Accounting Software
for Schools & Academies
Term fee billing, parent payment portal, fund accounting, and staff payroll — purpose-built for independent schools, academies, and private educational institutions in the UK and Nigeria.
No credit card required · All features included · UK & Nigeria ready
Why School Finance Teams Struggle
Schools have unique financial needs that generic accounting software ignores.
Term fee billing is a manual nightmare
Generating hundreds of fee invoices per term — with different year groups, bursaries, sibling discounts, and boarding supplements — takes weeks in spreadsheets.
Parent payment chasing drains admin time
Calling and emailing parents about overdue fees consumes finance staff time. Late collections delay payroll, supplier payments, and cash flow planning.
Restricted and unrestricted funds are mixed
Grant income, endowments, bursary funds, and operating revenue need separate tracking. Mixed accounting creates compliance risks with Charity Commission and FIRS.
VAT exemptions for education are misapplied
UK schools may be exempt from VAT on tuition but liable on other activities. Nigerian private schools often misclassify FIRS VAT obligations, risking penalties.
How PluralBooks Solves It
A complete school finance platform — term billing, parent portal, fund accounting, payroll, and compliance
Term Fee Batch Billing
Configure term bands and fee schedules once. Bulk-generate invoices for all students in a term at the click of a button. Apply per-student overrides, bursary discounts, and sibling reductions automatically.
Parent Payment Portal (PB Pay)
Parents view their child's invoices, outstanding balance, and payment history online. Pay by card, bank transfer, or in instalments. Automated reminders chase overdue fees without admin intervention.
Fund Accounting
Separate restricted and unrestricted funds in your chart of accounts. Track grant income, endowments, and bursary funds independently. Generate fund-specific P&L and balance sheet for trustees.
VAT & Tax Compliance
UK: MTD VAT with correct education exemptions (VAT Notice 701/30). Nigeria: FIRS VAT categorisation for private schools, PAYE payroll for teaching and non-teaching staff, and pension deductions.
Student & Parent Records
Maintain student enrolment, year group, and term data alongside financial records. Link parents to students for invoicing. Track bursary awards and means-test records.
Payroll for Staff
Payroll-ready accounting for teaching and support staff. UK: statutory pay, pension tracking, payroll journals. Nigeria: PAYE banding, pension (PFA), NHF schedule export. Full RTI automation on roadmap.
Let Parents Pay Fees Online — Without Admin Chasing
Parents get a secure portal to view outstanding fees, download invoices, and pay by card or bank transfer. Automated reminders send before and after due dates — your finance team focuses on strategic work, not collections.
- Parent self-service invoice portal
- Online card and bank transfer payments
- Instalment and payment plan support
- Automated reminder sequences
- Instant receipt and confirmation
- Auto-reconciles to accounts
Compliance Alignment for Schools
UK and Nigeria tax, payroll, and charity accounting requirements — all covered
MTD VAT (Education Exempt)
Correctly categorise exempt tuition fees vs. standard-rated activities per HMRC VAT Notice 701/30. Partial exemption support.
UK PAYE & Payroll
Payroll-ready accounting for teaching and non-teaching staff. Statutory pay calculations, pension auto-enrolment tracking, and payroll journal integration.
Charity & Academy Accounting
Fund accounting, restricted/unrestricted income, SOFA-style reporting, and audit trail for trustees and Charity Commission returns.
FIRS VAT for Private Schools
Correct VAT categorisation for Nigerian private school activities. Monthly VAT returns with input/output tax reconciliation.
Nigeria PAYE & Pension
PAYE banding per FIRS/state tables, pension (PFA) calculations, NHF, and monthly LIRS/SIRS schedule export for state tax authorities.
WHT on Service Suppliers
Automatic WHT deduction on supplier invoices (cleaning, maintenance, security). WHT certificates and annual FIRS schedules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can PluralBooks batch-generate term fee invoices?
Yes. Configure term bands and fee schedules once. Bulk-generate invoices for all enrolled students with per-student overrides, bursary discounts, and sibling reductions.
Can parents pay school fees online?
Yes. PB Pay (Customer Portal) gives parents a secure portal to view invoices, outstanding balances, and pay by card or bank transfer. Automated reminders chase overdue fees without admin intervention.
Does PluralBooks support fund accounting for grant or endowment income?
Yes. You can track restricted and unrestricted funds separately in the chart of accounts, with fund-level P&L and balance sheet reports for trustees and auditors.
Is PluralBooks VAT-compliant for UK independent schools?
Yes. PluralBooks supports MTD VAT with education exemption categories per HMRC VAT Notice 701/30, including partial exemption calculations.
Can Nigerian private schools use PluralBooks for payroll?
PluralBooks provides payroll-ready accounting with Nigerian PAYE tax banding, pension (PFA) calculations, NHF support, and monthly LIRS/SIRS schedule export. Full payroll automation is on the roadmap.