INDUSTRY FOCUS
Education
Protea has a deep specialist focus in New Zealand education — schools, kura, early childhood and the support organisations around them. It's a sector we know well and care about deeply.
WHY SPECIALISTS MATTER
Sector knowledge that goes deeper than a checklist
Auditing a school well takes more than a generic audit programme. It takes understanding how Ministry of Education funding works, why different grants carry different conditions, how a board thinks about financial risk, and what "assurance" actually means when you're trying to run a school.
That's what specialist focus looks like in practice.
We know MoE funding inside out
Operational grants, property funding, teacher supply, and targeted programmes each carry specific reporting conditions. We know them — so you don't have to explain your context from scratch every year.
We respect your capacity
We plan our fieldwork around your team, ask only for what we need and make sure everyone in the room can follow the conversation.
Your board will understand the report
Audit reports written for boards of trustees. Clear, concise and designed to be understood by everyone around the table.
WHO WE WORK WITH
Trusted by schools and education providers of every size
State & Integrated Schools
Education and Training Act 2020
Understanding of the audit and reporting requirements schools face — including Ministry of Education reporting and Board of Trustees governance — brought from direct sector experience.
Early Childhood Services
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008
ECE subsidy acquittals, licensing compliance reporting, parent trust annual accounts and Ministry grant accountability for licensed childcare services.
Kura & Māori Medium Education
Te Aho Matua / MoE requirements
Culturally grounded assurance that respects tikanga Māori while meeting full Ministry reporting obligations for kura and bilingual programmes.
PTAs & School Support Groups
Incorporated Societies Act / Charities Act
Review and assurance for parent-teacher associations and school support groups managing fundraising and activity funds on behalf of school communities.
Private Training Establishments (PTEs)
Education and Training Act 2020 / NZQA / TEC
Financial statement audits or reviews alongside specialist compliance work — including student fee trust account audits for fee protection purposes, and reporting tied to TEC funding where applicable
SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE
What we bring to an education engagement
The regulatory environment for NZ schools is specific and layered. Here's a plain-language breakdown of the areas we navigate on your behalf.
Ministry of Education funding accountability
Operational, property, and teacher supply grants
School Property Trust reporting
Trustee accountability and property management
Board of Trustees governance frameworks
Roles, obligations, and financial oversight
TEC funding accountability
Reporting and compliance for TEC-funded tertiary and training providers
ECE licensing and subsidy acquittals
20 Hours ECE, WINZ subsidies, and licensing compliance
NZQA reporting obligations
For schools with secondary programmes
Te Aho Matua and kura frameworks
Culturally appropriate engagement
Related party and procurement review
Principal transactions and conflict of interest
"I understand how hard school boards work on very limited resources. My job is to make the audit process as smooth as possible — not to add to your load. I'll meet your team where you are, plan around your calendar and make sure the trustees who review the report can actually follow it."
Director, Protea Audit Services
OUR SERVICES
Assurance services for education providers
Most schools and ECE services need either a full audit or a review — the right choice depends on your expenses, constitution and funder requirements.
Financial Audit
Required for most state and integrated schools by the Education and Training Act 2020. Also required when specified in your constitution or by a major funder.
Review Engagement
Suitable for smaller schools, ECE services and PTAs. Provides meaningful external assurance for your board without the full scope of a statutory audit.
No surprises, ever
Every finding is discussed verbally with management before it appears in any written report.
CA ANZ members
Subject to mandatory ongoing CPD, ethical conduct standards, and professional disciplinary processes.
ISA (NZ) on every engagement
We audit to New Zealand Auditing Standards as issued by the XRB — the same independent standards applied across all registered NZ auditors.
Fixed fees, clear scope
Wherever possible we agree a fixed fee upfront. No surprise invoices as the engagement progresses.
Free initial conversation
We'll discuss your situation before proposing anything — no obligation, no cost.
Let's talk about your organisation
Whether you're planning ahead, reviewing your current arrangements or simply looking for advice, we're here to help you navigate the next steps with confidence.