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Charity Accountancy
Good practice, case studies, expert advice and tips for charity finance professionals on charity accountancy.
Kate Sayer: Getting expenses right
It might sound easy, but there are dangers for charities that do not have effective expenses policies
Joe Saxton: The outcome of the Sorp governance review is good news for donors
The review's recommendations could help to make information on charities in the public domain more accurate
How to steal from charities... and how you can stop it
From ransomware to shoplifting, here are five common ways in which criminals defraud charities
Income is up, but so is expenditure
Third Sector's exclusive research on the biggest charity brands shows that their spending is increasing more rapidly than their income
Don Bawtree: New guidance from the Financial Reporting Council
Plus: fraud in the charity sector
Is it right to ask auditors to 'police' the charity sector?
Some fear new proposals will harm the relationship between auditor and charity, reports Liam Kay
Vicky Browning: Shining a light on the great work charities do
Charity communications professionals must work closely with finance departments to highlight annual reports and accounts, writes our columnist
How to avoid becoming the next Concern Worldwide
The direct debit problems experienced by the poverty organisation can be prevented by taking a few simple steps, writes Scott Gray of the charity payment provider Rapidata Services
FD in Five Minutes: Eamonn McKee of Nicva
The finance manager at the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action says he hopes registering with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland won't have any accounting effect
Don Bawtree: Public benefit reporting falls short
Only 35 per cent of charities met the reporting requirements in their most recent accounts, writes our finance expert
Don Bawtree: Good news on audit requirements
For many, this deregulation will be welcome, writes our finance expert
After BeatBullying, is more guidance needed on being a 'going concern'?
BeatBullying was deemed a going concern, meaning that it should be able to operate for the foreseeable future, but came to grief a few months later. Sam Burne James reports
FD In Five Minutes: Steve Webster of Fight for Sight
The director of finance at the sight loss charity says he enjoys working for a small organisation where everyone is prepared to 'roll their sleeves up' and help each other out
Simon Atkins: How to prepare for the withdrawal of the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities
Smaller charities might consider bypassing the FRSSE Sorp and turn straight to the full standard instead, writes the accountancy expert
Analysis: Working around the Sorp 'gain or loss' requirement
Charities must now state net gains or losses on investments above income or spend. Sam Burne James reports
Don Bawtree: Is it time to reveal charity audit reports?
Trustees must learn from Tesco's recent accounting error and ensure they understand financial risk areas, writes our columnist
Analysis: Colleges come to terms with transparency on trustee pay
Oxford, Cambridge and Durham colleges may have to disclose the salaries of some senior staff under the charity Sorp, leaving them open to poaching from other institutions. Sam Burne James reports
Don Bawtree: Be prepared to look beyond the Sorp
A change to the overarching FRS 102 accounting standard has been proposed, and HMRC has released its latest list of 'deliberate tax defaulters', writes our finance expert
Don Bawtree: Recent developments show the importance of managing tax well
A number of recent stories serve as a reminder to charities that they should manage their tax affairs seriously - and view them as both an opportunity and a risk, writes our finance expert
Kate Sayer: Seven steps for a successful financial strategy
Implementing a robust risk management plan means charities can do without large reserves, according to the partner at accountancy firm Sayer Vincent
Don Bawtree says it's not all about changes to the Sorp
The lead partner for charities at accountants BDO LLP provides an update on charity finance
Caron Bradshaw: Freedom of information is turning up the temperature
Margaret Hodge's suggestion that charities delivering public services should have 'open book accounting' raises some important questions
Creative accounting is rare, but let's not be complacent
The new Sorp should include a message that will put a firm brake on misleading accounting practices, writes Ray Jones
A second Sorp helps small charities with disclosures
Ray Jones explains the Sorp commisson's recommendation to have two new accounting standards, rather than one
Accounting, like pancakes, should keep local flavours
Grant regimes, funding models and reporting requirements are all made more complex by the absence of an agreed financial planning and reporting framework, writes Caron Bradshaw
Related-party transactions can adversely affect profit
Managing conflicts of interest could be the next hot topic for accounting disclosures, says Ray Jones
We could learn much from the private sector on pay
The private sector can teach us something about remuneration, writes Ray Jones
Choose new trustees with care - and welcome them
Many new trustees want to get involved straight away, because that is what they are used to, writes Peter Gotham
If you feel it's OK to submit accounts late - think again
Trustees must recognise that true and fair reporting might mean more than compliance, writes Ray Jones
The Sorp revision: Have your say
By finance expert Don Bawtree
Charity Finance Skills Zone
Expert advice and tips on specialist areas of charity finance.
