Anchor is mobilising a Finance Future State Systems programme as part of its wider Finance transformation and Corporate Systems agenda. The programme is intended to establish a modern, scalable and sustainable Finance technology architecture, supported by appropriate processes, data, controls, integration and operating-model arrangements. Key information about the requirement: Anchor is seeking to appoint an independent and experienced Finance Systems Selection Partner to support the controlled definition, market assessment and selection of its future core Finance technology solution. The appointment is an enabling stage within Anchor’s wider Finance Future State Systems programme. It is not an appointment to supply the Finance software itself or to act as the subsequent implementation partner. Considerable preparatory work has already been undertaken (via a consultant PwC and internally), including: • assessment of the current Finance technology estate; • documentation of current processes; • finance maturity and capability assessments; • stakeholder-alignment activity; • high level functional requirements • high-level fit-gap and options work; • development of a Finance systems roadmap and programme charter; and • initial consideration of system, data, reporting, integration and organisational dependencies. The selected partner will be expected to build on and critically assess and revalidate this existing evidence rather than repeat work unnecessarily. The anticipated scope may include: • reviewing and assuring existing discovery, fit-gap, process, capability and requirements material; • working with Finance, Change, IT and other relevant business stakeholders to validate and deepen functional and non-functional requirements; • supporting the definition of future-state Finance capabilities and ensuring alignment with the emerging Finance Target Operating Model; • assessing relevant Finance systems and market options without predetermining a supplier or product; • helping Anchor distinguish essential requirements from areas where processes could be standardised or redesigned; • developing a proportionate and defensible evaluation framework; • supporting market engagement, longlisting and shortlisting; • designing structured supplier demonstrations, use cases, workshops, scenarios and, where appropriate, testing or sandbox activity; • supporting supplier evaluation, moderation, due diligence and reference activity; • providing independent challenge concerning product fit, implementation implications, integration, data, architecture, security, controls and deliverability; • supporting commercial and procurement activity alongside Anchor’s Procurement team; • producing a clear, evidence-based recommendation for the preferred future Finance solution; and • supporting the development of the subsequent investment business case and transition into implementation mobilisation. The initial programme scope is expected to include core Finance capabilities such as: • core accounting and general ledger; • procure-to-pay and purchasing; • accounts payable and receivable; • income-related Finance processes; • fixed assets; • cash, treasury interfaces and banking; • financial reporting, controls and auditability; • financial planning and analysis; • relevant data, master-data and integration requirements; and • interfaces with Finance-adjacent and wider corporate systems. The work must consider dependencies across Finance, Procurement, Technology, Data, People, Housing, Care and other relevant services. It must also recognise that the Finance technology solution and the Finance Target Operating Model will evolve iteratively, with operating-model decisions informing technology requirements and technology opportunities informing future processes, roles and ways of working. Anchor is not seeking a simple product comparison based on a large static list of features. We are interested in a structured, outcome-led and evidence-based selection approach that uses representative business scenarios and stakeholder participation to test how potential solutions would operate in Anchor’s environment. The detailed specification will be available on Monday 26th October.

Estimated value: 210,000 GBP including VAT

Procurement Act 2023

Pre-market engagement will be in the form of a one hour presentation/webinar (with an opportunity for Q&A at the end) to interested parties giving an overview of our requirements which will start to form the basis of dialogue with interested parties. The online presentation/webinar will be held on MS Teams between 16.00 and 17.00 on the 5th November 2026. The link to join the presentation is below:- Microsoft Team meeting Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/374373925543262?p=uCFL8EGSdcHPq8b4rT Should you be unable to attend this meeting, we will be uploading the recording on our eProcurement portal (see link below). To help us refine our requirements we will be inviting all interested parties to submit a brief, up to 4 pages Capability and Feedback Summary (this is optional). Please structure your response around the following key areas based on the provided scope of requirements in the description and following our presentation: • your capacity to mobilise within the anticipated period; • relevant Finance and ERP selection experience; • experience of working with complex, highly regulated or comparable organisations; • the proposed blend of Finance, technology, data, architecture, procurement and change expertise; • how they would maintain independence and manage potential conflicts of interest; • whether they have commercial relationships with software vendors or implementation partners; • their proposed high-level approach and principal deliverables; • any initial observations on the proposed scope or procurement approach; • an indicative delivery duration and resource profile; • indicative pricing or pricing assumptions, if requested by Anchor; and • any information or decisions they would require from Anchor before bidding. Independence and conflicts of interest:- Anchor requires transparency regarding any relationships that could affect, or reasonably be perceived to affect, the supplier’s independence. Suppliers must identify relevant alliances, referral arrangements, implementation partnerships, reseller relationships, commissions or other commercial relationships with Finance software vendors or implementation providers that may be considered during the selection. Suppliers should explain how any actual, potential or perceived conflicts would be recorded, managed and disclosed throughout the engagement. Appointment as the selection partner will not confer any right or expectation of appointment to a subsequent software implementation or systems-integration role. Anchor reserves the right to establish proportionate restrictions within the subsequent procurement documentation. Please follow the link below on Anchor's eProcurement portal to see our open opportunities (where you will be able to register your interest via the Anchor Supply Portal, your company on our e-procurement portal, review the specification and upload any supporting documentation - https://www.anchor.org.uk/about-anchor/become-a-supplier Please respond with your Capability and Feedback summary by lunchtime (13.00) 10th November 2026 via Anchor's eProcurement portal, where Anchor will use a targeted approach to allocate slots and will prioritise suppliers whose summaries most closely meet the above areas. This exercise is strictly for market research and requirement-gathering purposes. Your response will not be scored, graded, or used to select or disqualify suppliers for the future formal tender. Choosing not to submit a summary will not disadvantage your organisation in any future formal procurement process. Anchor will then be hosting a MS Teams 1-2-1 session 13th November 2026 (14.30-16.30/30mins) for some of the interested parties. This 1-2-1 session will include a short supplier presentation, based on feedback summary including indicative costs and pricing assumptions and an opportunity to flag restrictive, missing or technically unviable requirements in the draft scope. This will be an opportunity for the market to have a two-way dialogue with the Anchor team to understand and help shape the requirements and strategy for the procurement and to also comment on the proposed procurement process. It will also allow Anchor to understand the capacity and capability of the market and the art of the possible. Any findings during these sessions which are relevant to the tender will be made clear and accessible to all participants during the submissions period.