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Web Sites

• CASH-Online Key site Community Accountancy Self-Help (CASH) provides 'finance advice and training for small charities and voluntary groups'. Based in west London, the web site continues to be developed slowly as an essential resource. CashFacts online include Bank Reconciliation, Financial Controls, Volunteer Expenses, Budgets - in various formats, some including audio. Useful to the finance novice in any area.
  
  
• Community Accountancy Network. Should have details of local community accountancy services, where they exist. There's also some guidance material.
  
  
• Charity Commission Various publications available to help charities comply with accounting regulations (SORP).
  
  
• CFDG (Charity Finance Directors' Group). More for 'professional' charity finance staff and senior management.
  
  
• CIPFA, the accountancy body for the public sector, established a Charity Panel in December 03. This will look at government policy on charity governance and finance, produce publications and training, etc.
  
  
• Mango provides financial management services to the aid sector in the field. In their Finance Resources section, "Accounting Packs" give the basic 'how tos' on bookkeeping, budgeting etc, with Excel spreadsheet examples to download. This area also gives major donor accounting requirements and a specimen accounting system.
  
  
• Sayer Vincent are an accountancy firm specialising in the non-profit sector. Their web site has some useful information, although the sections on software effectively just says 'refer to our consultant for advice'.
  
  
• Accountancy Web 'Find an accountant', information on software companies, news. Nothing sector specific at present, but plenty of useful tips, an email news update and more. For those with a more professional interest, there is also a 'technical newswire' service.
  
  
• Association of Charity Independent Examiners See our page on Independent examination.
  
  
• Association of International Accountants (link problem Sept 08) Worth checking out by those operating abroad.
  
  
• Taxation (Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise) - see our specific page for links.

Briefings, checklists

Charity Finance Monthly magazine - see Magazine page.

Charity Finance Accounts Compliance Checklist Fourth Edition, produced by Charity Finance magazine - may no longer be available (2007). Designed for all UK charities with gross income over £100,000. £45-00 for one copy incl p&p (discounts for bulk, CD version also available) from Plaza Publishing, Freepost SW7154, London, SW4 0XY.

Charities Internal Controls Checklist, also from Charity Finance magazine as above, second edition Sept 03, £49-95 incl p&p.

Scrutiny of charity accounts - article on our web site (courtesy of Croners/Gareth Morgan) about independent examination for the smaller charity.

Sample Documents

A sample Financial Procedures (or Financial Standing Orders if you prefer) lightly edited from a 'real life' version can be used as a starting point for your own, or to prompt thoughts, improvements etc. Please read the introductory notes.

Events

If you are looking at accounts packages, Softworld Accounting and Finance is the exhibition to go to. Dominated by products for larger commercial organisations, there is still likely to be enough of interest for medium size charities at least. Register in advance and get a free copy of their Guide to accountancy software at the show. Held in London in the spring, autumn at NEC, Birmingham.

Charity Accountants Conference. Annual event run by Directory of Social Change, usually early September.

Training Courses

Community Accountancy Self Help 1 Thorpe Close, London, W10 5XL, phone 020 8969 0747. Run a programme primarily for Kensington, Chelsea, Brent, Hammersmith and Fulham groups, but open to others too. Subjects range from a half-day on Bank Reconciliation to 4 day Financial Administration, with others on Unit Costs/Pricing Services, Management Committee Finance Reports and how the PQASSO quality assurance system (from CES - see Training page) relates to finance.

Directory of Social Change run a variety of useful courses, with trainers from Sayer Vincent or Community Accountancy Project. See main Training page.

The Kubernesis Partnership runs a few training days on charity accounting in York (the rest of the time they are acting as consultants on this area and fundraising). £120 for single places (incl VAT). 36 Acomb Wood Drive, York, YO24 2XN, phone 01904 788885, email: info@kubernesis.co.uk

ICAS^ (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland) have occasional courses. Phone 0131 347 0222, email: cabusinesscourses@icas.org.uk.