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SOUTHERN UNIVERSITIES MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Registered charity 1042175 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as SUMS

To promote the efficiency of the administration of educational charities in direct pursuit of their objectives by:(a) advice, training and information about financial planning, effective management procedures, and the best use of available resources, and(b) other assistance appropriate to the provision of financial planning, procedural advice and resource management.

Causes: Education/training · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£4.8m
Latest spending
£4.8m
Registered
1994
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a surplus of £34k for the year ended 31 July 2025, with total income increasing to £4.85m. Per the trustees' report, free reserves of £3.26m were maintained within the stated target range of 6 to 9 months of operating costs.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Subscription income (57% of income)
“Overall income for the year is £4,848k, an increase of £59k (1%) on prior year (2024: £4,789k), with the majority of income (57%) obtained from SUMS and SUPC membership subscriptions.” — page 7
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: 6 and 9 months of operating costs (held: £3.3m)
“The Management Committee set the target for the 2024/25 financial year for free reserves — working capital — to be maintained in a range of 6 and 9 months of operating costs.” — page 7
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: University of Reading
“The University of Reading also provides payroll, supplier payments, banking services, pensions facilities, IT infrastructure and IT support to the charitable company. The charitable company makes payment to the University of Reading for the services provided and for rentals for the premises occupied under lease by the charitable company.” — page 5
“During the year £39,249 (2024: £30,011) was paid by the Charity to an individual under a contract of employment through the Charity payroll in line with the pay policy and normal pay scales. The individual is connected to Joel Arber, SUMS Group CEO.” — page 28
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Joel Arber (CEO)
“The University of Reading also provides payroll, supplier payments, banking services, pensions facilities, IT infrastructure and IT support to the charitable company. The charitable company makes payment to the University of Reading for the services provided and for rentals for the premises occupied under lease by the charitable company.” — page 5
“During the year £39,249 (2024: £30,011) was paid by the Charity to an individual under a contract of employment through the Charity payroll in line with the pay policy and normal pay scales. The individual is connected to Joel Arber, SUMS Group CEO.” — page 28
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by James Cowper Kreston Audit. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): instagram

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/07/2025)

Total income
£4.8m
Total spending
£4.8m
Reserves (reported)
£3.3m
Employees
45

Reported reserves equal ~8.1 months of spending — above the median for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Charitable activities (97% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 0.0% of total income — below the median for charities its size (5.2%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Scotland · Throughout England

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/07/2025£4.8m£4.8m
31/07/2024£4.8m£3.8m
31/07/2023£4.1m£3.4m
31/07/2022£3.1m£3.1m
31/07/2021£2.5m£2.2m

Common questions

Is SOUTHERN UNIVERSITIES MANAGEMENT SERVICES financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a surplus of £34k for the year ended 31 July 2025, with total income increasing to £4.85m. Per the trustees' report, free reserves of £3.26m were maintained within the stated target range of 6 to 9 months of operating costs. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by James Cowper Kreston Audit.

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON STUDENTS' UNION.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITIES MANAGEMENT SERVICES£4.8m——within—no doubt
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON STUDENTS' UNION FY2025£7.6m——below—no doubt
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES INFORMATION SYSTEMS ASSOCIATION FY2025£2.4m£160,001 - £170,000—unclear—no doubt
SOUTH BANK STUDENTS' UNION LTD FY2025£1.4m—0below—no doubt
NUS STUDENTS' UNION CHARITABLE SERVICES FY2025£3.9m——unclear—no doubt
FALMOUTH & EXETER STUDENTS' UNION FY2025£941k—0above—no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.