Accountants for Charities and Education Services
We are members of the Kreston UK charities group, a network of independent accounting firms which share a common interest and specialisation in the charity sector. The group advises over 2000 charities throughout the UK and its members work closely together to share experience and expertise so that our clients benefit from a comprehensive range of services and specialist advice. Our membership of the Kreston Global network also enables us to deal with any international issues.
Services include:
We are experienced at presenting annual accounts which comply with all relevant charity accounting requirements, and can advise you on how to present your accounts to make sure that they have the maximum impact.
Services include:
- Producing statutory accounts.
- Compliance with any specific funder requirements.
We will carry out an audit in accordance with all the relevant charity audit requirements. The benefits of our service extend beyond a signature on the audit report covering forthcoming challenges which will affect you as well as offering an insight into how our other charities’ experiences may be relevant to your own circumstances.
Services include:
- Robust audit of accounts
- Production of high quality report
Our specialist VAT team advises clients on both compliance and planning matters, working with them to maximise opportunities and minimise VAT costs.
Services include:
- Registration
- Business/non-business and partial exemption
- Property transactions
- Structuring of operations
- Healthchecks
- Negotiations with HM Revenue & Customs
Our tax specialists have great experience in providing practical solutions for clients, helping you maximise opportunities and minimise any tax costs.
Services include:
- Maximising Gift Aid
- Using other forms of tax effective giving
- Impact of trading activities on charity status
- Use of trading subsidiaries
- Property transactions
- Employee tax issues
- Negotiating with HM Revenue & Customs
Keeping on top of charity finances can be a significant issue for many charities, particularly where their internal resources are limited and there is rightly a big focus on helping charity beneficiaries.
We can work with charities to help them with their finance function, providing an outsourcing service which provides you with up-to-date and accurate financial information on which you can make decisions. The service is very flexible as circumstances change and can be provided on a regular or ad hoc basis.
Services include:
- Assistance with setting up or reviewing accounting systems
- Regular book-keeping
- Month end support and management accounts
- Interpretation of financial information
- Cash flow forecasts
- Budgeting
James Cowper Kreston’s payroll services are dealt with through JC Payroll Services. The bureau handles over 500 payrolls from single employee payrolls to those with hundreds of employees. The bureau is BACS approved. Our fully managed service ensures that you comply with all the relevant statutory requirements.
Services include:
- Preparing payslips
- Dealing with all statutory returns
- Liaising with HM Revenue & Customs
- Payment of salaries through the BACS system
- International employees
- HR consulting services through BusinessHR
Charities and educational organisations, just like private sector businesses, need to monitor cash flow carefully to ensure they can continue in operation to help their beneficiaries.
In today’s challenging environment for charities, early consultation with restructuring and insolvency specialists can prevent the failure of an organisation by assisting management and trustees find solutions to operational difficulties.
Services include:
- Cash flow management
- 'What if' scenarios
- Turnaround and recovery advice
- Advice on responsibilities
- Formal insolvency procedures
Charities often enter into partnerships and joint ventures, and in an environment of increasing financial pressures many charities see this as a practical way of securing services to beneficiaries. The Charity Commission has also encouraged increased collaboration in recent years.
Services include:
- Initial assessment of options
- Structuring of arrangements
- Consideration of tax issues
- Due diligence reviews prior to merger
Governance is a key issue for charities, particularly at a time when financial pressures are significant. Charity management and trustees need to consider if they are meeting their responsibilities effectively.
Services include:
- Advising on risk management
- Considering impact of emerging issues
- Considering compliance with key Charity Commission guidance
- Highlighting best practice
- Trustee and management training