Accountants for Charities and Schools

Rebbeca Frost

More than year end compliance, we work with you as your financial partner and sounding board.

Rebbeca Frost

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.

  • Charitable companies

  • Unincorporated charities

  • Trading subsidiaries

  • Schools and academies

  • Clubs and associations

  • Community Interest Companies

Accountants for Charities and Schools Articles

Accountants for Charities and Schools Articles

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Rebecca Frost, Assistant manager for Lovewell Blake

Setting up a trading subsidiary within an academy trust

In-depth guide
5 min read
Giving money to charity

Could your charity or not-for-profit organisation benefit from speaking to one of our specialist accountants?

In-depth guide
1 min read
People using an ipad and a laptop

When you are at the planning stages of converting to academy status, joining or becoming a multi-academy trust, or expanding your trust, there are many areas to consider

In-depth guide
1 min read

Key partners and staff

Mark Proctor Partner for Lovewell Blake

Mark Proctor

Partner
Abi Robinson, Audit Director, Lovewell Blake

Abi Robinson

Audit Director
Kyle Smith

Kyle Smith

Manager
Stef Smith Manager at Lovewell Blake

Stef Smith

Manager
Rebbeca Frost

Rebecca Frost

Assistant Manager

FAQs

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.

Wide-ranging tax planning and compliance services for individuals seeking advice and guidance from our team of experienced and highly qualified professionals.

Friendly and coherent advice and guidance on accounting and tax matters for small business owners including those starting out for the first time.

Established businesses requiring accounting and tax compliance services, forward thinking tax planning advice and the support to help your business succeed.

Our full range of enhanced corporate services aimed at large companies and those requiring audit, assurance, corporate tax advisory and diverse tax planning services.

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