Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Highbury College upgrades finance system to Symmetry - - New solution to improve reporting and support devolvement strategy

Highbury College upgrades finance system to Symmetry - New solution to improve reporting and support devolvement strategy

Bristol, UK, 15th May 2006 - Symmetry, a leading supplier of financial software has won a contract to provide an accounting system for Highbury College based in Portsmouth. The new solution will meet the College’s drive towards improved reporting, greater integration and support for self-service accounting as part of its devolvement strategy.

College Accountant at Highbury, Matt Ellcome explains their selection process following a tender involving nine suppliers, “The decision to chose Symmetry was based on a number of factors. One of the 1st things that impressed us was the depth of its reporting, and its inherent flexible accounts structure will enable us to introduce more integration of different applications including our Student system. To increase efficiencies across the College, we are keen to encourage as much involvement of non-finance staff as possible. The functionality of the Symmetry product will broaden our capability so we can adopt a devolved approach. To begin with, budget holders will be able to view clearer reports and also have the tools to initiate purchases electronically.” The college also plans to extend its devolvement policy to e-procurement as a second stage of this initiative.

He added, “Unlike our previous system, it is easy to create reports directly from the core finance system without involving separate spreadsheets. These reports can be highly personalised and this complements our move to devolved accounting, whereby budget holders have sufficient information to take more responsibility for their own expenditure. We will also use the Symmetry system to carry out automated bank reconciliation and BACS payments which in the past were done by cheque.

Highbury College which has five sites across Portsmouth, has an annual turnover of £23million. The project is due to go live in August 2006.

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Editor’s notes:

About Symmetry:

Symmetry is a software company that specialises in the development and supply of business-to-business financial solutions within the UK. The company’s core product, Symmetry Financials, is a fully integrated financial and management accounting solution already in use at over 100 UK organisations, ranging in size from £3M turnover to £250M turnover and with user populations from 2 to 800+ users.

The solution Financials includes General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Commitment Accounting with purchasing and funds control, Assets, Information Manager, real-time reporting, secure e-procurement and comprehensive systems integration with Symmetry’s EasyLink.

Press Contact:

Jane Moores
TTA Communications
Tel: 01454 318722
E-mail: jmoores@ttauk.com

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