Section 1 Introduction
What this guide covers
This Guide gives an overview of the law and essential information regarding charities’ accounts that is relevant to all charities. This includes:
- The requirements for accounting records
- How to set your financial year
- Appointing an external scrutineer and their rights and duties
- Reporting to OSCR.
Part 1 also contains information and flowcharts that allow you to determine which type of accounts should be prepared (section 2) and which type of external scrutiny should be used (section 3).
When you have decided which type of accounts you need to prepare, then you can read the part of the Guide that applies:
A Guide to Charity Accounts Part 2: Receipts and Payments Accounts
A Guide to Charity Accounts Part 3: Fully Accrued Accounts
Who is this Guide for?
This Guide is for:
- charity trustees
- people working in or with charities
- independent examiners
- auditors
- professionals who advise charities or who assist charities to prepare their accounts may wish to use this Guide as a tool to help their clients.
Some charities will also have to prepare accounts in line with other legislation and regulations, for example:
- charitable companies
- registered social landlords
- further and higher education institutions
- community benefit societies (CBS or Bencom).
For these charities the Guide will need to be read alongside the other legislation or regulations that are specific to them.
How to use the Guide
The Guide is split into sections to help you find the information most relevant to you and your charity.
Key terms are highlighted in bold purple type. Clicking on these terms will take you to either the charity law glossary on our website or to our specific accounting terms glossary.
The main piece of charity law in Scotland that sets out the requirements for being a charity and establishes OSCR.
The 2006 Regulations set out in detail what information trustee annual reports and charity accounts must contain and when they must be submitted to OSCR.
The SORP sets the framework for charity financial reporting in the UK for charitable companies, charities with income of £250,000 and more and all other charities preparing accruals accounts.
OSCR publishes general guidance for charities, but we can’t provide specific advice on the full range of things which can happen in or affect your charity.
Below is a list of organisations, professional bodies and publications that can help with some or all of the areas set out in the Guide and more:
- Local Third Sector Interfaces offer a range of support to voluntary organisations.
- The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO).
- If your charity is part of an umbrella organisation, such as Early Years Scotland or the Development Trusts Association Scotland, the umbrella organisation or parent charity may be able to give you support.
- The Charity Commission is the Regulator for charities in England and Wales and provides information and advice on matters affecting charities in England and Wales.
- The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland is the Regulator for charities in Northern Ireland and provides information and advice on matters affecting charities in in Northern Ireland.
- Companies House has information on Company law and the accounting rules for companies.
Professional bodies:
- The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
- The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
- Chartered Accountants Ireland
- The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
- The Association of Authorised Public Accountants
- The Association of Accounting Technicians
- The Association of International Accountants
- The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
- The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators
- The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy
- The Association of Charity Independent Examiners
- The Institute of Financial Accountants
- Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice 2015. Copies can be downloaded at: charitiessorp.org. Hard copies may be purchased from CIPFA. Contact 020 7543 5600.
- Charity Finance Yearbook 2019 from Charity Finance Magazine.
- Practical Guide to Financial Management for Charities and Voluntary Organisations. By Kate Sayer, 3rd edition, 2007, Directory of Social Change. ISBN 978 1 903991.
- Practice Note 11 – The Audit of Charities in the United Kingdom produced by the Financial Reporting Council
- The Charity Treasurer’s Handbook. By Gareth Morgan, 5th edition. 2017, Directory of Social Change. ISBN 978 1 78482 013 8.