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Our team of experts

Our senior leadership team has over 100 years of combined education sector-specific experience, bringing together a breadth of expertise spanning finance, HR, payroll, recruitment, and technical support.

Each team member has a genuine passion for education and a profound understanding of the unique challenges schools and academies face, thanks to their hands-on practical experience of the sector.

It's this combination of multi-disciplinary knowledge and real-world insight that allows us to deliver solutions that truly make a difference for school business professionals 

 

Meet our team leads

Andi Brown

Finance Consultancy

 With over 25 years of education finance expertise, Andi is one of the driving forces behind SAAF.  Andi's hands-on approach ensures you get the very best from everything we have to offer. 

 

 

Matt Lydon

Supply & Recruitment

Matt leads our supply & recruitment arm, supporting and guiding the team with everything from day-to-day admin to major long-term placements in senior leadership positions. 

Vicky Butters

Finance Consultancy & Internal Scrutiny

Vicky brings decades of education finance leadership experience to our internal scrutiny service,  giving trustees independent assurance and practical recommendations to strengthen governance.

Andrew Pole

Finance Consultancy

Andrew has over 5 years of experience in strategic partnering with Multi- and Single academy trusts. He has held several interim CFO positions, guiding Trusts through external audit preparation and budget implementation. 

Neil Pope

Technical Services 

Neil heads our specialist helpdesk and technical support teams, and brings over 15 years of specialist finance software experience to support schools, academies, and trusts with their technical financial needs. 

Nicola Sokala

HR & Payroll

With a wealth of experience working as an HR lead in the education and private sectors, Nicola delivers strategic and operational HR advice and support to a large number of schools, academies, and trusts.  

Client feedback

The breadth of knowledge and understanding from within the education sector is a core strength we value immensely. I would describe the services as responsive, solution-focused, and flexible to our needs.

CEO, Raleigh Education Trust

We’ve had an outstanding experience with SAAF’s payroll team. They go above and beyond and are always there to answer our queries. The payroll service is highly efficient, and cost-effective for our trust.

CFO, One Academy Trust

Our school has worked with SAAF for the past 10 years for Financial support and 8 years for Payroll support. In all this time we have found them to be very efficient, helpful and supportive. All staff have great knowledge of their area of expertise and are very personable. We would highly recommend the SAAF team.

Business Manager, Glade Hill Primary School

The support from SAAF has been brilliant, with help being available as and when it is needed, allowing you to progress at your own pace. The team are very responsive, and customer driven, so knowledge of the education sector is outstanding. The support we have received has exceeded our expectations!

Finance and Operations Manager, The Blue Kite Academy Trust

Having had a poor experience with a previous external payroll provider, we entered into a new SLA with SAAF. From the initial presentation through to the diligence shown throughout the transfer the experience has been so different to what we have experienced before. Queries are answered quickly and diligently and nothing seems to be too much trouble. We are very much looking forward to a long-term relationship with SAAF.

School Business Manager, Allestree Woodlands School

Introducing SAAF to my new Trust has proved transformational and well received by the whole central team for whom IRIS/PS Financials has been revolutionised as a product and their day jobs made considerably easier. SAAF knowledge is excellent, staff are always polite and responsive, but I think the main thing is the amount and breadth of work one gets for the core support offer never ceases to amaze me.

CFO, Life Education Trust

We're a strategic partner to over 1,000 schools, academies and trusts...

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