Accounting for charities and the not-for-profit sector is a specialist area that requires expertise and an understanding of the industry. On this page you can access a range of articles, books and online resources providing quick links to practical guidance and background knowledge.
Statements of Recommended Practice
We maintain a separate guide to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice with a listing of associated guidance and relevant books and articles.
Online articles
The library provides access to a range of articles in full text from leading business, finance and management journals.
You will need to be logged-in to the website to gain full access to the range of articles available online.
Useful links
ICAEW
Charity and Voluntary Sector Group
The special interest group provides practical support to chartered accountants within the sector. It offers news updates, technical helpsheets, as well as conferences and seminars.
Register of award holders (DChA)
A directory of finance professionals who have been awarded the Diploma in Charity Accounting. The directory is searchable by name, location and organisation.
Everybody Counts
ICAEW initiative to facilitate and encourage members' voluntary work with charitable and community organisations.
Auditing Practices Board
The Auditing Practices Board (APB) sets the principles and procedures that external auditors in the UK and the Republic of Ireland are required to follow. The APB has published a range of guidance relating to charities, including:
Charity Commission
The Charity Commission is responsible for setting the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice, along with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.
The Commission provides essential information for charities, including a range of consultation documents, guidelines, pro forma and inquiry reports.
Charity accounting and reporting
Overview of the Commission's information on charity accounts, Annual Returns and Trustees' Annual Reports.
Charity Reporting and Accounting: The essentials (April 2009)
General guidance for company and non-company charities for financial years ending on or after 1 April 2009.
SORP, Charity Accounts and Reports: What you need to know
Links to resources and information about all aspects of accounting for charities, including example accounts and reports.
Example Trustees' Annual Reports and Accounts
A selection of sample accounts covering:
- A fee charging school (subject to audit)
- A Parochial Church Council (PCC) (independently examined)
- A Grant Making Charity (subject to audit)
- A company charity (subject to audit)
- An unincorporated association preparing accounts on the receipts and payment basis (independently examined)
- An Islamic charity established as a Charitable Trust
- A theatre and arts centre
- Aid Overseas
Receipts and Payments Accounts Pack (CC16)
Notes and pro forma documents for non-company charities preparing simple receipts and payments accounts. Documents are available in PDF, Word and Excel formats.
Accruals Accounts Pack (CC17) and (CC39)
Notes and pro forma documents for non-company charities preparing trustees' annual reports and accounts on the accruals basis. Documents are available in PDF, Word and Excel formats.
Independent Examination of Charity accounts: Trustees Guide (CC31)
Guidance (updated in March 2012) addressing the independent examination and auditing of non-company charities and small charitable companies with reference to the Charities Act 2011 for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 April 2008.
Independent Examination of Charity accounts: Examiners Guide (CC32)
Guidance (updated in March 2012) explaining the examiner's role and duties.
Register of Charities
Search for charities by keyword, classification, income range or other criteria. The register also provides access to downloadable annual reports or annual accounts for many charities.
CIPFA
The Chartered Institte of Public Finance and Accountancy's Charities Panel produces a number of publications on the sector, including:
HMRC
HMRC produces many resources relevant to taxation for charities, including a set of detailed guidance notes.
Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator
The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) is an independent body responsible for setting the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice, alongside the Charity Commission.
The regulator maintains guidance on Scottish charity accounting, including an online version of Scottish Charity Accounts: An updated guide to the 2006 Regulations:
Example accounts, with guidance notes, are also available in the Guidance booklet available on the Receipts and Payments page.
Other guidance
Retention of Accounting Records (PDF 124.28kb/6 pages)
Checklist published by Buzzacott in May 2011 listing required retention periods for a wide range of documents, covering:
- Purchase invoices and supplier documentation
- Income/ Monies received
- Payroll documentation
- Employee/personnel records
- Resident/Care Records
- Buildings, plant and engineering
- Pension records
- Insurance documents
- Other documents
Other organisations
Charity Tax Group (CTG)
A non-profit membership organisation previously known as the Charities' Tax Reform Group, which makes representations to government on issues relating to the taxation of charities. The site includes details of its campaign priorities and information on membership.
Charity Internal Audit Network (CIAN)
Supported by the Charity Commission and the Institute of Internal Auditors UK and Ireland, the aim of CIAN is to assist its members in the voluntary sector. CIAN offers a forum, latest news, training opportunities and a special interest groups section.
Management Accounting For Non Governmental Organisations (MANGO)
Charity specialising in providing accounting and financial management services to relief operations. The site provides accounting information and tools with resources for download that include a Standard Field Office Accounting System, accounting spreadsheets and a set of standard accounting principles.
Articles and books in the Library collection
To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to book loans.
You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports by post, fax or email through our document delivery service.
Can't find what you're looking for?
If you have any difficulty in finding the material you are looking for please contact the enquiry team by phone on +44 (0)20 7920 8620, by fax on +44 (0)20 7920 8621 or by email at library@icaew.com.
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