The Comprehensive Spending Review challenges the Higher Education (HE) sector to improve. For the innovative, research-led institution the challenge is to develop new and rewarding research partnerships. For the excellent teaching-led institution the challenge is to develop innovative new courses and teaching. For both types of organisation the focus of resources is the front line operations – research and teaching - the call is to do more with less from the support and back office activities. Over the last decade institutions have made significant investments in back office systems and processes, to support transactional services such finance, student enrolment and the Virtual Learning Environment.