If you’ve spent any time in the central office of a Multi-Academy Trust, you know the specific kind of dread that comes with the third week of the month.
I’ve been there. I’ve sat in those meetings trying to explain why the pension arrears from a 2023 LGPS audit are still haunting the balance sheet. I’ve seen the "manual workarounds" that become permanent, fragile fixtures of a payroll process.
AcadaFix wasn't born in a software lab. It was born out of a breaking point.
We didn't build AcadaFix because we wanted to enter the software market. We built it because we were tired of being let down by generic systems that didn't understand the unique complexities of the education sector.
| The Struggle | The Reality |
|---|---|
| The Spreadsheet Trap | Managing back-pay and spinal point increments on Excel shouldn't be a full-time job. |
| Pension Headaches | The constant friction between payroll outputs and what the LGPS or Teachers' Pensions actually require. |
| Compliance Anxiety | That nagging feeling that a single manual error is hiding a massive liability for the Trust. |
I knew that if I was going to fix this for my own MAT, it had to be more than just a "patch." It had to be a specialised tool that speaks the language of education.
Native Education Logic:
We built in the Burgundy and Green Book rules from day one. It’s not an "add-on"; it’s the DNA.
The "One-Click" Pension Audit:
We automated the reconciliation process that used to take our team three days. Now, it takes three minutes.
Built for Growth:
When we added our twentieth school, the system didn't buckle. It scaled.
I didn't want another software vendor. I wanted a solution that understood why August is the busiest month of the year and why a mid-month starter shouldn't break the pension report.
We aren't just developers; we are practitioners. We know the pressure you're under from the ESFA, the unions and your own Board. We fixed these issues for ourselves and now we’re here to help you fix them too.
No more workarounds. Just compliance.
"I spent years as a MAT finance and payroll accredited professional before I ever thought about building software. I didn't want to be a founder; I just wanted my reports to be right."
For years, our founder sat exactly where you are sitting. They dealt with the grueling reality of LGPS returns, the intricacies of the Burgundy Book, and the constant pressure of MAT audits. After realising that the "market-leading" software was actually creating more manual work than it saved, they decided to stop complaining and start building.
Driven by Purpose, Not Profit
AcadaFix was built on a not-for-profit philosophy. Having experienced the budget constraints of the education sector firsthand, the mission wasn't to build a "unicorn" company, it was to fill a glaring gap in the market.
We are built for the sector, by the sector.
If you’re the one responsible for the monthly data upload or the end-of-year certificate, you know that "good enough" isn't good enough for the LGPS or TPS..
| The Feature | Why We Built It | The Result |
|---|---|---|
| Automated Arrears Calculation | Because backdated pay awards shouldn't require a degree in forensic accounting. | Retroactive pay is calculated and allocated to the correct pension period automatically. |
| MCR & EOY Readiness | Because Monthly Contributions Reconciliation is the bane of your existence. | Pre-validated files that match the Teachers’ Pensions portal requirements exactly. |
| Spinal Point Automation | Because manual increments are where the most expensive errors hide. | Automated "look-ahead" logic that aligns with national pay scales without manual entry. |
Accredited Logic
Built by a professional who has sat in the same seat as you do.
Audit-Proof Trails
Every change, every override and every calculation is logged ready for your auditors.
Peer-to-Peer Support
When you contact us, you aren’t talking to a script-reader; you’re talking to someone who has unpicked a pension return.
- Founder & Fellow MAT Professional
We know that in a busy school office, the person handling payroll data is often a School Business Manager or an Administrator wearing ten different hats. You shouldn't need to be a payroll scientist to get people paid on time.
We’ve designed Easy-Follow Workflows that turn complex tasks into simple, step-by-step processes:
Key Dates
Upcoming deadlines at a single glance.
Simple Onboarding
No more "did I miss a field?" anxiety.
Guided Workflows
Every monthly cycle is broken down into "step-by-step" actions.
Compliance Checkpoints
Built-in safeguards for HMRC, TPS & LGPS
Visual Dashboards
Snapshot summary of payroll status, recent actions & KPIs
Never feel lost in the software again. We know that even with the best workflows, questions still pop up. That’s why we integrated AI-Ron, your dedicated, built-in payroll co-pilot. Whether you’re onboarding a new school or simply forgotten how to deal with a mid-month contract change, AI-Ron is ready to help.
At any point, simply click 'AI-Ron' and you will be walked through every screen with a full visual tour and handy tips along the way!
