Kimberley College Football Academy at centre of financial probe

A comprehensive document, revealing the extent of financial woes at embattled Kimberley College, claims a soccer program drained the school of cash.

Kimberley College Principal Paul Thomson is at the centre of the financial probe.

• Kimberley College principal Paul Thomson suspended

A comprehensive document, revealing the extent of financial woes at embattled Kimberley College, claims a soccer program drained the school of cash.

The 39-page report, by forensic accounting firm GT Advisory and Consulting, slates much of the financial hazards back to the school’s prestigious Kimberley College Football Academy.

The academy, which started in 2017, has racked up bills in excess of $459,000 in the past year for trips to China, Dubai and an upcoming trip to Spain and Sweden.

The report said there were unauthorised payments that were not approved by the board. Mr Thomson has until Friday to provide the auditors with full receipts.

The report said the college made an unauthorised payment of $60,016 to China Southern for flying student players to compete in China in June, 2017.

China Southern Airlines.

In March, the college flew students on an unauthorised 11-day trip to Dubai.

During that time, $20,000 was transferred into the accounts of the school’s chief financial officer Amy Ferguson and her husband Kevin, the college’s business manager.

A further $20,000 was transferred into the account of school principal Paul Thomson and his wife Jennifer for what the report claimed “appears to be spending money in Dubai”.

The school had also prepaid flights, accommodation and a $100,000 cruise for a trip to Europe this month.

Sofitel Biarritz le Miramar Thalassa Sea and Spa

For the lavish European trip, the college footed a $116,000 bill for academy students to stay at the luxurious Sofitel Biarritz le Miramar Thalassa Sea and Spa in France.

The booking included one prestige junior suite for €975 or $1500 a night.

The report scrutinised the financial management of the Thomson family.

“The budget that we have sighted, and has been purportedly ‘approved’ for the KCFA is grossly inadequate for such level of expenditure,” the report states.

“It appears, on all information available to us at this time, that this has been a wrongful use of school funds, and an abuse of position by Mr Paul Thomson, Mr Kevin Ferguson, Mrs Amy Ferguson, Mrs Debbie Horn (nee Thomson) (and possibly other family members holding managerial positions) by causing the school to incur such extraordinary, substantial, and unauthorised related party benefits and the subsequent FBT liability that will result.”

Principal Paul Thomson.

“Despite our requests for information from Mr Paul Thomson and Mrs Amy Ferguson, no source documents supporting these transactions have been provided to our office.”

The report also noted that the bulk of the expenses related to direct transfers from the college to Mr Thomson and his daughter.

“All the travel costs are yet to be substantiated and expensed appropriately and upon reconciliation may, in fact, be identified as an unauthorised related party benefit.”

Independent reviewers Minter Ellison and GT Advisory and Consulting are yet to complete their reviews.

Mr Thomson was indefinitely suspended this week, pending the outcomes of the investigations.

His wife, two daughters Debbie Horn and Mrs Ferguson, and her husband, were also suspended.

Mr Thomson and Mr Ferguson were contacted for comment.