SIMS & (insert your finance package here!)

[number34]

We used to use SIMS & FMS but new bursar didn't like FMS(who does....) and persuaded powers that be that Corero(Civica??) was the way forward. Just a year later bursar left and nothing seems to work properly, especially linking SIMS Personnel data to that in Corero (is it even possible??) and also synchronizing with our payroll. From my point of view it is a nightmare as we get new staff who need timetables etc but who are missing from SIMS as finance and HR cannot seem to cope with having to enter data twice.

Have been advised that the best solution is to revert to FMS, especially as it is much better now. What should we do? Moving from SIMS is not an option and we are a single, 11-18 Academy.

Edited February 25, 2015 by number34

[elsiegee40]

My governor school is using SIMS and PS Financials; it was a close call between that and Correro. FMS may have improved, but it doesn't do what's needed in a Multi Academy Trust apparently.

[6Foot2]

Single Academy here: We use SIMS FMS, however we use Serco Facility as our MIS.

 

It does not look like we will move away from FMS any time soon.

 

I don't use FMS and so I can't comment on its performance. However our Finance staff seem happy with it.

[FN-GM]

We are a multi academy trust. We use Sage 200 for finance and Sage 50 for Payrol and SIMS for well SIMS. Seems to work fine. The other schools in the trust used FMS before and they all prefer Sage.

[Sylv3r]

We are a single academy and use SIMS and Sage 200.

[vikpaw]

@DaveP - is there any data that you need to pull into FMS from Serco and can this be automated? Perhaps salary related info..?

I need to know how to pull Fees info in .

[6Foot2]

@DaveP - is there any data that you need to pull into FMS from Serco and can this be automated? Perhaps salary related info..?

I need to know how to pull Fees info in .

@vikpaw: I don't know the answer to this but I can ask. I will get back to you later.

[bossman]

PS Financials here as it integrates well with FMS

[Dkeen94]

SIMS & FMS here, finance seem very happy and it does what they need to do! We are an academy!

[vikpaw]

PS Financials here as it integrates well with FMS

You use two finance packages?

[6Foot2]

@vikpaw: I have just been down to our Finance Department. They say that there are no links between FMS and Serco for us.

 

Sorry about that.

[hardtailstar]

We used to use SIMS & FMS but new bursar didn't like FMS(who does....) and persuaded powers that be that Corero(Civica??) was the way forward. Just a year later bursar left and nothing seems to work properly, especially linking SIMS Personnel data to that in Corero (is it even possible??) and also synchronizing with our payroll. From my point of view it is a nightmare as we get new staff who need timetables etc but who are missing from SIMS as finance and HR cannot seem to cope with having to enter data twice.

Have been advised that the best solution is to revert to FMS, especially as it is much better now. What should we do? Moving from SIMS is not an option and we are a single, 11-18 Academy.

 

We use Corero and it seems fine and syncing with SIMS, having said that, A man came and set it all up for us from the company.

[vikpaw]

We use Corero and it seems fine and syncing with SIMS, having said that, A man came and set it all up for us from the company.

syncing? - tell me more... pls.

[Heebeejeebee]

syncing? - tell me more... pls.

 

Yes - do tell.

 

We moved from FMS to Corero because of the multi schools issue but AFAIK it's not able to pull / push anything to SIMS. To make matters more complicated one of our schools uses Facility and another SIMS but we're ditching CMIS in favour of SIMS.

 

I hear that FMS can now do multi academy trusts. In my opinion Corero looks outdated and it a bit of a nightmare to find anything in but Finace seem to be managing ok with it now (after a long period of adjustment).

 

HBJB

[bossman]

@vikpaw

 

Double book keeping hehe!

 

Hope this finds you well my friend

[winng]

SIMS .net, SunSystems for Finance and CintraHQ for Payroll - Federation of schools

[FragglePete]

SIMS and PS Financials here - been like that for about three years now, but we are seriously considering the move back to FMS. PSF support has been somewhat lacking and the Bursar is loosing faith and confidence in it.

 

Pete

[nathan]

SIMS and PS Financials in our trust of schools.

 

PSF support did take a dive, but i think they have started to employ more support staff to cope with the demand.

[kidpressingbuttons]

SIMS and FMS here

[fredbayker]

PS financials support is poor. One of the schools I visit is part way through moving over to PS from FMS. so far, the service has been appalling, I don't know what 'package' has been purchased but they have refused to install on more than two client machines, the licensing server hasn't been configured so it doesn't currently work.

I have been asked to install on further client machines and having looked through the instructions, I'm not sure what the install package does as you have to copy INI files to appdata, install fonts! Copy over entire directories from existing installations. Never seen a software package like it!