Charity Audit Survey 2024

Take part in the Charity Audit Survey by the 17th of October and you’ll receive a copy of the published survey report. Additionally, we’ll enter your name into a prize draw to win a seasonal hamper. Share your valuable opinions here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TQDBDHL

 

 

Best Practice Reporting - Oct 2023

3 October 2023
In the current economic climate where fundraising from funders and the public alike is a tough ask, it is important that you sell your charity in the best possible light. We all know that funders will look at your statutory accounts and therefore they need to reflect well on your organisation to provide key messages in a way that encourages them to fund you. Our half day course will give the tips on best practice reporting in the sector and show you how to think about your Trustees report differently. It is much more than a compliance document and an opportunity to ‘tell your story’ in an engaging way.

Speakers

  • Helena Wilkinson

    Partner and Head of Charities

    Helena is a Partner and Head of Charities at Price Bailey, she is a charity specialist having worked with in the sector for over 30 years . She was Vice-Chair of ICAEW Charity Community until December 2019, is a recognised charity expert, writes for national/charity press and regularly presents at events. She has worked on the ‘other side of the fence’ as 7 years as Finance Director in a charity enabling her to give innovative and pragmatic advice as a result.  Her roles within the industry have included financial management, corporate governance and strategic planning. She writes the Top 100 analysis of charity reporting for Charity Finance every year In the Autumn which highlights areas of best practice and common trends.

  • Suzanne Goldsmith

    Director , Price Bailey

    Suzanne is a qualified chartered accountant and Director at Price Bailey and has worked as an auditor and advisor to the charity and not for profit sector for 20 years. Suzanne trained and qualified in Cambridge, where she is still based today and her experience and knowledge covers a variety of organisations within the sector including charities, academies, higher education, and research organisations in receipt of grant funding. Suzanne’s portfolio of clients has grown to include clients and contacts from around the Eastern region and she often contributes to publications, blog posts and seminars on relevant sector topics.

    Suzanne has been an auditor all throughout her professional carreer and admits that she loves the variety being an advisor in the sector gives her, every day bringing something different and being part of a team who advise on technical matters and best practice, financial management, corporate governance, strategic planning to name a few! She has also held a number of Trustee roles and is currently Vice Chair of Trustees and Chair of the Resources Committee of a multi academy trust in Suffolk. In these roles she has gained valuable knowledge and experience of the practical aspects of governanace, leadership and charity management. 

Programme

10:00  
Best practice reporting in the charity sector
10:05
Strategy, objectives and ‘Telling your story’
 
What makes a Trustees report interesting, engaging and informative for the reader? How can you look at presenting information in a succinct user friendly way? This session will look at some of the challenges in reporting against the ‘measures of success’ requirements of the Charities SORP; and give examples and ideas of how to develop a new style of reporting for your charity.
 
The next Charities SORP is likely to make ‘impact’ reporting a requirement so charities need to think about and prepare for the forthcoming changes ahead.
10:40
Risk
A key reporting requirement under the Charities SORP is to list the key risks facing the charity and how these are mitigated.  This session will look at disclosure examples of risk statements and also challenge you to think about the risks that are featured in your charity’s accounts. Are these the strategic risks? Have they been appropriately summarised and disclosed or is the wording very generic?
11:00
BREAK
11:15
Optional disclosures and evolving trends
Many charities disclose information over and above the requirements of the Charities SORP. This session will look at new disclosures and evolving trends on areas to consider including in your Trustees report and give examples. Recent examples have included areas such as EDI and staff disclosures, fundraising disclosures, ESG and climate change.
11:45
Reserves polices
 
One key aspect of the Trustees report is explaining a charity reserves, designations and free reserves in a way that is complimentary with the strategy. This session will provide some examples of best practice and discuss the key attributions in building a reserves policy narrative for disclosure.
 
It is anticipated that the calculation of free reserves will become a future compulsory disclosure and what will this mean for your charity.
12:15
BREAK
12:30
Breakout session
 
Breakout sessions into groups to discuss the challenges of best practice reporting. Presenters will be attending sessions to help inform the discussions and questions arising.
12:50
Conclusions and Q&A
13:00
End

Prices

(prices exc VAT)
Charity Finance subscriber - £119
Standard charity rate - £159
Corporate Charity Finance subscriber - £300
Corporate delegate - £400
For group bookings email [email protected] 

Terms & Conditions

Substitution and cancellation policy: On receipt of your booking form, your place is confirmed. Delegate substitutions are allowed. Up to and including 14 days prior to the event, a refund (less a 15% administration fee), or one complimentary transfer to another training date can be issued. Only one complimentary transfer can be issued, no refund will be issued for a cancelled transfer.  Once a transfer has been processed, refund for the original booking will not be issued. Refunds or transfers are not available less than 14 days before the event date. Confirmation of cancellations MUST be in writing and sent or faxed to Civil Society Media at 15 Prescott Place, London, SW4 6BS 020 7819 1200 (fax: 020 7819 1210).