Independent Examinations
Running a charity is a rewarding and meaningful endeavour. We know that all your thought and energy should be on the furtherance of your charitable purpose, but unfortunately there is a lot of paperwork that goes along with that. The role of an examiner is to provide independent scrutiny of the charity accounts and, in this way, help maintain public trust and confidence in your charity. Even if you do not need an independent examination by law, for the purposes of transparency and accountability you may want one performed to keep your main stakeholders informed and happy.
We have the understanding and training to perform independent examinations for charities of any size. We will be happy to provide your stakeholders the reassurance they need that their time and donations are being spent well.
Lifting weight off your shoulders,
Giving you peace of mind.
Independent Examinations FAQ's
DOES MY CHARITY NEED AN INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION?
If your gross income is above £25,000 but does not exceed £1M, your gross assets do not exceed £3.26M and your governing document does not require an audit, you may need an independent examination. Click here for an eligibility flow chart.
WHY DOES A CHARITY NEED AN INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION?
Charities need to undergo an independent examination to ensure that they remain compliant with charity laws and regulations.
WHAT IS AN INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION?
It is a proportionate form of external scrutiny of the charities accounts primarily for smaller charities.
WHAT DOES THE PROCESS INVOLVE?
Click here for the charity commission’s directions and guidance on what an independent examination involves.
IS AN INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION THE SAME AS AN AUDIT?
No, an independent examination (IE) is different from an audit through the level of assurance it provides. An IE provides limited assurance, and an audit provides reasonable assurance. The process of providing limited assurance is far less complex than providing reasonable assurance.
DO I NEED A QUALIFIED ACCOUNTANT TO DO AN INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION?
If your gross income is below £250,000 then no, however if it is above £250,000, the Charities Act 2011 section 145 states that an examiner must be independent and a member of one of the bodies listed. AAT is one of the bodies listed, so we can perform any independent examination.