Learning the ropes of bookkeeping

There are many learning curves to be navigated with setting up and running a charity for the first time. We chose the company framework at the outset because of the benefits this provided for securing contracts, leases, employing staff, etc as well as providing a legal identity in its own right.

The complication for this is the reporting requirements to both Companies House and the Charity Commission. This means the accounts have to be submitted twice.

That said I have to raise my hat to Tim Pearce at Crump Pearce & Co., our accountants. Their reassuring, down to earth and approachable manner has helped us put our first year accounts together. Their advice has been invaluable and I would not hesitate to recommend their services. Their insight has helped shape the format of my books for the 2010/11 accounting period, which despite my earlier concern actually makes them far easier to work through and understand making the analysis far easier to see.