Charity Accountants and Not-for-Profit Specialists
Audit, accounts, governance and advisory support for charities, housing associations and not-for-profit organisations. With over 150 charity and NFP audits every year, we understand your sector inside out.
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Charity Accounting That Goes Beyond Compliance
Running a charity or not-for-profit organisation means balancing mission with money. You’re answerable to trustees, funders, regulators and the communities you serve, often with limited resources and a finance team stretched thin. And the accounting requirements that come with this are anything but simple.
Charity accounting follows its own set of rules. The Charities SORP, the Charities Act, fund accounting, trustees’ annual reports, Gift Aid compliance, VAT partial exemption, and the specific reporting expectations of the Charity Commission all require specialist knowledge. A corporate accountant who doesn’t work regularly with charities will likely miss things, or worse, get them wrong.
At Bevan Buckland, we conduct over 150 charity and housing association audits every year. That isn’t a side service or an occasional engagement. It’s a core part of what we do, and it has been for decades. Our team includes ICAEW chartered accountants and registered auditors with deep experience in the charity and not-for-profit sector across Wales and beyond.
We understand that your organisation exists to create social value, not to generate profit. Everything we do is shaped by that understanding, from the way we structure our audit approach to the practical governance advice we give your trustees
Services for Charity and Not-For-Profit
What We Do for Charities and Not-for-Profit Organisations
Charity Audit
If your charity has a gross annual income exceeding £1 million, but will increase to £1.5m for accounting years ending on or after 30 September 2026 (or income over £250,000 with total assets above £3.26 million), you’re required to have a statutory audit. We carry out charity audits to International Standards on Auditing (UK), providing trustees with a formal opinion on whether the accounts give a true and fair view.
But our audits aren’t just a compliance exercise. We use the process to identify risks, highlight weaknesses in internal controls, and provide practical recommendations that strengthen your organisation. Every audit concludes with a management letter setting out our findings and suggestions, giving trustees the clarity they need to make informed decisions.
With over 150 charity and housing association audits conducted annually, our team has the depth of experience to handle organisations of all sizes and complexities, from local community groups to regional housing associations and national charities operating across multiple funding streams.
Independent Examination
For charities with income between £25,000 and the audit threshold, an independent examination is the minimum external scrutiny required. We provide independent examinations that meet the Charity Commission’s requirements under Directions issued for charities preparing accruals accounts.
Our independent examinations are thorough and practical. We review your accounting records, compare them with your annual accounts, and report on any matters that come to our attention. We also use the process as an opportunity to flag areas where your financial management could be improved.
Accounts Preparation and SORP Compliance
Charity accounts must comply with the Charities SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice), which sets out how charities should prepare their annual accounts and trustees’ annual report. The requirements differ depending on whether you prepare receipts and payments accounts or accruals accounts, and whether you’re a charitable company, a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), or an unincorporated charity.
We prepare charity accounts that are fully compliant with the applicable SORP, the Charities Act 2011, and Companies Act requirements where relevant. We also help you draft your trustees’ annual report, ensuring it covers the information the Charity Commission expects, including your public benefit statement, reserves policy, risk management approach, and plans for the future.
Fund Accounting
Restricted funds, unrestricted funds, designated funds, endowment funds; getting fund accounting right is one of the most common challenges charities face. If restricted income is spent on the wrong purpose, or if your accounts don’t clearly distinguish between fund types, you risk regulatory scrutiny and a loss of funder confidence.
We set up and maintain fund accounting structures that give you and your trustees a clear picture of how each fund is being used. We also advise on transfers between funds, the treatment of multi-year grants, and how to present fund movements in your annual accounts in a way that’s transparent and easy to understand.
Gift Aid and Tax Compliance
Gift Aid is one of the most valuable tax reliefs available to charities, but claiming it correctly requires proper donor declarations and accurate record-keeping. We help you set up and maintain Gift Aid systems, review your claims for accuracy, and submit them to HMRC. We also advise on related reliefs, including Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme (GASDS) claims and the tax treatment of trading income, fundraising events, and charitable donations.
While charities are exempt from corporation tax and capital gains tax on income and gains applied for charitable purposes, the rules around trading subsidiaries, non-primary purpose trading, and VAT partial exemption are more complex than many organisations realise. We advise on all of these areas, helping you stay compliant while minimising any unnecessary tax exposure.
VAT for Charities
VAT is one of the most complex areas of charity finance. Many charities carry out a mix of taxable, exempt and non-business activities, which means they need to operate a partial exemption method to recover the right proportion of input VAT. Getting this wrong can result in significant under or overclaims.
We advise on VAT registration, the correct treatment of your income streams, and the application of specific VAT reliefs available to charities (including zero-rating on certain goods and services). We prepare and submit your VAT returns, and we can carry out a VAT review of your current position if you’re unsure whether your arrangements are correct.
Governance and Trustee Support
Good governance isn’t just about ticking boxes for the Charity Commission. It’s about making sure your organisation is well run, properly accountable, and positioned to deliver on its mission. We advise trustees on their responsibilities under charity law, help with the preparation of governing documents, and provide training and guidance on financial oversight, conflicts of interest, reserves policies and risk management.
Many of our team are charity trustees themselves, so we understand the pressures and responsibilities from both sides.
Bookkeeping and Management Accounts
We offer bookkeeping support for charities that need help keeping their records in order, and we produce management accounts that give trustees and senior management regular visibility of the organisation’s financial position. For charities with multiple projects or funding streams, we structure reporting so you can see performance by fund, project or department.
As a Xero Gold Partner, we also help charities set up cloud accounting that supports fund tracking, automated bank feeds and real-time financial reporting, all at the discounted rate Xero offers to registered charities.
Payroll for Charities and NFPs
We process payroll for charities of all sizes, handling RTI submissions to HMRC, payslips, auto-enrolment pension compliance, P60s and P11Ds. For organisations with a mix of salaried staff, sessional workers and volunteers receiving expenses, we make sure everything is handled correctly and compliantly.
Who We Work With
Why Choose Bevan Buckland as Your Charity Accountant
150+ Charity and Housing Association Audits Every Year
This is a quantified claim that very few firms of any size can match. We don’t just dabble in the charity sector. It’s a core specialism backed by volume, experience and dedicated team members who work in this space year-round.
Wales’ Largest Independent Firm
We combine the scale of a major practice, with registered auditors, chartered tax advisers, a licensed insolvency practitioner and a full advisory team, with the personal service and local knowledge of an independent Welsh firm. You get the breadth of expertise without the impersonal feel of a national network.
A Dedicated Named Contact Who Understands Your Sector
Every charity client is assigned a dedicated contact who knows your organisation, your funding landscape and your governance structure. When you call, you speak to someone who already understands your situation. They draw on the wider Bevan Buckland team for specialist input as needed, but you’ll always have one consistent point of contact.
Genuine Welsh Roots
We’re proud of our connection to the Welsh charity sector. From community organisations in Swansea to housing associations in Pembrokeshire and arts charities in Carmarthen, we understand the local funding environment, the role of bodies like the Charity Commission for England and Wales, and the specific Welsh Government programmes that support the third sector here.
Practical, Jargon-Free Advice for Trustees
We know that not every trustee has a finance background. That’s why we communicate clearly, explain technical requirements in plain English, and focus our advice on what’s practical and useful rather than what’s academically interesting. Several members of our team serve as charity trustees themselves, so we understand the governance side from personal experience.
Transparent, Agreed Fees
We agree your fee upfront with no hidden charges. For charities operating on tight budgets, knowing exactly what your accountant will cost is essential. All routine queries by phone and email are included, so you can ask questions throughout the year without worrying about extra charges.
How It Works
Step 1: Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll discuss your organisation, your current accounting arrangements and what support you need.
Step 2: We review your situation and provide a clear proposal with agreed fees, tailored to your size, structure and requirements.
Step 3: Your dedicated contact manages everything going forward, from audit planning and accounts preparation to ongoing governance advice and trustee support throughout the year.
Charity Accountant Fees
We understand that every pound a charity spends on administration is a pound not spent on its mission. That’s why we’re transparent about our fees and work hard to deliver genuine value. We agree fees upfront with no hidden charges, and all routine phone and email queries are included throughout the year*.
What you pay depends on the complexity of your accounts and the services you need. Some charities require a statutory audit and accounts preparation. Others need bookkeeping, payroll, VAT support and ongoing governance advice as well. We build a package that reflects your actual requirements.
Want to discuss your charity’s needs? Contact us for a free consultation and we’ll provide a clear, no-obligation proposal.
*Additional fees will include anything outside the agreed scope of work.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your income and assets. Charities with gross annual income over £1 million must have a statutory audit. Charities with income over £250,000 and total assets above £3.26 million also require an audit. Below those thresholds, an independent examination is the minimum external scrutiny required for charities with income above £25,000. Your charity’s governing document may also require an audit regardless of size. We advise on which level of scrutiny applies and carry out both audits and independent examinations.
The Charities SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice) is the framework that governs how charities prepare their annual accounts and trustees’ annual report. It sets out specific requirements around fund accounting, income recognition, expenditure analysis and reporting. There are two versions: SORP FRS 102 for larger charities preparing accruals accounts, and the simpler SORP for smaller charities. A new SORP is expected in 2026. We prepare all charity accounts in full compliance with the applicable SORP.
Fund accounting requires charities to track income and expenditure by fund type. Restricted funds can only be spent on the specific purpose the donor or funder intended. Unrestricted funds can be used for any purpose that furthers the charity’s objectives. Endowment funds are capital that must be retained, though the income they generate may be expendable. We set up fund structures in your accounting system and make sure your annual accounts clearly show the movements and balances on each fund.
It depends on your activities. Charities carrying out taxable business activities can register for VAT and recover input tax, but many charities have a mix of taxable, exempt and non-business activities, which means they need a partial exemption method. Some supplies to and by charities are zero-rated or exempt. We review your VAT position, advise on the right approach, and prepare your returns.
Trustees are legally responsible for ensuring proper accounting records are kept, annual accounts are prepared that comply with the Charities Act and applicable SORP, and accounts are independently examined or audited as required. They must also prepare a trustees’ annual report. Trustees cannot delegate these responsibilities, though they can appoint professionals to carry out the work. We support trustees in meeting these obligations and provide guidance on what’s expected.
Yes. We set up and review Gift Aid systems, check donor declarations for compliance, and submit claims to HMRC. We also advise on the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme (GASDS), which allows charities to claim a top-up payment on small cash donations without needing individual declarations.
Yes. We carry out statutory audits for housing associations across Wales and advise on the specific financial reporting and regulatory requirements that apply. This is a significant part of our charity and NFP work, and our team has extensive experience in this area.
If your charity carries out non-primary purpose trading above the small trading exemption limits, it may need to do so through a trading subsidiary. We advise on when a subsidiary is necessary, help set it up, prepare the subsidiary’s accounts and corporation tax return, and handle the Gift Aid payment from subsidiary to parent charity to ensure profits are transferred tax-efficiently.
Yes. The new SORP is expected to take effect for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2026. We’re already advising clients on what the changes are likely to mean for their accounts and reporting, so there are no surprises when the new requirements come into force.
Switching is straightforward. For audit appointments, your trustees will need to pass a resolution, and we handle the professional clearance process with your outgoing auditors. For non-audit engagements, the process is even simpler. We manage the transition, obtain your records from the previous firm, and get up to speed quickly so there’s no disruption to your reporting.
