULTI ACADEMY TRUST

Wave Multi Academy Trust provides education to pupils across the South West through a network of alternative provision academies. The Trust is committed to high-quality teaching, meeting pupils’ emotional and social needs, and ensuring that every child feels safe, supported, and able to achieve positive outcomes.

‍

PREVIOUS SYSTEM CHALLENGES

With a highly centralised finance model, Wave MAT previously relied on PSF for their financial management needs. While PSF met basic accounting requirements, it increasingly failed to fully support the Trust’s operational requirements. Reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and even requisitions were heavily reliant on Excel, creating inefficiencies and increasing the risk of error.

Support and system reliability had also become growing concerns for the Trust, alongside an increasing reliance on manual workarounds for core finance activities. Limited automation, time-consuming reporting, and additional costs associated with system changes, such as moving to the DfE Chart of Accounts, prompted Wave MAT to review their finance system and explore alternative solutions that could better support their operating model.

‍

THE SOLUTION: A MORE CENTRALISED, AUTOMATED APPROACH

After exploring the market, Wave Multi Academy Trust chose Sage Intacct for Education by ION, as the solution that best aligned with their priorities. As a true cloud-based finance system built purposefully for multi-academy trusts, Sage Intacct for Education will enable the Trust to reduce reliance on spreadsheets, automate core finance processes, and improve the quality and speed of reporting.

The Trust was particularly drawn to Sage Intacct’s purchasing functionality, which will allow requisitions to be raised directly in the system rather than submitted via spreadsheets and rekeyed by the central team. This supports Wave’s aim to take as much administrative burden away from schools as possible, allowing them to focus on what matters most — supporting pupils.

With improved automation, robust reporting, and a system that supports the DfE Chart of Accounts without excessive additional costs, Sage Intacct for Education will provide Wave MAT with a stable, scalable platform that supports both current operations and future growth.

Rob Mathieson, CEO of ION, said:
“Wave Multi Academy Trust has taken a very considered approach to reviewing its finance systems, with a clear focus on scalability, automation, and centralised control. We’re delighted to be working with the team to implement Sage Intacct for Education and support their finance function by helping them reduce admin, improve visibility, and regain confidence in their financial systems.”

‍

About Thomas Deacon Education Trust

Wave Multi Academy Trust is a multi-academy trust providing alternative provision education to pupils across the South West, supporting learners with tailored, high-quality teaching and a strong focus on wellbeing and positive outcomes.

‍

About ION

Founded in 2016, ION has become the CFOs’ choice for technology. Its team of specialists works with education, mid-market, and private equity-backed organisations to implement powerful financial technologies, enabling the vertical integration and automation of billing, payments, revenue recognition, and accounting.

‍