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2023-12-31-accounts

Registered Charity Number: 1161218 Company Number: 09349804

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Consolidated Accounts

for the year ended 31 December 2023

Critchleys Audit LLP

Chartered Accountants Oxford

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Association information

Chair: Emma Woodcock
Treasurer: Sarah Cockrill
Vice Chair: James Crooks
Secretary: Matthew Flower
CEO: Deborah Green
Registered Charity Number: 1161218
Registered Office: UCISA c/o Critchleys LLP
Beaver House
23-38 Hythe Bridge Street
Oxford
Oxfordshire
OX1 2EP
Auditor: Critchleys Audit LLP
Beaver House
23-38 Hythe Bridge Street
Oxford
OX1 2EP
Business Address: UCISA
Ruskin College
Dunstan road
Old Headington
Oxford
OX3 9BZ
Bankers: Barclays Bank plc
54 Cornmarket Street
Oxford
OX1 3HB

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Contents

Page
Trustees' Annual Report 1-7
Auditors Report 8-11
Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities 12
Consolidated and Charity Balance Sheet 13
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 14
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 15-26

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Trustees' Annual Report for the financial year ended on 31 December 2023

Introduction

This document is the annual report of the trustees of UCISA (the Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association). The Trustees for 2023 were elected at the Annual General Meeting according to the procedures laid out in the Articles of Association. The 2023 Annual General Meeting took place virtually on Thursday 8[th] of June 2023 via Microsoft Teams.

Trustees

The following trustees were elected at the 2023 Annual General Meeting:

Ms. Emma Woodcock, Chair*

*Denotes that the office holder was already a trustee having been elected at a previous AGM

** Denotes that the person elected was already a co-opted trustee

The following remained as trustees, their term of office not having expired:

Ms. Sarah Cockrill, Treasurer

Mr. Matthew Flower, Secretary

Mr. Vipin Ahlawat, Elected Trustee

Ms. Nathalie Czechowski, Elected Trustee

The following were co-opted as trustees on 10 June 2023:

Ms. Karen Bates

Mr. Nicholas Gilbert

Mr. Mark Johnston

Mr. Iain McCracken

During the financial year, Mr. Adrian Ellison stepped down as Chair at the 2023 AGM, his term of office having expired. The Trustees would like to record their thanks to him noting in particular his dedication and skill in steering UCISA through a challenging period of sustained and substantial change.

Structure, governance and management

UCISA is a membership organisation which exists to promote and advance education for the public benefit in information systems and digital technologies and their use in education and research, primarily in UK universities and colleges. UCISA is a Registered Charity (Charity number 1161218) and a company limited by guarantee (Company number 09349804) having previously operated as a Charitable Trust (Charity number 277747). The Charitable Trust became dormant in December 2015 having transferred its assets and liabilities to the new Charity and Company, i.e. the current UCISA also referred to as CCLG (Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee). Finally, the Charitable Trust was dissolved in July 2017. UCISA operates under the terms laid out in the Articles of Association which are available from the Companies House website (https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/09349804/filing-history).

UCISA has four categories of membership:

1

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

for the financial year ended on 31 December 2023

Structure, governance and management (continued)

Under the terms of the Articles of Association of the CCLG, each Full member institution is entitled to a single vote at General Meetings. Affiliate, Corporate and Individual members may attend and speak at General Meetings but shall not have the right to vote. Trustees are elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Association, under the terms of the Articles of Association.

UCISA is comprised of two entities, a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee, UCISA, and its wholly owned trading subsidiary, UCISA Services Limited. UCISA was granted charitable status on 9 April 2016. Since 2018 governance is carried out by the UCISA Board of Trustees, which has responsibility for strategic development, and corporate and financial compliance, and the Leadership Council which is the focal point for membership engagement and management of the delivery of resources and publications.

The Articles state (section 5.6) that no person shall be a trustee for more than eight consecutive years, except in exceptional circumstances where such extension is authorised by a majority of 75% of Members attending and entitled to vote at an AGM. This allows the Association to plan succession for the officer positions, although the Articles allow for any representative of a full member institution to stand for a position of office at an Annual General Meeting.

The Association is committed to offering training to its trustees. All Trustees receive a copy of The Essential Trustee and commit to reading it. All trustees have undertaken training on the role and duties in July 2023. Further training for all trustees will take place after the 2024 AGM.

UCISA's work is largely carried out by volunteers from the universities and colleges sector. This work is supported by the UCISA Office team.

Objectives and activities for the public benefit

The objective of UCISA remains: to promote and advance education for public benefit in information systems and digital technologies and their use in education and research and no other purposes.

UCISA continues to make good progress against its strategic plan Building on Success- Strategic Plan 2022 to 2027 which sets out our clear ambition, building on the solid foundations laid through delivery of the previous strategy.

UCISA's mission, to Connect, Share and Transform remains unchanged and we continue to make strong progress in all three areas where we have set goals:

Each of our special interest groups have forward plans to support delivery against these goals.

These aims have been fulfilled in the accounting period as follows:

2

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

for the financial year ended on 31 December 2023

Objectives and activities for the public benefit (Continued)

The trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers or duties.

Achievements and performance

UCISA was proud to celebrate our 30[th] Anniversary in 2023 taking time to mark the transformation that has occurred in our organisation over the past 5 years to make UCISA the vibrant organisation that it is today.

The status of a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee has given UCISA the ability to identify and purchase resources on behalf of its membership. As outlined above, the trustees have sought to invest in projects to deliver quality collateral to its membership and activities that meet members needs in a challenging and ever-changing sector environment.

The Trustees continue to invest in projects and resources to ensure that the organisation is fit for purpose, is able to continue to achieve its charitable objectives and to provide value to members. 2023 saw the continuation of our new hybrid events model, delivering a full programme of face-to face conferences and events that our members value, alongside a vibrant monthly online programme of virtual events. This change in our service model has enabled many more people to engage actively in UCISA meetings and events with 9,411 registered delegates for events during 2023, our highest attendance figure to date.

3

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

for the financial year ended on 31 December 2023

Achievements and performance (Continued)

We delivered a very successful Leadership Conference in Liverpool in March 2023 with members remarking on the opportunity this created for them to meet colleagues and suppliers face-to-face. Feedback from the conference was very positive, as UCISA members addressed some of the key issues facing the sector: recruiting and retaining talent, cyber security, sustainability, and digital leadership. A record number of Institutional and Corporate members attended Leadership Conference, with the UCISA team still taking bookings on the opening day from suppliers realising that they had to be part of the conversation.

As this was the second post pandemic conference we conducted a thorough review of our Leadership Conference Event and worked hard throughout 2023 to introduce many incremental changes in response to feedback received publishing details of the changes we were making to our 2024 conference as a result.

2023 also saw UCISA embark on a five-year delivery plan that will see the ambition of our strategic goal; to enable the professional development of individuals and enhance the collective expertise of our community, become a reality. We delivered a pilot Mentoring Scheme during the year with a view to wider rollout throughout our community in 2024. A survey seeking members views on training needs was issued in early February 2023 to inform the allocation of resources to best meet the member needs identified.

In addition, mindful of the considerable financial pressures the education sector is under, Trustees agreed to significantly extend the UCISA Bursary scheme for 2023 offering a plus one scheme allowing every delegate booking a full package at any of our conferences to nominate a colleague who has not previously attended the event, would benefit from it but who might not otherwise be able to attend, to receive a bursary funded place. In addition, we provided a bursary funded place at Leadership Conference for all the shortlisted candidates for the UCISA Rising Star award. We also funded a number of colleagues to speak at relevant (non UCISA) conferences and events such as the EUNIS conference in June.

Our representation work did not diminish during the year, with UCISA supporting institutional members in facing the many and varied challenges that emerged. This work with suppliers, focused on ensuring service levels remained fit for purpose and delivered value for money, challenged practices that adversely impacted our sector at a time of continued financial pressure and ensured that appropriate standards of security were being met and maintained. We are particularly grateful to our committed members who serve on the working groups that support our representation work. Over 50 members were involved in these working groups in 2023, helping to ensure UCISA lives up to its strategic goal of representing members with authority and authenticity.

Our special Interest groups, working parties and collaborations with sector partners also ensured we continued to achieve our mission to connect digital professionals, enable them to share best practice and so transform .

The Trustees would like to record their thanks to all of our Special Interest Groups, their Chairs and committees and to the chairs and members of our various Communities of Practice, working parties and representation groups for their dedication and commitment throughout 2023. Their dedication supported and facilitated the huge increase in outputs that our hybrid events programme brought and provided inspiration, content and thought leadership for the benefit of all.

The Trustees are pleased to report that UCISA maintained full business and service continuity during yet another period of significant change and would like to record their thanks to the UCISA staff team for their hard work and dedication in bringing this about.

Financial performance

Total income for the group for the year was £2,141,798 (2022: £1,801,089). The net movement in funds for the year was £447,372 (2022: £432,899). The free reserves available to UCISA are £2,893,214 as at 31 December 2023. The restricted reserves which are not available for the general purpose of the charity are £587,545.

4

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association Trustees' Annual Report (continued) for the financial year ended on 31 December 2023

Financial performance (Continued)

The Trustees have determined that the charity should hold free cash reserves sufficient to cover 12 months core operating costs, which would equate to £1,861,858. The reason for this is to provide sufficient working capital to provide a cushion to deal with any reduction in income levels in future years due to sector constraints, together with unexpected emergencies such as long-term staff absences, external environmental influences, pandemic etc. The Trustees expectation is that the balance of reserves over and above this sum (£1,031,356 as at 31st December 2023) will be sufficient for the following strategic purposes:

The board reviews ongoing performance against this policy on a regular basis.

The Reserves Policy is stated at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) as part of the discussion of the annual accounts and we continue to maintain sufficient reserves to meet UCISA's strategic ambitions and liabilities.

The Trustees have assessed the risks and current liabilities and regard it as prudent to have held a sum in reserves against the cost of operating the association for a period of approximately 12 months without income to be able to withstand uninsured or uninsurable financial losses associated with the failure of a major conference event. The Trustees regularly review the level of reserves during the period of trading to ensure it is proportionate to the risks and to fund any strategic investments required.

This year has seen further implementation of our strategic plan for 2022 to 2027 building on the transformation activity already achieved. The Board is committed to underpinning the strategic plan by investing significant reserves over the next 4 years. A full business review was conducted in 2022/23 to assess if the tools in place were suitable to support delivery of the current UCISA strategy. As a result of the review, procurement has been completed for a new business system and implementation is underway. Other investments include personnel and services that ensure we can maximise membership value and continue to deliver a rich portfolio of high-quality events and services.

As set out in the investment policy, the investment committee meet biannually and review the status of our investment portfolio with our portfolio managers ‘Brewin Dolphin’. The investment committee was happy with the current value of our investment portfolio and will continue to monitor to ensure we are getting best value for our members. We continued to be agile in our delivery of both virtual and face-to-face events.

The Budget proposed for 2024 and the initial draft budget for 2025 continue to ensure that the core operating costs are covered by membership and event income, whilst maintaining sufficient reserves to invest in our strategic ambitions, fund bursaries and development work and mitigate known risks. We recognize the sector is under increased financial pressure with budgetary constraints being faced by many institutions. We are scenario planning around potential impacts for UCISA including a reduction in membership. renewals and attendance at events. The scenario planning focus is to ensure we can continue to provide the high level of value to the sector we currently offer with potentially a reduction in income.

Fundraising

UCISA's funds are generated from membership income and surpluses from charitable activities. The Charity does not raise funds from the public.

Future plans

The objective of UCISA remains: to promote and advance education for public benefit in information systems and digital technologies and their use in education and research and no other purposes.

5

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Trustees' Annual Report (continued) for the financial year ended on 31 December 2023

Future Plans (Continued)

In last year’s report we acknowledged that the increased level of member services that our hybrid events programme and strong representation ethos has delivered had highlighted the fact that our business systems are no longer fit for purpose. In 2023 we therefore embarked on an ambitious investment programme to update our technology environment and mature our digital capability. We made significant progress during the financial year, appointing a project lead, undertaking a significant procurement exercise, completing a thorough Discovery programme, and agreeing an implementation plan to commence in 2024. This step change in maturity of the organisation will support the delivery of UCISA’s ambitious 5- year strategic plan by investing in a technology environment that delivers an engaging member experience, with rich data to drive further development of UCISA member services.

The proposed solution will comprise of a broad range of functionality and encompass all functions within a single membership solution, that will really place members at the heart of the organisation. Our Representation work on behalf of the sector has continued to grow exponentially over the past twelve months and this trend is likely to continue. This work is particularly valued by our membership and makes a significant contribution to the sector. We will therefore be investing in resource to support and enable more of this work to be undertaken on behalf of the sector through the appointment to a new role of Head of Representation and Policy in early 2024.

In addition, our success in harnessing the power of our member voice hassled to many more agencies and sector bodies seeking UCISA’s involvement to assist their work. To ensure our CEO can continue to operate at the highest strategic levels we will be appointing a Head of Operations to join our management team in 2024.

Our Strategic planning meeting in July 2023 agreed that a Constitutional Review should be undertaken, under the leadership of former UCISA Chair, Adrian Ellison. This Review will be completed during 2024 and the findings presented to our Trustees and Leadership Council at our Strategic Planning meeting over two days in July 2024. This annual event ensures that we monitor progress effectively throughout the lifespan of the Strategic Plan, reviews and evaluates priorities to adapt to any changing needs that emerge, ensures strong alignment of activities and drives strong and effective governance.

Harnessing the collective strength of our membership voice, we will continue to provide the IT and digital practitioners in the UK Education sector with the tools to be leaders in digital transformation and IT developments, an example being the planned relaunch of our Inf sec Course for members in April 2024, following a complete redesign.

In this way we believe that UCISA will continue to meet its charitable object to promote and advance education for the public benefit in information systems and digital technologies and their use in education and research.

Trustees' responsibilities statement

The trustees (who are also directors of the Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

6

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

for the financial year ended on 31 December 2023

Trustees' responsibilities statement (Continued)

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the trustees are aware:

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

This report has been prepared having taken advantage of the small companies' exemption in the Companies Act 2006.

Signature and declaration

I declare, in my capacity of charity trustee, that:

the trustees have approved the above report; and have

authorised me to sign it on their behalf.

…………………………………………………………….

Sarah Cockrill -Treasurer

08/05/2024

Signed on behalf of the trustees on ……………………….

7

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association (the 'parent charitable company') and its subsidiaries (the 'group') for the year ended 31 December 2023 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities, the Consolidated and Charity Balance Sheets, the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group and parent charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group and parent charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the trustees annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

8

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the group and parent charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors' report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees' responsibilities statement set out on page 6, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the group's and parent charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the group or the parent charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists.

Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

9

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements (Continued)

Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:

We assessed the susceptibility of the charity’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:

To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:

10

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements (Continued)

There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the trustees and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.

Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities.

This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Katherine Wilkes (Senior Statutory Auditor)

9/5/24 Date ……………………………..……….

For and on behalf of Critchleys Audit LLP Beaver House 23-38 Hythe Bridge Street Oxford OX1 2EP

11

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities

(including income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 December 2023

Notes
Income from:
Charitable Activities
Events, exhibitions and sponsorship
2,13
Other trading activities
Membership Subscriptions
Investments
3
Other
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Cost of raising income
5
Charitable activities
Events, exhibitions and sponsorship
2
Projects and surveys
6
Publicity and awards
7
Total expenditure
4
Net income before net gains on investments
Gains on investments
13
Net movement in funds
18
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Total funds caried forward		 Unrestricted
Funds
2023
£
1,242,722
882,110
64,368
2,598
2,191,798
866,033
877,869
11,117
25,426
1,780,445
411,353
68,506
479,859
2,429,108
2,908,967		 Restricted
Funds
2023
£
-
-
-
-
-
18,807
-
-
13,680
32,487
(32,487)
-
(32,487)
620,032
587,545		 Total
Funds
2023
£
1,242,722
882,110
64,368
2,598
2,191,798
884,840
877,869
11,117
39,106
1,812,932
378,866
68,506
447,372
3,049,140
3,496,512		 Unrestricted
Funds
2022
£
1,013,876
765,862
21,351
-
1,801,089
596,851
731,889
9,920
(3,069)
1,335,591
465,498
-
465,498
1,963,610
2,429,108		 Restricted
Funds
2022
£
-
-
-
-
-
18,919
-
-
13,680
32,599
(32,599)
-
(32,599)
652,631
620,032		 Total
Funds
2022
£
1,013,876
765,862
21,351
-
1,801,089
615,770
731,889
9,920
10,611
1,368,190
432,899
-
432,899
2,616,241
3,049,140

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities. The consolidated Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised during the year.

The notes on pages 15 to 27 form an integral part of these financial statements.

12

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Consolidated and Charity Balance Sheets as at 31 December 2023

Notes
Fixed Assets
Tangible fixed assets
11
Intangible fixed assets
12
Investments
13
Current Assets
Investments
13
Debtors
15
Cash at bank and in hand
Total Current Assets
Creditors: Amounts falling
due within one year
16
Net Current Assets
Net Assets
19
Funds:
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Total funds
18		 Group
2023
£
15,753
-
2,157,763
2,173,516
-
567,525
2,121,649
2,689,174
(1,366,178)
1,322,996
3,496,512
2,908,967
587,545
3,496,512		 Charity
2023
£
15,753
-
2,157,863
2,173,616
-
873,830
1,246,317
2,120,147
(1,154,905)
965,242
3,138,858
2,551,313
587,545
3,138,858		 Group
2022
£
14,390
18,000
-
32,390
2,082,209
336,387
1,640,140
4,058,736
(1,041,986)
3,016,750
3,049,140
2,429,108
620,032
3,049,140		 Charity
2022
£
14,390
18,000
-
32,390
2,082,309
587,748
972,103
3,642,160
(900,249)
2,741,911
2,774,301
2,154,269
620,032
2,774,301

The notes on pages 15 to 27 form an integral part of these financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.

Approved by the trustees on …………….…….. and signed on their behalf by: 08/05/2024

……………………………………………………………..

Sarah Cockrill Treasurer

Company number: 09349804 Charity number: 1161218

13

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows For the Year Ended 31st December 2023

Note
Net cash flow from operating activities
20
Cash flow from investing activities
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Investment income received
Purchase of fixed asset investments
Disposal of fixed asset investments
Net cash flow from investing activities
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and
cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at
1st January
Cash and cash equivalents at
31st December
Cash and cash equivalents consist of:
Cash at bank and in hand
Cash held as part of investment portfolio
Short term deposits
Cash and cash equivalents at
31st December		 Group
2023
£
433,670
(9,481)
64,368
(2,098,394)
25,000
(2,018,507)
(1,584,837)
3,722,349
2,137,512
2,121,649
15,863
-
2,137,512		 Group
2022
£
172,402
(14,587)
21,351
-
-
6,764
179,166
3,543,183
3,722,349
1,640,140
-
2,082,209
3,722,349		 Charity
2023
£
232,687		 Charity
2022
£
344,522
(9,481)
58,056
(2,098,394)
25,000
(2,024,819)
(1,792,132)
3,054,312
1,262,180
1,246,317
15,863
-
1,262,180		 (14,587)
20,768
-
-
6,181
350,703
2,703,609
3,054,312
972,103
-
2,082,209
3,054,312

The notes on pages 15 to 27 form an integral part of these financial statements.

14

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2023

1. Accounting policies

1.1 Basis of preparation

The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

The charity’s legal form is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is incorporated in England and Wales. Its registered office is C/O Critchleys LLP Beaver House, 23-38 Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, OX1 2EP.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with:

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes. The presentation currency used is British Pounds Sterling which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.

1.2 Basis of consolidation

The consolidated statement of financial activities (SOFA) and consolidated balance sheet consolidate the financial statements of the charity and its subsidiary undertaking UCISA Services Limited. The results of the subsidiary are consolidated on a line by line basis. A separate Statement of Financial Activities and Income and Expenditure Account for the charity has not been presented because the charity has taken advantage of the exemption afforded by Companies Act 2006, s.408.

1.3 Income

All income is included in the SOFA when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.

Membership subscriptions, excluding VAT, are included in the SOFA in the year to which they relate.

Income from charges made for organising conferences, seminars and workshops represents the value of services provided during the year, excluding VAT.

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable.

1.4

Expenditure

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis, and is allocated to charitable expenditure, publicity expenses, awards, support costs and governance costs as follows:

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Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2023

Liabilities are recognised as resources expended as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Charity to the expenditure, and which is quantifiable.

1.5

Tangible assets

Tangible assets are stated at cost (or deemed cost) less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Cost includes costs directly attributable to making the asset capable of operating as intended.

Depreciation is provided on all tangible assets, at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset on a systematic basis over its expected useful life as follows:

Computer equipment 33.33% straight line Office equipment 33.33 % straight line

1.6 Intangible assets

Intangible assets are amortised on a straight line basis over their useful lives. The useful lives of intangible assets are as follows:

Intangible Type Useful life Reason Computer Software 8 years Assessment of period of use concluded asset useable through to the end of 2023.

1.7

Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered.

1.8

Creditors

Creditors are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement amount.

1.9

Investments

Investments are stated in the balance sheet at fair value at the balance sheet date. The SOFA includes the net gains and losses on revaluations and disposals throughout the year.

1.10 Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and deposits.

1.11 Fund accounting

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

1.12

Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the Trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The Trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements.

1.13

Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

In the application of the company’s accounting policies, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not apparent from other sources. The estimates as associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision effects only that period, or in the period of revision and future periods where the revision affects both the current and future periods.

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Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2023

The main judgements and estimates are:

2 Income from charitable activities:

Conferences
Sponsorships
Salary recharge
All income is unrestricted.
3.
Investment income
Bank interest receivable
Interest on investments
Dividends received
All income from investments is unrestricted.		 2023
£
1,138,422
104,300
-
1,242,722
2023
£
18,002
28,457
17,909
64,368		 2022
£
960,126
47,250
6,500
1,013,876
2022
£
21,351
-
-
21,351

4. Analysis of Expenditure

Note
Events, exhibitions and
sponsorship
2
Projects and surveys
6
Publicity and awards
7
Costs of raising voluntary income
5		 Direct
Costs
£
877,869
11,117
39,106
366,051
1,294,143		 Support
Costs
£
-
-
-
518,789
518,789		 2023
Total
£
877,869
11,117
39,106
884,840
1,812,932		 2022
Total
£
731,889
9,920
10,611
615,770
1,368,190

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Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2023

Note
Events, exhibitions and
sponsorship
2
Projects and surveys
6
Publicity and awards
7
Costs of raising voluntary income
5		 Direct
Costs
£
731,889
9,920
10,611
193,078
945,498		 Support
Costs
£
-
-
-
422,692
422,692
,		 2022
Total
£
731,889
9,920
10,611
615,770
1,368,190		 2021
Total
£
154,084
21,871
13,680
564,845
754,480

5. Costs of raising voluntary income

Administration
Bank charges
IT costs
Meeting expenses
Public liability insurance
Amortisation and
depreciation
Mentoring
Governance costs
(see note 8)
Salaries
Recruitment fees
Infrastructure
Legal and professional fees
Less recharged to event
costs (USL)		 Direct
costs
£
-
-
49,695
12,458
5,649
18,000
-
-
515,521
-
-
-
(235,272)
366,051		 Support
costs
£
39,107
12,864
124,240
-
-
8,118
47
82,011
138,590
1,886
27,381
84,545
-
518,789		 2023
£
39,107
12,864
173,935
12,458
5,649
26,118
47
82,011
654,111
1,886
27,381
84,545
(235,272)
884,840		 Direct
costs
£
-
-
20,947
11,481
4,182
18,000
-
-
339,271
-
-
-
(200,803)
193,078		 Support
costs
£
61,617
7,646
104,536
-
-
3,451
31
54,222
156,451
1,545
33,193
-
-
422,692		 2022
£
61,617
7,646
125,483
11,481
4,182
21,451
31
54,222
495,722
1,545
33,193
-
(200,803)
615,770

Total restricted expenditure included in the above is £18,807 (2022: £18,919)

6. Projects and surveys

TEL Survey
CISG Annual Survey
Survey software		 2023
£
7,917
3,200
-
11,117		 2022
£
3,250
1,500
5,170
9,920

Total restricted expenditure included in the above is £nil (2022: £nil).

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Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2023

7. Publicity and awards

UCISA bursaries
London Legacy Fund		 2023
£
25,426
13,680
39,106		 2022
£
(3,069)
13,680
10,611

Total restricted expenditure included in the above is £13,680 (2022: £13,680)

8. Governance costs

Salary costs
Administration
Auditor fees:
Audit
Other work
Meeting expenses
Legal and professional fees		 2023
£
34,427
2,058
9,250
2,610
1,520
32,146
82,011		 2022
£
15,454
2,445
10,265
11,245
604
14,209
54,222
9.
Staff costs
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs
Temporary staff		 2023
£
574,789
42,921
35,897
-
653,607		 2022
£
437,570
46,724
25,600
1,282
511,176

During the year, there was an average of 13 (2022: 9) persons employed by UCISA. None are employed by the subsidiary company.

1 person received total employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) between £60,001 and £70,000 (2022: one person), and 1 person received total employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) between £130,001 and £140,000 in the year (2022: one person).

The key management personnel are the trustees and the executive team. The total employee benefits, including employer’s NI and pension, paid to key management personnel was £343,598 (2022: £160,950).

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Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2023

10. Trustees' remuneration and reimbursed expenses

No remuneration was paid to the Trustees during the period (2022: £nil). Travelling expenses in connection with conferences, workshops, training and administration amounting to £2,774 (2022: £54) were reimbursed to certain committee members during the year.

UCISA bursaries of £1,350 were paid to 3 trustees in the year.

11. Tangible fixed assets

The group and charity
Cost as at 1 January 2023
Additions
Cost as at 31 December 2023
Depreciation as at 1 January 2023
Charge for the year
Accumulated depreciation as at 31 December
2023
Net book value at 31 December 2023
Net book value at 31 December 2022
All of the above assets are used for charitable purposes.		 Office
Equipment
£
1,119
2,295
3,414
710
936
1,646
1,768
409		 Computer
Equipment
£
18,861
7,186
26,047
4,880
7,182
12,062
13,985
13,981		 Total
£
19,980
9,481
29,461
5,590
8,118
13,708
15,753
14,390
12.
Intangible fixed assets
The group and charity
Cost as at 1 January 2023
Cost at 31 December 2023
Amortisation as at 1 January 2023
Charge for the year
Accumulated amortization at 31 December 2023
Net book value at 31 December 2023
Net book value at 31 December 2022		 Computer
Software
£
360,000
360,000
342,000
18,000
360,000
-
18,000

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Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2023

13. Investments

(a) Group
Cost or valuation
At 1 January 2023
Additions
Disposal proceeds
Cash movements
Transfer out
Revaluation
At 31 December 2023
Charity
Cost or valuation
At 1 January 2023
Additions
Disposal proceeds
Cash movements
Transfer out
Revaluation
At 31 December 2023		 Subsidiary
Undertaking
£
100
-
-
-
-
-
100		 COIF
Deposit
Fund
£
2,082,209
-
-
11,582
(2,093,791)
-
-
COIF
Deposit
Fund
£
2,082,209
-
-
11,582
(2,093,791)
-
-		 Listed
Investments
£
-
2,098,394
(25,000)
-
-
68,506
2,141,900
Listed
Investments
£
-
2,098,394
(25,000)
-
-
68,506
2,141,900		 Cash
£
-
-
25,000
(9,137)
-
-
15,863
Cash
£
-
-
25,000
(9,137)
-
-
15,863		 Total
£
2,082,209
2,098,394
-
2,445
(2,093,791)
68,506
2,157,763
Total
£
2,082,309
2,098,394
-
(2,445)
(2,093,791)
68,506
2,157,863
(b) Analysis of Investments
Equities
Fixed interest securities
Other securities
Cash
Total group
Equity investment in subsidiary (note 14)
Total charity		 2023
£
1,332,775
504,884
304,241
15,863
2,157,763
100
2,157,863		 2022
£
-
-
-
2,082,209
2,082,209
100
2,082,309

The historical cost of the listed investments was £2,088,059 (2022: £2,088,059). In the 2022 accounts the COIF Deposit Fund was included as a current asset investment. It is included above to show the movements to closure in the year.

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Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2023

14 . Subsidiary undertaking

The charity owns the whole of the issued ordinary share capital of UCISA Services Limited (company 08818902, registered in England and Wales). Its registered office is C/O Critchleys LLP, Beaver House, 23-38 Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford OX1 2EP, and it has an issued share capital of £100.

UCISA Services Limited supports the activity of the charity in servicing the needs of the charity’s membership within the Further and Higher Education sectors. Activities are consolidated on a line by line basis in the Statement of Financial Activities. Available profits are distributed under Gift Aid to the parent charity.

Deborah Green, CEO, and Matthew Flower and Sarah Cockrill, trustees, are also directors of UCISA Services Limited.

A summary of the results of the subsidiary is shown below:

Turnover
Cost of sales
Operating surplus
Administrative and overhead costs
Operating surplus on ordinary activities
Interest receivable and similar income
Total comprehensive income
Retained earnings
Total retained earnings brought forward
Total comprehensive income
Distribution under Gift Aid to parent charity
Total retained earnings carried forward
Balance sheet
Assets
Liabilities
Net assets
Represented by:
Capital
Reserves		 2023
£
1,242,722
(877,868)
364,854
(16,333)
348,521
6,312
354,833
274,840
354,833
(272,019)
357,654
1,294,871
(937,117)
357,754
100
357,654
357,754		 2022
£
1,013,876
(731,887)
281,989
(10,554)
271,435
583
272,018
62,987
272,018
(60,165)
274,840
797,206
(522,266)
274,940
100
274,840
274,940

Amounts owed to/from the parent undertaking are shown in note 15.

Included in cost of sales above are salary recharges of £235,272 (2022: £200,803) from the parent entity.

22

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2023

15. Debtors

Due within one year:
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued
income
Amounts due from group
undertaking
Loan to group undertaking		 Group
2023
£
448,968
118,557
-
-
567,525		 Charity
2023
£
246,315
24,108
499,907
103,500
873,830		 Group
2022
£
227,949
108,438
-
-
336,387		 Charity
2022
£
192,488
17,993
377,267
-
587,748

16. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors
Accruals
Deferred income
Other creditors
Other taxes and social security
VAT		 Group
2023
£
56,535
85,493
1,054,050

854
21,023
148,223
1,366,178		 Charity
2023
£
55,872
82,243
724,253
854
21,023
270,660
1,154,905		 Group
2022
£
45,004
60,107
810,091
247
19,667
106,870
1,041,986		 Charity
2022
£
11,128
55,607
703,488
226
19,667
110,133
900,249

17. Deferred income

Deferred income comprises membership subscriptions and event income relating to the following financial year and onwards.

Movements on deferred income during the year were:

Brought forward as at 1 January 2023
Amount released to income in the year
Amount deferred in year
Balance carried forward as at 31 December 2023		 Group
£
810,091
(810,091)
1,054,050
1,054,050		 Charity
£
703,488
(703,488)
724,253
724,253

23

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2023

18. Movement of funds

Restricted Funds:
London Legacy Fund
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds:
Unrestricted funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
rior year funds movements
Restricted Funds:
London Legacy Fund
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds:
Unrestricted funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds		 At
1 January
2023
£
620,032
620,032
2,429,108
2,429,108
3,049,140
At
1 January
2022
£
652,631
652,631
1,963,610
1,963,610
2,616,241		 Income &
Gains
£
-
-
2,260,304
2,260,304
2,260,304
Income &
Gains
£
-
-
1,801,089
1,801,089
1,801,089		 Expenditure
& Losses
£
(32,487)
(32,487)
(1,780,445)
(1,780,445)
(1,812,932)
Expenditure
& Losses
£
(32,599)
(32,599)
(1,335,591)
(1,335,591)
(1,368,190)		 Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-		 At
31
December
2023
£
587,545
587,545
2,908,967
2,908,967
3,496,512
At
31
December
2022
£
620,032
620,032
2,429,108
2,429,108
3,049,140

Prior year funds movements

The purpose of the London Legacy Fund (restricted funds) is to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of the information technology services used by further and higher education institutions in London and the South East of England.

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Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2023

19. Analysis of net assets between funds

Tangible fixed assets
Fixed asset investments
Current assets
Current liabilities
Tangible fixed assets
Intangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
587,545
-
587,545
Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
620,032
-
620,032		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
15,753
2,157,763
2,101,629
(1,366,178)
2,908,967
Unrestricted
Funds
£
14,390
18,000
3,438,704
(1,041,986)
2,429,108		 Total
2023
£
15,753
2,157,763
2,689,174
(1,366,178)
3,496,512
Total
2022
£
14,390
18,000
4,058,736
(1,041,986)
3,049,140

20. Reconciliation of net income to net cash flow from operation activities

Net income for year
Investment income receivable
Amortisation and depreciation
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
Revaluation gain
Net cash flow from operating activities		 Group
2023
£
447,372
(64,368)
26,118
(231,138)
324,192
(68,506)
433,670		 Group
2022
£
432,899
(21,351)
21,451
(47,126)
(213,471)
-
172,402		 Charity
2023
£
364,556
(58,056)
26,118
(286,082)
254,657
(68,506)
232,687		 Charity
2022
£
221,046
(20,768)
21,451
48,309
74,484
-
344,522

21. Contingent Liability

As at the year end, the charity had reported an error in previous VAT returns to HMRC. It has not yet been determined whether a penalty will be issued, however based on an assessment by an external consultant, the charity believes it is unlikely. Therefore, no provision has been included within the accounts in respect of this item, which is estimated to have a maximum value of £11,375 (2022: £nil).

22. Related parties

During the year the Charity undertook the following transactions:

25

Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2023

The wholly owned trading subsidiary UCISA Services Limited is incorporated in the United Kingdom and pays all of its profits to the charity by Gift Aid. The charity owns the entire share capital of 100 shares of £1 each.

26