Our key services
Charity Audits and other assurance services
Independent Examinations
VAT, Gift Aid and all taxation matters
Accounting, bookkeeping and financial reporting
Our team of specialists is fully versed in the different aspects of accounting for a charity or not-for-profit organisation and can help you work your way through a myriad of law and rules that will affect you.
So that you can comply with governance needs for your trustees, as well as keep your other stakeholders happy (funders, grant makers, fundraisers etc.), your accounts must adhere to certain rules. We will ensure that not only are your accounts compliant, but that best practice is met at all times.
Our expert team of auditors have years of experience working with charities and not-for-profit organisations as well as schools and academies. We use the audit visit as an opportunity to take stock of where you are and how we can help you achieve your goals. We work closely with a broad range of not-for-profit organisations across Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
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Charitable companies
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Unincorporated charities
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Trading subsidiaries
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Schools and academies
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Clubs and associations
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Community Interest Companies
Accountants for Charities and Schools Articles
Accountants for Charities and Schools Articles

Setting up a trading subsidiary within an academy trust
Key partners and staff

Mark Proctor
Partner
Abi Robinson
Audit DirectorKyle Smith
Manager
Stef Smith
Manager
Rebecca Frost
Assistant ManagerFAQs
We want to change accountants, is this expensive?
Not at all, in fact it may save you money. Your new accountant will typically need to spend time getting to know your organisation and how you work, but most do not charge you for this process as it is seen as a necessary investment of time to develop a longer relationship. You can also benefit from obtaining a quotation for a fixed number of years so you can be assured that unless your activities change substantially, your accountancy fees will not.
Do you provide tax advice for charities?
Yes. Members of our specialist charities team all have a good understanding of the wide range of taxation issues relating to charities, such as charitable tax exemptions, small trading exemptions and use of trading subsidiaries, gift aid reclaims, etc. We have a team of experienced corporate tax consultants who are able to advise further on the more complex areas. Our in-house VAT consultant has a wealth of experience of working with charities and is able to advise on the complexity of partial exemption and property-related VAT issues, along with other areas that may be relevant to your charity.
Is Xero good for charity accounting?
Yes. We’ve noticed a number of small charities moving to Xero, whether they have moved from another software solution or upgraded from spreadsheet/cashbook accounting. Xero is flexible enough to meet the needs of smaller charities, with a customisable chart of accounts to aid reporting, tracking categories to assist with your fund accounting, and flexibility with VAT codes for partial exemption. Xero is also available to registered charities at a discounted rate. We are able to assist charities with the transition to Xero, whether that is by setting up Xero, converting existing data onto Xero, or providing training on how to use the software, our team of cloud accounting specialists can help.
Do you carry out auditing for charities and schools?
Yes. We carry out charity audits (whether these are required due to the charity’s income level or under the terms of the charity’s constitution) and provide independent examination services for charities too. This includes audits for independent schools registered as charities. We also carry out academy trust audits – we are able to provide academy trusts with either internal audit services or external audit services and regularity reporting/accounts return. We are also able to provide other assurance services such as grant audits and the audits of Teachers’ Pension annual returns.
What makes Lovewell Blake stand out as a charity and school accountant?
Our charities and not-for-profit team work exclusively with charities, academies and other not-for-profit organisations of a variety of types and sizes. We understand the specific issues that are likely to arise and are familiar with the accounting requirements, for example fund accounting rules as well as providing advice on the content of trustee annual reports. At Lovewell Blake, we pride ourselves in providing an individually tailored service to our clients and we understand that all of our clients will have different needs. Members of our charities team have experience as school governors and charity trustees, and the senior members of our team hold a Diploma in Charity Accounting.
Do you provide accountancy services for academy schools?
We are able to prepare statutory academy accounts which are fully compliant with the Academies Accounts Direction, either as part of our external audit service or as a separate engagement if required. We are also able to assist non-audit clients with the preparation or review of management accounts and budget forecast returns if required.
Related news

Diversifying income – an increasing priority for charities
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Academies Accounts Direction
The DfE have now released the Academies Accounts Direction 2024 – 2025 for academy trust accounts ending 31 August 2025, along with model accounts and the auditor framework and guide.

Tax year end is a great time to point out gift aid advantages
The end of the tax year is a good opportunity to remind donors of the advantages of Gift Aid, says Stef Smith of Lovewell Blake’s Charities team.

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Becoming a trustee doesn’t just benefit the charity involved, but offers many rewards to the individual, says Kyle Smith of Lovewell Blake’s Charities team.

Charities need to start preparing now for new accounting rules coming next year
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Seek support to maximise gift aid opportunities
A new report has highlighted a multi-million pound funding gap caused by inconsistent take-up of Gift Aid – which is shocking when many charities are struggling to make ends meet.

Charities as vulnerable to fraud as ever
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Leading UK charity fundraising expert tells regional charities they need to diversify their sources of income
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New voluntary organisation banking guide is a welcome step forward
With many charities reporting problems when it comes to banking, a newly-published voluntary organisation banking guide is a step in the right direction, says Stef Smith of Lovewell Blake’s Charities team.

New Academy Trust Handbook for 2024
The ESFA has now published the 2024 edition of the Academy Trust Handbook, which covers the requirements academy trusts must comply with from 1 September 2024.

When would a charity need to consider refusing or returning a donation?
Most charities spend a lot of effort seeking donations – but sometimes they may need to consider refusing a donation, or returning one which has already been made, says Kyle Smith of Lovewell Blake’s Charities team.

Lovewell Blake named as top accountancy firm in the UK for charity expertise in comprehensive national survey
East Anglian chartered accountants Lovewell Blake has been named the best in the UK for its charity expertise by Charity Finance magazine, in its annual survey of accountancy firms offering specialist services to the charity sector.

ESFA updates guidance on academy trusts' reserves policies
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) has issued updated guidance for academy trusts on the subject of reserves policy – and trustees should be familiarising themselves with the new advice before taking decisions about the levels of reserves held within their trust.

Charities urged not to leave new Annual Return completion until the last minute
Charities are being urged not to delay completing their statutory Annual Returns, as a new format means that the task will require more time and input than in previous years.

New guidance on investing charity funds published
The Charity Commission’s document aimed at charity trustees which gives guidance on investing charity money has been significantly updated.

Landmark supreme court rates relief judgement could be ‘game-changer’ for local charities
A recent Supreme Court case could prove to be a game-changer for some charities – as it has clarified the position on Mandatory Rates Relief (MRR) for charities, and will make it much easier for them to challenge local authorities which reject their MRR applications.

Employment allowance for small charities
Small charities with employees are often unaware that they are eligible for the Employment Allowance. This enables them to reduce their annual National Insurance liability by up to £5,000, so long as their total NI liabilities were less than £100,000 in the previous tax year. Unincorporated charities and Community Action Sports Clubs are also eligible.

Time for charities to modernise their fundraising approach
Maximising fundraising income has never been more important – and arguably the fundraising environment has never been more challenging.

Much more detailed charity annual return will enable charity commission to ensure the charitable sector is more resilient
In the same way that limited companies have to file an Annual Return to Companies House each year confirming and/or updating their details, charities are required to file an Annual Return to the Charity Commission.

New charity commission trustee portal is a welcome step to improve engagement
All charities rely on individuals who are willing to give their time and skills to act as trustees. Now a new online initiative from the Charity Commission has been launched to provide better support for trustees – and it’s a good idea for anyone on a charity’s board to sign up.

Charity Alert - The Charity Commission
The Charity Commission has released a useful summary of the most important changes made to the Charities Act.

Charity trustees and managers learn 12 key steps to good financial management at free masterclass
A dozen key indicators are vital to ensure a charity is being well managed financially – that was the message taken away by representatives from more than 20 Norfolk charities at the latest in a series of Charity Masterclasses being presented by Lovewell Blake.

Charity commission’s plans to engage more with trustees welcomed by leading regional charities expert
A move to provide better support for trustees of charities by the body which regulates them has been welcomed as ‘a significant step forward’ by one of the region’s leading charity experts.

Robust reserves policy ‘more important than ever’ for charities
As charities emerge from the pandemic to uncertain times, it is more important than ever that their reserves policies reflect their current needs, says Rebecca Frost of Lovewell Blake’s specialist Charity team.

Charity alert - 'five minute guides' for Trustees
The Charity Commission has released a series of animated videos to promote its “five minute guides” for Trustees which were launched last year.

Not for profit corporate structures – which one is best for us?
We often receive enquiries from small unincorporated not for profit organisations, such as clubs, who are growing and finding that they want to, or need to, review their structure. Sometimes they are taking on their first employees, or perhaps they need to rent a property.