Our Specialist Not For Profit Services
As a not for profit organisation (NFP), it’s important to have sensitive and experienced advisers who understand your responsibilities.
Working with BKL, you’ll be supported by dedicated advisers with decades of specialist experience across the not for profit sector.
We provide audit, accounts, tax and strategic advice to all kinds of NFPs from specialist schools and academies to charities operating internationally.
Our guidance will help ease the pressure, so you can focus on doing good in your communities.
Academies & schools
Compliance is a given. We take a broader view.
Having advised the government on the implementation of the academy accounts model, our involvement with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) auditors’ forum along with other large providers of academy audits has enabled us to help shape the sector’s bespoke auditing and accounting regulations. This also ensures that we are aware at an early stage of technical developments and significant updates, such as changes to the Academies Accounts Direction.
In recognition of our high standard of work for faith academies, we are a preferred supplier of financial services by Churchmarketplace. We were heavily involved in resolving an historic issue surrounding the accounting treatment of land and buildings, specific to faith academies, which has since been widely adopted across the sector.
Our expertise includes internal scrutiny (internal audit provision): in line with the Academy Trust Handbook (ATH), giving independent assurance to your board and the DfE that your systems, controls and risk management procedures are operating effectively.
Charities
As a charity or not-for-profit organisation, it’s important to have advisers who understand you, your markets and your needs. Our not-for-profit team is led by specialists actively involved in organisations like yours.
Our services not only draw on our expertise and knowledge as auditors and advisers. We have practical experience of the pressures and difficulties the charity sector faces.
- Preparation and audit of statutory accounts
- Tax advice, including how best to maximise Gift Aid recoveries and minimise the impact of taxes, such as capital gains tax and VAT, on your activities
- Guidance through any employment issues
- Payroll
- Advice on strategy and support on risk management issues in conjunction with the latest advice issued by the Charity Commission
We also specialise in supporting the particular requirements of academies and schools.
Trustees’ Reports -Timing and Templates
Carly Pinkus and Ed Passmore discuss why the Academy Trust Trustees’ Report is far more than a compliance requirement.
It is one of the key documents reviewed by the Department for Education (DfE), the ESFA, auditors and other stakeholders to understand how a trust is governed, how funds are being used and what its future plans look like.
They explain how trusts can approach the report more effectively – starting preparation early, using templates aligned with the Academies Accounts Direction (AAD) and ensuring the report clearly reflects the trust’s strategy, governance and financial stewardship.
Reserves – Getting the Balance Right
Carly Pinkus and Ed Passmore explain why reserves are an important measure of financial sustainability for academy trusts.
While trusts must prioritise spending on education and pupil outcomes today, they also need to plan for future pressures such as capital investment, inflation and unexpected costs.
Carly and Ed discuss how trustees can approach reserves in a balanced and practical way – considering sector benchmarks, linking reserves to risk management and long-term strategy, and explaining the trust’s approach clearly in the Trustees’ Report so regulators, auditors and other stakeholders understand how financial resilience is being managed.
Getting Your Trial Balance Ready for Audit
Carly Pinkus and Nayim Rahman discuss why preparing a clean and accurate trial balance is one of the most important steps in ensuring a smooth academy trust audit.
A well-prepared trial balance helps reduce delays, minimise last-minute adjustments and gives trustees confidence that the numbers are complete before accounts are finalised.
They talk through the most common issues that slow audits down such as unreconciled control accounts, missing year-end adjustments and incomplete fixed asset records and share practical steps finance teams can take to prepare early and keep the year-end process on track ahead of the 31 December ESFA submission deadline.
How BKL can help
Every not-for-profit organisation has its own mission, goals and challenges.
Whether you’re focused on delivering services, supporting communities, managing growth or responding to an evolving regulatory landscape, the right advice can help you move forward with confidence.
We understand the responsibilities that come with leading a not-for-profit organisation and the importance of balancing governance, financial sustainability and impact.
If you’d like to discuss your organisation’s needs and future plans, we’d welcome the opportunity to learn more and explore how we can help.
Speak to your usual BKL contact or connect with one of our not-for-profit specialists below.
Contact Carly
