Our Community Accountancy Project offers a wide range of financial services to local voluntary organisations, community groups and also registered charities.  These services can be tailored to meet each group’s needs. 

Our services include:

Information, advice and support on all financial aspects in the voluntary sector.  We can also assist with charity registration applications.

A payroll service.  We can calculate your payroll, pay your staff directly into their bank account, prepare your P32 report by calculating national insurance and PAYE tax payable to HM Revenue and Customs, and prepare your year end paperwork.

Training on a range of issues, including basic book-keeping, budgeting, and financial risk assessment.  Our training is offered on a one-to-one or group basis and can also be tailored directly around your group's needs.  Our training can take place at our offices on Beach Road in South Shields, or at your organisation.

Independent examination of accounts for registered charities.  We can also check the annual accounts for voluntary organisations and community groups. 

Audit or Independent Examination?

An independent examination is carried out to maintain public confidence in the work of registered charities. Financial years starting on or after 27 February 2007, i.e. financial year-ends of 26 February 2008 onwards, income has to be in the range of £10,000 and £500,000. Voluntary organisations are not required by law to have an independent examination, but it can be looked on favourably by funders when applying for grants. £500,000+ requires an audit.

Maintaining Accounting Records

The trustees are responsible for maintaining the accounting records. This is an important responsibility and an absence of well organised and complete accounting records gives rise to a significant risk of misstatement and loss from fraud, theft, or the misapplication of charitable funds. The accounting records should be well maintained and easily assessable. They should contain details of all money received and expended, the date, the nature of the receipt or expenditure and details of assets and liabilities.

All cash received should be banked and a cheque issued for any expenditure. In circumstances where a cheque in not able to be used, cash may be taken from petty cash. The petty cash should be replenished up to a certain amount each week only by cash taken from the bank. We suggest this be no more than £50.00 per week. Vouchers should be issued and signed by a trustee and by the individual to whom the cash was reimbursed. Any travel expenses should be documented correctly using a travel expense form. It is also vitally important for all invoices, receipts, delivery notes etc, to be kept in order to account for all expenditure.

Further Information

Detailed information of the services that we offer is available in our Community Accountancy Project Guidance Pack:

 Community Accountancy Project Guidance Pack (57.24 kB)

If you would like to discuss the needs of your organisation, please feel free to contact Susan Carruthers or Louise Horner on 0191 456 9551.