​Steven Whittaker and Education Services have been Te Kura-ā-Iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano accountants for just over a year. Their accounting and financial planning advice to both kura management and governance is excellent. Steven always responds quickly to queries and regularly makes himself available to attend meetings. 

The relevance, clarity and timeliness of reporting enhances our capacity to make good financial decisions and optimise the educational benefits for our tamariki. The level of expertise in accounting for schools is matched by the manaakitanga they demonstrate to their client.  We could not be happier with the service they provide.

Heitia Raureti, Chair, Te Whānau o Te Kura-ā-iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano

The guidance and advice that I have received from Steven and the Education Services team is second to none.

Being experts in school accounting systems goes beyond just keeping good records. The team works with so many schools covering the vast range of types, sizes and structures that they can offer trusted and tested advice to support the financial direction of a school. One of the main differences between Education Services and other financial advisors is the focus on the learning, “What will be the outcome for the students?”

The ability to question, query or seek advice at anytime is invaluable for both myself and my office manager, but once again, Education Services surpasses these expectations by also training our Board of Trustees into asking the right questions and showing the areas where the lights need to be shone.

This has grown the collective understanding and responsibility for our school’s financial decisions across our board and has offered us a better platform for our long-term sustainability.

Schools are required to navigate a number of complex areas from payrolls and banked staffing through to annual budgets and cyclical maintenance. All of which require specialist knowledge and understanding that most of us have not been trained in.

Steven has an ability to explain these systems in layman’s terms and takes the time to work through each part of these processes in a manner that gives you confidence to ask questions.

​I cannot recommend the use of Education Services for financial support enough and would be happy to talk to other principal’s who are thinking about using this service.

Te Kura O Wairau (formally Somerset Crescent School) have appointed Education Services for a number of years to manage our property projects. They have been our primary contact for all of our day-to-day project management queries and processes, including all stages from planning, design work, executing, monitoring, budgeting and closing out of projects.  

They have worked alongside us effectively and efficiently, allocating resources and utilising their knowledge on all of our queries and questions on the entire project scope.  They have proven to and continue to deliver excellence in all areas of customer service as well as project management expectations.

Mel has the ability to identify any risks, potential issues and inevitable setbacks and she effectively communicates this with us to resolve these issues. She will always ensure that the best possible result is achieved and delivered. Mel has a keen understanding of our goals and always ensures those goals are incorporated in the delivery where possible and executed to our complete satisfaction. She proactively works with us and ensures that our expectations and requests are always met. The ESL Property Team has and maintains the comprehensive knowledge of all processes across all procedures and areas of our projects to ensure all MoE policy and guidelines are followed. 
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I highly recommend working alongside Education Services. I have a very positive relationship with Mel who over the 5 years I worked alongside her supported me and our kura to achieve the goals and aspirations we had within our 5YA/10YPP. 

Teena Johnson, Tumuaki/Principal, Te Kura o Wairau

Education Services have provided a complete financial property package for our school for many years. 

Specialising in working with schools, Education Services have knowledge of MOE systems and guidelines second to none. We know that their work will support our school to meet requirements, and with these ever changing, that's important. 

Financial and property management is inseparable, and the service provided by Education Services to manage this as a package makes sense for us. Monthly and annual financial reporting, annual audit and asset management is stress less. 

Property planning and review, project management, and the 'financial side" of property projects are taken care of. 

The work done by Education Services allows our school managers and administrative staff to attend to other work. All in all, it's a very efficient solution!