Understand the organisation
We begin with its purpose, funding, operating model, current pressures and existing finance capability.
Accounting and financial management for charities and non-profits
Sound financial management, grounded in how purpose-driven organisations actually work.
Charities, non-profits and other for-purpose organisations need more than accurate accounts. Leaders and Boards also need a clear view of financial performance, cash, commitments and the decisions ahead.
iuvo.solutions brings accounting expertise together with direct experience of leading and managing purpose-driven organisations.
The charity and non-profit context
Financial information needs to reflect purpose, funding and delivery.
Charity finances are shaped by funding agreements, service commitments, restricted income, staffing and the timing of cash receipts and expenditure.
The annual accounts remain important, but they cannot provide all the information needed to manage the organisation during the year. Management and the Board need timely information that connects the numbers with what the organisation has committed to deliver.
I understand this from both sides: as a Chartered Accountant responsible for reliable financial information, and as a former chief executive using that information to manage an organisation and report to a Board.
Strong financial foundations
Accounting systems should support the work of the organisation.
Sound financial management creates confidence that the information is reliable, responsibilities are clear and important matters will be identified early.
Depending on the organisation, this may include:
- Timely and reliable monthly accounts
- A chart of accounts and reporting structure aligned with funding, services and activities
- Budgets and forecasts connected to organisational plans
- Cash-flow planning and visibility of future commitments
- Clear financial controls, delegations and review processes
- Appropriate tracking of grants, contracts and restricted funds
- Useful reporting for management, the Board and funders
- Orderly preparation for year-end reporting and audit
How I can help
Experienced support across the financial management cycle.
Support can strengthen the organisation's existing finance function, provide senior financial capacity or help resolve a defined area of concern.
This may involve:
- Oversight and review of monthly accounting processes
- Management accounts, commentary and Board reporting
- Annual budgets, reforecasting and cash-flow planning
- Reviewing Xero, the chart of accounts and related systems
- Strengthening financial controls, policies and delegations
- Supporting finance staff, bookkeepers and organisational managers
- Preparing for year-end reporting and working with auditors
- Virtual CFO or interim senior finance support
The work begins with what the organisation needs, the capability already in place and the decisions its financial information needs to support.
When support may be useful
Finance can become difficult when the organisation changes faster than its systems.
Additional financial management support may be useful when:
- The organisation is growing, restructuring or taking on new funding
- Financial information is late, uncertain or difficult to interpret
- The chief executive is carrying too much of the finance workload
- A finance role is vacant, changing or needs additional senior support
- Cash flow or future commitments are not sufficiently visible
- The Board or funders need greater confidence in the financial picture
- Year-end reporting or audit is placing pressure on the organisation
A practical approach
Strengthen what matters and leave the organisation better supported.
Establish the financial picture
We clarify what is reliable, what needs attention and which issues matter most.
Make practical improvements
We strengthen the information, systems and responsibilities needed for sound financial management.
Support better decisions
We connect the financial work with the choices facing management and the Board.
A useful first step
Would stronger financial management give your organisation greater clarity and confidence?
Tell me what is creating pressure, what support is already available and what you need the financial information to help you do.
Start a conversation