Accountancy services for charity and not for profit organisations
Kreston Reeves is committed to the sector, recognising the important part it plays in today’s society and we are here to help support and develop it. Our wealth of experience in the charity and not for profit sector has enabled us to meet the sector’s demand for specialist expertise for over 600 clients.
The sector continues to fight funding shortages, more regulation and compliance and adverse publicity, at a time when their services are of great need. We know the current key phrases are “value for money” and “impact”. This requires more detailed reporting and changes in recording of information and focus thereof. During this time of change more support is required from professional advisers.
Our latest Charities report will be available soon. To be among the first to receive it, subscribe to our newsletter, specifying your interest in Charities and not for profit, along with any other areas of interest and we’ll send you the report as soon as it is published. The 2024 report remains available to download here.
Accountants and auditors for the charity and not for profit sector
We are a proactive firm of accountants and auditors with many years’ experience of advising charitable organisations. Kreston Reeves invests in developing our expertise and a number of the team volunteer for various charities, giving them a deeper insight into the sector.
Our long-term commitment to the charity and not for profit sector has enabled us to offer training seminars for charity trustees, and provide specialist publications to help you keep up to date with everything from the Charities Act to VAT developments affecting the sector. Areas we have covered include: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP); public benefit; fraud; trustee responsibilities; redundancy; mergers; fund accounting; generating income – trading, property, VAT updates; employment updates- including volunteers and risk management.
We currently enjoy providing services to over 600 charities and not for profit clients, including Community Interest Companies (CIC). They operate in areas including: education; care for the elderly and disabled; health and wellbeing; religion; arts, culture and heritage; Social housing; sports and the military.
The specialist charity audit and accountancy services we offer
Auditing the charity’s accounts and providing added value
Advising on governance and best practice
Advising on mergers, joint ventures and partnering structures
Advising on tax efficient fundraising and trading issues
Preparing and independently examining the charity’s accounts to ensure that they comply with best practice (SORP)
Advising on how best to keep the accounting records of the charity and develop financial policies
Secretarial duties and meeting filing requirements of the Charity Commission and Companies House (if appropriate)
We have found this year’s audit to be very smooth and you were all very responsive. We were grateful to have agreement on the correct accounting treatment for the merger prior to preparing our draft accounts, and having access to the PBC list in advance was beneficial. There was also evidence of your prior experience in working with charities in the patience shown with our related party questionnaires, as some Trustees are far more responsive than others!
James Porter, Finance Manager, South East London Mind (SEL Mind)
Becoming registered for VAT for a Cricket Club is not trivial but certainly worthwhile.
Over the last few years the Slinfold Village Cricket Club have been working towards building a new Clubhouse, a major event for us involving a substantial spend when funds are limited. To strengthen our position we decided to explore the opportunity of VAT recovery as, like most clubs, we were not registered.
I have used Kreston Reaves over the years to give advice on various financial matters and we decided to engage with them - it is a local firm that’s large enough to have the necessary expert resources on VAT but it’s not overly expensive.
It was also clear right from the first meeting with their VAT partner, Rupert Moyle, that there was significant experience in handling property matters along with an understanding of not-for-profit organisations. The advice was clear and thorough, with an excellent outcome. Rupert and his team enabled us to achieve a great result, and I have to say that their approach has been both professional and down to earth.
The outcome has made a material contribution to the project. Without hesitation I would recommend their services.
John Whybrow, President, Slinfold Cricket Club
Kreston Reeves has supported us at Royal Museums Greenwich with VAT assistance for some years now. Our services are diverse as are the VAT and other tax consequences that can arise, such as for admissions, membership, patrons schemes and capital projects. Whenever it gets complicated and we need a specialist to explain clearly the effect of an issue and to arrive at a sensible solution Rupert and his team are there to help.
Lisa Sian, Finance Manager, National Maritime Museum
Kreston Reeves have been a pleasure to work with from the start. They took the time to get to know our senior team, chair and treasurer, and guided us as to the information they needed from us to be able to hit the ground running. Our first audit has been straightforward and quick, and we learned some simple improvements we can make to our practice as a result. The team is friendly, professional and always happy to help.
Jennifer Twist, CEO, Care for the Carers
We asked Kreston Reeves’ charity VAT specialists to review our VAT as we hadn’t looked at this area for a few years. Rupert and Daniel not only showed a great understanding of us, they demonstrated considerable technical ability, creative solutions and explained the issues and recommendations to us clearly, simply. They successfully negotiated a fantastic outcome for our charity with HMRC, which means that we will have a lot more money to use to support our charitable aims in the coming years. I would certainly recommend a VAT review, and by them.
Rebecca Nash, Director, Royal Engineers Museum
Kreston Reeves have helped us for a significant number of years and we have always been impressed with their expertise and level of customer service. We have a team that supports us led by James Peach and together they provide a personalised a proactive approach to guide us with the running of our organisation. They provide an efficient and supportive audit service whilst providing suggestions and recommendations which have helped us develop our operations over a number of years. We would recommend Kreston Reeves and their services to anyone.
Adrian Stewart, Finance Controller, Bakers Food & Allied Workers Union
We were keen to work with accountants that specialised in charities and Kreston Reeves have proven to be invaluable. Their knowledge and commitment to their clients has provided us with the support we required to achieve a seamless handover to their services. Their approach of professionalism combined with easily understandable terminology along with the reassurance for us that there is always someone willing to assist with any queries as they arise, has been endless and much appreciated.
Sarah Wilsmhurst, Director of Finance & Premises, The Outlook Foundation
We recently moved from a much bigger firm to Kreston Reeves and we have been impressed on every level by their service. As a charity and Housing Association undertaking some complex projects we have been consistently impressed by their knowledge and skills as auditors. They add value by understanding your organisation and supporting you through the journey, not just going through the perfunctory actions of an audit. And, perhaps most importantly, we have felt valued as a client which has been hugely refreshing. We have no hesitation in highly recommending them.
Ed Tytherleigh, Chief Executive, Stoll
I have worked with Kreston Reeves for many years now and have found the service to always be exactly what I want and expect. Thorough, professional, efficient whilst also being constantly available to give sound advice and assistance whenever required. I have no hesitation in strongly recommending them to others.
Mark Cann, Administrator, Erach & Sadri Roshan Foundation
Kreston Reeves are a dedicated practice specialising in charities of our size and complexity. They understand how charities work – we are also an SME with a significant turnover. Personalities are really important too – Sam [Rouse, Partner] and the team are a pleasure to work with. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Sue Walton, Chief Executive, Pestalozzi
Specialist charity advice and accounting support is incredibly important to us – and we are impressed with Kreston Reeves’ ability to provide that advice promptly. We were keen to work with a firm that was well established in Kent and supportive of the local community. The depth of Kreston Reeves’ offering to clients in the charity sector is second-to-none.
Carol Lynch, Chief Executive, Kent Community Foundation
I have always found the Kreston Reeves team to be helpful and flexible, rigorous with access to top-class specialists and the most up-to-date information on Charity accounts. Our accounts are complicated, despite our relatively small size - two companies, fee income, grant income, multicurrency, VAT, onward granting - so there is plenty to grapple with. The Kreston Reeves team is on top of all the issues that face an international charity like ours.
Julie Saunders, Executive Director, Pepal
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Kreston Charities Report 2024
It is encouraging to see that charities remain optimistic about their financial future despite challenges. Our report indicates that while there are certainly more ahead, there is a strong sense of resilience and adaptability within the sector.
Content includes:
Executive Summary
Top 10 findings of the report
Recruitment challenges
Digitisation
Many other topics
You can download your copy of the report via the adjacent ‘Feature report’.
To guide our clients, colleagues and communities to a brighter future.
In a continually evolving world we help all generations embrace change through trusted advice, support and guidance. Our passion for continued improvement ensures that we work to understand your goals, support and advise you on your journey and help you to realise your ambitions.