The school:
Founded in 1992 and affiliated with the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE), Lycée Jules Verne offers a curriculum aligned with the French educational system, embracing secularism and cultural diversity. With campuses in Johannesburg and Pretoria, the school serves over 980 students from 76 nationalities, providing a comprehensive education from preschool to high school. The Johannesburg campus, nestled in Morningside, Sandton, caters to students throughout their schooling, while the Pretoria campus focuses on elementary education in a modern, well-equipped facility in the heart of the diplomatic quarter. This dual-campus setup enables Lycée Jules Verne to offer an environment that prepares students for global challenges, underscoring its commitment to academic excellence and multicultural understanding. Fortuné Mubeti serves as the accountant responsible for invoicing and collections at Lycée Français Jules Verne of Johannesburg, overseeing the financial aspects of an institution with an enrolment of nearly 1000 pupils.
Their academic calendar, which extends from September to June, encompasses two distinct financial years, presenting unique challenges in financial management.
Fortuné, who has been integral to the institution for over a year, plays a crucial role in navigating the complexities of school finances and ensuring the smooth operation of financial processes.
The Challenges:
The finance and administration team of the Lycée Français Jules Verne had to face considerable challenges with constant changes in staff which resulted in difficulty in retaining personnel capable of carrying out accounting and financial operations without errors.
The initial difficulties of the team highlighted the need for a streamlined and digitized approach to effectively manage the financial and administrative tasks of the school.
How Eduka responded:
In response to these challenges, the school’s Finance Director spearheaded an initiative for in-depth Eduka platform training for key personnel, including Fortuné, the Administration Director, and the IT manager.
The training focused on Eduka’s finance module with an emphasis on invoicing, billing and fees, which were critical in overcoming the schools’ operational hurdles. Fortuné specifically noted the strategic advantage of Eduka’s ability to facilitate distinct fee creation for various activities, which enhanced their financial transparency and efficiency. Understanding the settings of the platform was also a key milestone in customizing Eduka to the needs of the Lycée Jules Verne.
The platform’s batch invoicing feature and the option to set prorating parameters on fee creation have revolutionized the school’s billing process, making it more efficient and significantly reducing errors.
The Results:
The adoption of Eduka has led to a remarkable transformation in the financial management practices at the Lycée Français Jules Verne. Fortuné reports a significant boost in confidence and efficiency when handling the invoicing and financial management tasks, underscoring the pivotal role of Eduka in automating and simplifying the school’s financial operations. The reduction in errors and time savings achieved through batch invoicing and other features of the Eduka suite have underscored the value of Eduka as an indispensable tool for the school’s administration. Moreover, the ongoing support and training provided by Eduka have ensured that the team remains prepared and well-equipped for future challenges.
In Fortuné’s words:
“Eduka is quick and efficient, it saves me lots of man hours. I understand Eduka is the tool that makes work easier in our school as it automates a lot of things.”
Closing Thoughts:
Lycée Français Jules Verne’s journey with Eduka is a testament to the power of specialized software solutions in overcoming the unique challenges faced by educational institutions. Through targeted training and exceptional support, Eduka has not only streamlined the school’s financial operations but has also empowered the administration team with the knowledge and tools needed to manage their responsibilities with greater confidence and efficiency, paving the way for a more organized and effective financial management system.
Discover the Finance module that made Fortuné’s life much easier:
Unlock the Full Potential of Your School’s Financial Management with Eduka’s Finance Module
- Comprehensive Financial Toolbox: Eduka’s Finance module revolutionizes school billing and collections, offering a blend of semi-automatic and manual invoicing, alongside a suite of functions for efficient collections, analysis, and payment reminders.
- Enhanced Collection Efficiency: With features like online payment options, direct debit, and payment schedules, coupled with a user-friendly interface for both parents and staff, achieving an optimal collection rate has never been easier.
- Streamlined Financial Operations: Benefit from bulk billing capabilities for various periods or school years, multi-payer management, and real-time adjustments for billing based on student activity changes.
- Advanced Payment Solutions: Support for 12 online payment platforms, multiple direct debit formats, including SEPA, and a comprehensive aged balance feature to monitor unpaid bills risk.
- Transparent Financial Tracking: Fully managed schedules in Eduka and visibility on the Parents’ Portal ensure all stakeholders are up to date with financial obligations and statuses.
- Proactive Communication Tools: Utilize customizable reminders to target specific charges or integrate unpaid due dates, enhancing your school’s financial health.
- Parent and Company Engagement: A dedicated portal allows for an overview of dues, invoice and payment details, online bill settlement, and easy bank information submission for direct debits.
Elevate your school’s financial management to new heights with Eduka’s Finance module.
Request a demonstration today and discover first-hand the transformative impact Eduka has on schools in your region.
