Charity and Not-For-Profit Accountants

Home > Industries > Charities and Not-For-Profit

The charity and not-for-profit sector operates under its own regulatory and accounting framework.

The Charity SORP, the requirements of the Charity Commission and OSCR, the public benefit test, the trading subsidiary structures and the wider scrutiny that charities face from regulators, funders and the public all create a technical environment that needs specialist tax and accounting advisers.

Our charity team works with registered charities, community interest companies, social enterprises and the wider not-for-profit sector.

From small grant-making bodies through to substantial operating charities and group structures, we provide audit, accounts, tax, VAT and governance support across the sector.

The depth of understanding of the sector is built up through that engagement as well as through the professional work.

Get in touch

How we deliver charity sector advice

Each engagement begins with understanding the charity and its requirements, including its trustee structure, existing financial performance and plans for the future, so that we can offer advice that supports your goals.

Statutory audit or independent examination, the Trustees’ Annual Report, the Charity Commission filing, the Gift Aid claims and the substantive advisory work all happen to a defined cycle.

We ensure that trustees are supported through the year with financial and governance issues, not just at the point of each audit.

Our expertise

Audits and independent examination of charities under the Charity SORP
Statutory accounts preparation
Gift Aid claims and procedures
VAT, including partial exemption and the specific charity reliefs
Charity tax and the corporate tax position of trading subsidiaries
Charity Commission and OSCR compliance
Trustee training and governance support
Restructuring, mergers and group reorganisations
Grant accounting and funder reporting
Risk and reserves policy advice

What you can expect from our charity team

Three things define how we work with charities:

Sector specialism

The Charity SORP, the regulatory framework and the practical reality of running a charity are core specialisms for the team, not peripheral knowledge. The people advising you have substantive sector experience.

Trustee-focused

Much of the work supports the trustees who carry the ultimate responsibility for the charity. Board attendance, governance support, training and the clear communication of technical issues are central to the way we operate.

Engaged with the wider sector

Our partners are active in the sector through trustee roles, voluntary work, sector publications and engagement with the regulators. The understanding of where the sector is going supports the advice we give.

Charities work with us because they want an adviser who understands the sector, acts as a trusted guide for the trustees carrying its responsibilities and supports the governance conversations that sit alongside the technical compliance work.

Speak to our team

Here is what our clients have to say…

Macalvins have been running the Payroll and Pension Plan for Hayes & Yeading United Football Club for over 10 years.… Read more

Bernard Bitmead

I love the people of macalvins. they are warm and very dependable. and that what matters to me in any… Read more

SUJOY GHOSH

I have been MaCalvins for the past 6 years and I have found them excellent in every department. They manage… Read more

John Gill

I’ve been with MaCalvins since 2013, they are managing my company business accounts and my personal tax returns in a… Read more

Taghreed Altuhafi

Excellent service and understanding of our business needs

Kanesh Rajani

Thank you Macalvins for excellent service over the years

S Hodzic

Why choose Macalvins?

Macalvins is a Top 100 UK accountancy firm and a member of PrimeGlobal, a network of around 300 independent firms across more than 80 countries.

That combination gives our charity clients the depth and breadth of expertise to ensure that their organisation interests are protected.

Speak to our team

Insights

Frequently Asked Questions

Do we need a statutory audit or will an independent examination be sufficient?

The requirement depends on the charity’s income and the legal form. Charities with gross income above the audit threshold require a statutory audit. Below that, an independent examination may be sufficient subject to the requirements of the governing document and any funder requirements. We work through the position with you at the start of the engagement and confirm the right approach.

Can you advise on the structuring of a trading subsidiary?

Yes. Where the charity is undertaking substantive non-primary trading, a trading subsidiary is typically the right structure. We advise on the establishment, the corporation tax position, the VAT structure including any group registration, the intra-group services and the Gift Aid payment of profits to the charity. The ongoing operation also requires regular attention.

How can you support our trustees?

Through governance reviews, trustee training, attendance at trustee meetings where useful, financial reporting that is meaningful to non-finance trustees and the practical advice that supports trustees in carrying their duties. The role of charity trustee has become more demanding and the support available from us is calibrated to that reality.

Charities and Not-For-Profit