Sterling Gate Accountants

Sterling Gate Accountants Specialists in UK charity accounting—compliance, reporting, payroll & more for nonprofits.
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Can Trustees Be Paid for Services or Goods?This question comes up a lot — especially in small charities.➡️ Yes, trustees...
01/06/2025

Can Trustees Be Paid for Services or Goods?

This question comes up a lot — especially in small charities.

➡️ Yes, trustees can be paid for goods or services, but only under strict conditions.

Here’s what the Charity Commission says:

🔸 There must be a clear written agreement between the charity and the trustee.
🔸 The payment must be reasonable and in the charity’s best interests.
🔸 The trustee must not be involved in the decision to approve the payment.
🔸 The charity’s governing document must not prohibit such payments.
🔸 Payments should be declared in the accounts and to other trustees.

⚠️ This includes:
• Professional services (e.g. legal, accountancy, plumbing)
• Goods supplied to the charity (e.g. equipment, stationery)

📌 Always document the decision and ensure it’s properly minuted.

Are you sure your charity doesn’t need an independent examination?We’ve recently come across several charities that shou...
29/05/2025

Are you sure your charity doesn’t need an independent examination?

We’ve recently come across several charities that should have had an independent examination—but didn’t.

👉 If your charity’s income exceeds £25,000, an independent examination is a legal requirement.
👉 If it exceeds £250,000, it must be carried out by someone with the right qualifications (like an accountant).

Missing this step isn’t just a technicality—it can lead to:
⚠️ Non-compliance with the Charity Commission
⚠️ Delays in filing accounts
⚠️ Reputational damage with funders and stakeholders

If you’re unsure whether your charity meets the threshold—or what type of examiner you need—it’s worth checking now, not later.

✅ We help charities stay on top of their compliance and make the process stress-free.

Feel free to drop me a message if you’d like to talk it through.

Two charities. £35,000 in lost funding. One common mistake.This month alone, I’ve had two separate charities approach me...
22/05/2025

Two charities. £35,000 in lost funding. One common mistake.
This month alone, I’ve had two separate charities approach me after discovering they’ve potentially lost over £35,000 in funding opportunities. Why?
Because their Charity Commission filings were non-compliant.
Missing disclosures. Incomplete reports. Easily avoided errors — but costly ones.
Funders are becoming more selective and scrutinise your financial reporting before committing support. Having an accountant who truly understands charity-specific reporting requirements is no longer optional — it’s essential.
✅ If you're unsure whether your charity’s accounts are fully compliant...
✅ If you want to avoid missing out on vital funding...
Get in touch. I specialise in helping charities stay compliant, confident, and funder-ready.

Running a charity is about purpose – not paperwork.But as every charity leader knows, the admin doesn’t take care of its...
16/05/2025

Running a charity is about purpose – not paperwork.
But as every charity leader knows, the admin doesn’t take care of itself.

We help UK charities stay focused on their mission by handling the finance side – from bookkeeping and payroll to independent examinations and audit prep.

If you’re a CEO, FD or trustee spending too much time on compliance, get in touch. We’ll help you free up time and headspace for the work that really matters.

Why every UK charity needs a strong reserves policyA well-thought-out reserves policy isn’t just a regulatory requiremen...
13/05/2025

Why every UK charity needs a strong reserves policy

A well-thought-out reserves policy isn’t just a regulatory requirement—it’s a sign of good governance.

Yet many charities either don’t have one, or haven’t reviewed it in years.

A clear policy helps you:
• Demonstrate responsible financial management
• Explain to funders and donors how you’re planning for the future
• Justify the level of reserves you hold (or don’t hold)
• Support decision-making during uncertain times

It also helps avoid criticism—charities with large unrestricted reserves but no clear plan for them are more likely to face tough questions from funders, regulators, and the public.

The Charity Commission expects your policy to cover:
• Why reserves are held
• How much is needed
• When and how they’ll be used
• When the policy will be reviewed

If your reserves policy needs a refresh—or you’re not sure where to start—DM me and I’ll send you a template you can adapt.

Is your charity preparing for year-end? Don’t forget these 3 key finance tasks: 1. Reconcile all bank and petty cash acc...
12/05/2025

Is your charity preparing for year-end? Don’t forget these 3 key finance tasks:
1. Reconcile all bank and petty cash accounts – Unreconciled accounts are a red flag for examiners and auditors.
2. Review restricted funds – Make sure income and spending match donor intentions. Mismanagement here can cause serious compliance issues.
3. Accrue outstanding liabilities – Don’t wait for the invoice. If it relates to this year, include it now.

Getting these right keeps your accounts clean and helps avoid delays with your independent examination or audit.

Need help with year-end prep? Let’s chat.

If your charity’s income is over £25,000, the answer is yes—you’re legally required to have your accounts independently ...
11/05/2025

If your charity’s income is over £25,000, the answer is yes—you’re legally required to have your accounts independently examined.

Here’s how the thresholds work:
• Under £25,000:
No Independent Examination required, but you must still prepare accounts and a trustees’ annual report.
• £25,001 – £250,000:
An Independent Examination is required. Your examiner must be independent and have the right financial skills—but they don’t need to be professionally qualified.
• Over £250,000 (and under the audit threshold):
Your examiner must be independent and a member of a recognised professional body (like ACCA or ICAEW).

Why does this matter?
A proper Independent Examination strengthens governance, builds funder trust, and helps prevent issues before they arise.

If you’re not sure what your charity needs this year, feel free to get in touch—I’m happy to help.

When was the last time your board reviewed your charity’s financial controls?The Charity Commission has opened another s...
09/05/2025

When was the last time your board reviewed your charity’s financial controls?

The Charity Commission has opened another statutory inquiry—this time due to concerns over missing financial returns and unexplained property risks.

It’s a timely reminder:
Good intentions aren’t enough—your systems, records, and governance must hold up to scrutiny.

If your charity holds assets, leases property, or reports little to no income or expenditure, you’re still accountable. Annual returns, trustee oversight, and internal controls matter—regardless of size.

Need help getting your charity’s house in order? Let’s talk.

Red Flags Trustees Shouldn’t Ignore in Charity AccountsTrustees – ever feel like you’re signing off on your charity’s ac...
08/05/2025

Red Flags Trustees Shouldn’t Ignore in Charity Accounts

Trustees – ever feel like you’re signing off on your charity’s accounts without truly knowing what to look for?

Here are 3 financial red flags that should make you pause:
1. Unexplained reserves movements – If your reserves are fluctuating but there’s no clear explanation, ask why.
2. Consistently late financial reporting – Delays can be a sign of deeper operational or governance issues.
3. Restricted funds being misused or poorly tracked – This is one of the most common causes of compliance breaches.

Being a trustee doesn’t mean you need to be an accountant — but you do need to ask the right questions.

I work with charities across the UK to make sure finances are clear, compliant, and trustee-friendly.

Get in touch if you need any help

Charity finance tip: Keep your fund reporting simple, clear, and consistent.Whether you’re dealing with restricted grant...
08/05/2025

Charity finance tip: Keep your fund reporting simple, clear, and consistent.

Whether you’re dealing with restricted grants, project budgets, or donations with conditions attached—good fund reporting is essential.

Here’s what “good” looks like:
• Separate tracking – Make sure restricted and unrestricted funds are clearly split.
• Live visibility – Don’t wait for year-end. Fund balances should be visible monthly.
• Linked to activity – Fund reports should tie directly to project delivery.
• Trustee-ready – Can your trustees understand the report without needing an accountant to explain it?

Clarity builds trust—with your team, trustees, and funders.

If your reporting is causing confusion or delays, it’s worth reviewing how it’s set up. Sometimes a few tweaks can save hours and reduce risk.

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