Thomas Deacon Education Trust selects Sage Intacct for Education to modernise finance, streamline reporting, and replace legacy systems ahead of 2025 deadline.

ION, a leading provider of cloud-based financial management solutions, is proud to announce its partnership with Thomas Deacon Education Trust (TDET), a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) comprising seven schools across Peterborough and Huntingdon, including two secondary schools and five primary schools.

‍

ABOUT THOMAS DEACON EDUCATION TRUST

With Civica RM32 reaching end-of-life in late 2025, TDET recognised the need to transition to a modern, scalable finance system that could support the Trust’s growth and eliminate inefficiencies. While their current system has served them well at a transactional level, the setup is not designed with MATs in mind and has resulted in significant challenges across the finance function.

‍

PREVIOUS SYSTEM CHALLENGES

TDET’s finance team cited reporting as the most pressing issue, with management accounts requiring extensive manual manipulation in Excel due to the system's single-entity structure. Additionally, with the current plug-in-based P2P system and disconnected budgeting tools, the Trust found themselves spending excessive time navigating across systems and reconciling data.

Key challenges driving the change included:

• Reporting inefficiencies and reliance on spreadsheets for management accounts
• Lack of scalability and standardisation across schools
• Duplication of tasks such as supplier management
• Manual integration between budgeting and finance tools
• End-of-life risk associated with an unsupported system

‍

OBJECTIVES

TDET sought a solution that would not only modernise their finance function but provide long-term flexibility and resilience. Their essential criteria for a new system included:

• Cloud-native platform to reduce IT burden and support remote access
• Robust reporting tools to minimise reliance on Excel and reduce time spent on management accounts
• Integrated P2P workflows within the system, not via external plugins
• Standardised supplier and account structures across the Trust
• Enhanced visibility for budget holders, including delivery address flexibility and PDF PO emailing
• Seamless integration with budgeting software and compliance with the DfE Chart of Accounts

‍

THE SOLUTION: SAGE INTACCT FOR EDUCATION

Following a comprehensive review of the market, TDET selected ION to implement Sage Intacct for Education, a cloud-based, MAT-specific finance solution designed to streamline processes and scale with the organisation.

Sage Intacct for Education will transform finance at TDET by delivering:

• Consolidated, real-time reporting with powerful drill-down and dimensional analysis
• Flexible Purchase-to-Pay processes with automated workflows and budget holder visibility
• Streamlined supplier management  
• Integration-ready budgeting and COA alignment
• Cloud access and reduced duplication, allowing finance teams to focus on strategic tasks

“We are delighted to welcome Thomas Deacon Education Trust as a partner,” said Rob Mathieson, CEO of ION. “Their move to Sage Intacct for Education marks a significant step towards building a more efficient, resilient, and future-focused finance function — with the visibility and control they need at every level of the Trust.”

This partnership will enable TDET to eliminate duplication, simplify operations, and build a finance system that grows with their needs — all while maintaining transparency, compliance, and control.

‍

About Thomas Deacon Education Trust

Thomas Deacon Education Trust is a growing Multi-Academy Trust  and charitable organisation based in Peterborough and Huntingdon. The trust provides exceptional teaching, learning and care for more than 5,000 pupils, across a diverse range of nursery, primary and secondary schools and academies.

‍

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.

‍