MyCIMA

Query on whether or not you can be the accountant as well as the independent examiner of a charity

Posted: Monday 10 January 2011 by Heinrich Groenewald
Replies : 5
Keywords: accountant, accounting, independent examiner

Will I, a registered member in practice with CIMA, be allowed, as the accountant of a charity to also act as their independent examiner?

Please advise. Thank you.

Independent Examination of Charity Accounts

Posted by Bill Haskins on Monday 10 January 2011 12:49

Dear Heinrich, 

I came across this guide on the Charity Commission website, CC32 - Independent Examination of Charity Accounts: Examiners’ Guide.

Part C3 of this guide seems to be saying that the Charity Commission would not permit this.

There are other guidance documents on charity accounting reporting on this website that you may find useful.

I hope this helps.

Kind regards,

Bill Haskins, CIMA

"Independent" is the key

Posted by Adrian Rutter on Monday 10 January 2011 13:28
Heinrich, just run with the logic of your question: if you're involved in the day-to-day running of the charity as their accountant, then by definition you're not able to carry out an "independent" review.

I'm with Adrian

Posted by Alistair Taylor on Monday 10 January 2011 17:25

If you prepare the accounts and then examine them you are simply checking your own work and there is no way the Charity Commission will accept this.

 Below is an extract from CC32:

"An examiner cannot independently review his or her own work and so the person who is the charity’s book-keeper cannot be the charity’s examiner"

For "book-keeper" read "accountant".

Eligible as charity's accountant and independent examiner

Posted by Heinrich Groenewald on Tuesday 11 January 2011 17:01
What if we're not their day to day bookkeepers but merely producing their statutory accounts? 

There's no difference

Posted by Alistair Taylor on Wednesday 12 January 2011 10:00
You would still be checking your work and not independant.