Effective and efficient financial management in higher education is no longer optional. Today’s institutions are looking ahead — planning for sustainability, digital growth, and more responsive financial management.
Procurement frameworks offer a structured route to modern systems, but the results depend heavily on who delivers the solution.
Choosing the right supplier is critical. A future-ready finance system must handle sector-specific needs while staying flexible enough to support long-term goals.
FinanSys brings that balance. Through UniFi and SunSystems, we provide comprehensive and configurable finance solutions that meet the operational and strategic needs of universities and colleges.
Frameworks can support change. But without the right supplier, they will not future-proof finance.
The Evolving Needs of Finance Teams in Higher Education
Finance functions across universities and colleges need to operate seamlessly across multi-campus and multi-entity structures while complying with layered statutory and acceptable reporting standards.
That includes VAT rules and HMRC digital submissions, as well as HESA, SFC, ONS, and HEPCW requirements.
At the same time, institutions must track restricted funding, manage research grants, and support detailed project-level accounting. Finance systems need to accommodate capital expenditure programmes, evolving regulatory models, and increasing scrutiny over transparency and compliance.
Static, rigid platforms are no longer sufficient. The sector requires adaptive systems with high flexibility and real-time visibility.
Why Frameworks Like APUC Are Pivotal
Framework agreements like APUC create a strategic route to procurement. They enable institutions to move quickly, but only if suppliers meet high standards.
Buyers expect flexible configurations, scalability, and a strong history of delivery.
Framework success rests on supplier credibility and the ability to balance innovation with assurance.
Suppliers like FinanSys, with UniFi and SunSystems, bring both functional strength and experience — exactly what frameworks like APUC are designed to enable.
What ‘Future-Proof’ Looks Like in Practice
A future-ready finance system is modular by design. It integrates deeply with sector-critical platforms — such as PECOS, HR/payroll systems, and student records — while providing self-service access, automated audit trails, and real-time reporting.
It supports detailed project accounting, hierarchical budgets, and multi-dimensional reporting. It must also manage multi-currency, multi-ledger, and multi-entity operations — with controls and approvals tailored to institutional structures.
Digital VAT compliance, e-invoicing, research grant management, capital project tracking, and automated bank reconciliation are not optional extras. They are base expectations.
That is why any system offered through APUC must demonstrate native capability in each.
UniFi supports organisations using PEPPOL by providing e-invoicing data in any required format. Thanks to our flexible data connectors, we can send and receive data via any API or protocol.
This enables seamless integration with your payment workflows — not only for issuing invoices but also configured for reception of e-invoices and processing them directly within our P2P Enterprise Suite.
Why FinanSys
For over 25 years, FinanSys has partnered with finance teams across education, non-profit, and public sectors.
We understand the operational realities and compliance frameworks these teams face. We also understand how to deliver systems that meet those needs today and tomorrow.
Our strength lies in our people, systems, and structure. FinanSys combines deep expertise with high-touch support.
Our UK-based consultants work side-by-side with institutions, offering configuration, training, implementation, and responsive aftercare.
Every client is assigned a dedicated customer success manager. Our high staff-to-customer ratio means you are always supported.
Our technology stack includes:
UniFi — a modern, intuitive platform designed to adapt to the way institutions operate. It provides powerful finance and accounting automation, autonomous processes, as well as configurable dashboards and real-time business intelligence. UniFi supports e-invoicing, project tracking, digital VAT submission, layered budgeting structures, forecasting and scenario planning among other unique capabilities and use cases. It is built for integration and comes with API capability for secure interoperability with PECOS, HR/payroll, and student systems. Our platform is ISO 27001 certified and SOC 2 Type 2 compliant.
SunSystems — a globally respected financial management system, trusted by thousands of users. It offers granular control, flexible chart of accounts, and real-time multidimensional analysis. With support for capital and project accounting, fund tracking, budget versioning, and consolidated reporting, SunSystems aligns directly with APUC’s specification for financial control, scalability, and reporting compliance.
By purchasing SunSystems Cloud or opting for enhanced support from FinanSys, you will receive one full UniFi user subscription license for each supported user — valid for as long as you remain on support. This offer from FinanSys means institutions working with us can meet their financial management needs and regulatory responsibilities without additional suppliers or bolt-ons which drive up costs.
Ready for the Framework
Our platforms meet the APUC specification across all key areas — including multi-entity support, digital VAT, e-invoicing, role-based authorisations, hierarchical budgeting, HESA and SFC reporting formats, and integration with PECOS and student systems.
But we go further. Where some providers offer only software, we deliver outcomes. We work as transformation partners — bringing expertise, flexibility, and long-term support.
What Next?
You can explore how UniFi and SunSystems, delivered through FinanSys, provide not only fit-for-purpose functionality, but also a pathway to finance transformation. Get in touch with us now to get started!
