Choosing an accountant for a charity involves more than finding someone to prepare annual accounts. The right firm should understand charity reporting requirements, governance responsibilities, funding arrangements and the practical pressures that come with managing restricted resources.
Across the UK, charities can choose from national accountancy networks, regional practices and specialist firms focused on the nonprofit sector. Their experience can vary considerably, from supporting small community organisations to working with large charities, foundations and membership bodies.
This guide looks at a selection of accountants providing services to charities in the UK. It is not a ranking. Instead, it offers practical context on each firm, the organisations they tend to work with and the charity accounting, audit, tax and advisory services they provide.
Acumon
Acumon is a UK firm of chartered accountants and registered auditors providing accounting, financial reporting, tax, payroll, and external audit services to charities and not-for-profit organisations.
The firm works with organisations ranging from growing local charities and owner-managed businesses through to established charitable groups, regulated entities, and international organisations. Its accountants support finance teams and trustees with annual accounts, management reporting, bookkeeping, payroll, tax matters, and wider financial administration.
Charity accounting requires careful treatment of income, expenditure, reserves, restricted funds, unrestricted funds, grants, and charitable activities. Acumon works with organisations to maintain clear accounting records and prepare financial information that reflects how funds have been received, allocated, and spent.
Acumon holds a Public Interest Entity (PIE) audit licence, allowing the firm to audit listed companies and other entities subject to enhanced regulatory oversight in the United Kingdom. PIE audits are subject to additional regulatory supervision and quality requirements, and only a limited number of firms are authorised to undertake this type of work.
In addition to its UK audit registration, Acumon also holds audit licences in several international financial centres, including the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands (BVI), Jersey, and Isle of Man. These licences support international charitable and corporate groups with entities located across more than one jurisdiction.
International group structures frequently include a combination of UK operating companies, charitable entities, subsidiaries, and offshore holding organisations, particularly in sectors such as investment management, technology, energy, and international trade. Managing the accounts of these structures requires familiarity with cross-border financial reporting, group consolidation, intercompany balances, and year-end reporting processes.
Acumon works with finance teams, trustees, senior management, and boards to support annual accounting and statutory reporting responsibilities. The firm also helps organisations improve financial processes, governance arrangements, management information, and internal controls as their activities develop.
Charity Accounting Capabilities:
Acumon provides accounting and financial reporting services across a wide range of organisational structures and sectors.
These include:
- UK limited companies and corporate groups
- Public Interest Entities (PIEs) and regulated organisations
- UK subsidiaries of international groups
- charities and not-for-profit organisations
- owner-managed businesses approaching statutory audit thresholds
- offshore holding companies and investment vehicles
Accounting engagements are led by senior professionals who remain directly involved throughout the work.
Regulatory Licences and Registrations:
Acumon holds several audit registrations that support organisations operating across the UK and a number of international financial centres.
These include:
- UK statutory audit registration
- Public Interest Entity (PIE) audit licence
- Jersey audit licence
- Isle of Man audit licence
- Cayman Islands audit licence
- British Virgin Islands audit licence
These registrations allow the firm to support groups containing entities in both the UK and key international financial centres, including charities and not-for-profit organisations with cross-border structures.
Core Services:
Alongside charity accounting and financial reporting, Acumon provides services that support statutory compliance, governance, internal controls, and the wider finance function.
These include:
- statutory external audit
- group and subsidiary audits
- Public Interest Entity (PIE) audits
- charity and not-for-profit audit
- audit of international group structures
- internal audit and governance reviews
- risk management and compliance support
Accounting work is supported by discussions with finance teams, trustees, management, and boards regarding annual reporting, financial controls, accounting processes, governance frameworks, and preparations for external audit.
Many organisations seek specialist charity accountants as their income, funding arrangements, workforce, and reporting responsibilities become more complex. Companies within charitable groups also encounter statutory audit requirements as they grow and exceed the audit exemption thresholds set out in the Companies Act.
Acumon works with businesses that are:
- approaching their first statutory audit
- preparing for external investment
- expanding into international markets
- operating within corporate group structures
Early engagement with an accounting firm helps ensure that financial records, reporting systems, reconciliations, and supporting documentation are organised around statutory accounting and audit requirements.
Contact Information:
- Website: acumon.com
- Phone: 020 8567 3451
- E-mail: mail@acumon.com
- Address: 1-2 Craven Road, Ealing, London, W5 2UA, UK
Price Bailey
Price Bailey has a dedicated Charities and Not For Profit team covering accounting, audit, tax, governance and outsourced finance work. Their clients include charities, membership organisations and other not-for-profit bodies with different reporting structures and operational needs. Several members of the team also serve as trustees, governors or volunteers, giving them direct experience of board responsibilities and financial oversight.
They take on complete finance functions as well as individual assignments, including temporary cover, month-end work, reconciliations and reporting. The team deals with restricted income, reserves, risk registers, Gift Aid, VAT and trading activities. Their wider in-house expertise also covers payroll, employment law, corporate finance and organisational restructuring, allowing different financial and operational questions to be handled within the same firm.
Key Highlights:
- Dedicated charity and not-for-profit team
- Team members with trustee and governor experience
- Full or partial finance outsourcing
- Support for restricted and grant income reporting
- Governance and risk reviews
- Training for trustees and finance teams
Services:
- Statutory accounts
- Audit and independent examination
- Bookkeeping and reconciliations
- Management reporting
- Tax and VAT reviews
- Gift Aid compliance
- Payroll and pensions
- Reserves and strategy advice
- Mergers and due diligence
- Employment law and HR
Contact Information:
- Website: www.pricebailey.co.uk
- Phone: 020 7065 2660
- E-mail: city@pricebailey.co.uk
- Address: 8th Floor, Dashwood House, 69 Old Broad Street, London EC2M 1QS
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/PriceBaileyLLP
- Twitter: x.com/price_bailey
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/price-bailey
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/pbpeople
PKF Francis Clark
PKF Francis Clark runs its charity work through a dedicated not-for-profit Centre of Excellence. They work with charities, education bodies, regional organisations and larger national institutions. Each relationship is overseen by a partner or director, keeping senior staff involved in the organisation's objectives, reporting requirements and wider financial concerns.
Their audit process combines detailed knowledge of the organisation with data tools that direct attention towards areas requiring closer investigation. Following the audit, they provide practical recommendations on controls, systems and reporting. The wider team also deals with governance, trading subsidiaries, property taxes, international activity and cyber risk, bringing in technical colleagues where the organisation has more complex requirements.
Key Highlights:
- Dedicated not-for-profit Centre of Excellence
- Senior-led client relationships
- Data-supported audit process
- Experience with charities and education organisations
- Access to tax, governance and cyber specialists
Services:
- Charity accounting
- External audit
- Tax advice
- VAT support
- Governance reviews
- Trading subsidiary advice
- Property tax advice
- International operations support
- Cyber maturity assessments
- Cyber health assessments
Contact Information:
- Website: pkf-francisclark.co.uk
- Phone: 01174 039800
- E-mail: contact@pkf-francisclark.co.uk
- Address: 90 Victoria Street Bristol BS1 6DP
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/PKFFrancisClark
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/francis-clark-chartered-accountants
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/pkffrancisclark
Charity Accountants by Taxwise Accountancy
Charity Accountants by Taxwise Accountancy works mainly with small UK charities with annual income below £1 million. They operate online and cover several legal structures, including Charitable Incorporated Organisations, charitable companies, trusts, unincorporated associations and Community Interest Companies. Their work is centred on annual reporting, regulatory submissions and day-to-day financial administration.
They prepare SORP-compliant accounts, complete independent examinations and submit annual returns to the Charity Commission. The team also handles corporation tax filings, Gift Aid, payroll and workplace pensions. For newly established organisations, they manage charity setup and registration, while existing charities use them for bookkeeping, fund accounting, trustee reports and compliance monitoring.
Key Highlights:
- Focus on small UK charities
- Fully online service
- Experience across common charity structures
- Restricted and unrestricted fund accounting
- Charity Commission and HMRC submissions
- Support from setup through annual compliance
Services:
- Small charity annual accounts
- Independent examination
- Annual return submission
- Corporation tax returns
- Gift Aid registration and claims
- Payroll services
- Auto enrolment pensions
- Charity setup and registration
- Bookkeeping
- Trustees' annual reports
Contact Information:
- Website: www.charityaccountants.co.uk
- Phone: 01582 487594
- E-mail: info@charityaccountants.co.uk
- Address: Suite 201, 16 Titan Court, Laporte Way, Luton, LU4 8EF
Albert Goodman
Albert Goodman has a dedicated team working with charities, Community Interest Companies and other not-for-profit organisations. Their charity practice is led by Michelle Ferris and includes accountants with experience of governance, regulation and financial reporting across different types of third-sector bodies. Several team members also act as trustees, which shapes how they communicate with boards and management teams.
Their work extends beyond annual accounts and statutory compliance. They review governance arrangements, internal systems and financial processes, then discuss the findings with trustees in straightforward terms. The team also advises on new charity structures, VAT, Gift Aid, charitable trading and core cost recovery. Management reporting is prepared for boards, funders and grant providers, depending on how the organisation measures and reports its finances.
Key Highlights:
- Dedicated charity and not-for-profit team
- Team members with trustee experience
- Offices across the South West
- Governance and systems reviews
- Board and grant reporting
- Advice for new and established organisations
Services:
- Statutory accounts
- Audit and independent examination
- Charity SORP reporting
- Governance reviews
- Systems and process reviews
- Charity formation
- Tax and VAT advice
- Gift Aid support
- Charitable trading advice
- Management reporting
- Core cost recovery
Contact Information:
- Website: albertgoodman.co.uk
- Phone: 0117 962 3100
- E-mail: enquiries@albertgoodman.co.uk
- Address: 5th Floor, 25 King Street, Bristol BS1 4PB
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlbertGoodmanLLP
- Twitter: x.com/AG_LLP
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/albertgoodman
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/albert_goodman
Clive Owen LLP
Clive Owen LLP is an accountancy and business advisory firm operating from offices across Northern England. Their work covers accountancy, advisory, audit and tax, with sector teams serving education providers, professional services firms, property businesses, manufacturers and other organisations. They begin by looking at the organisation's financial position, operational pressures and longer-term plans before defining the scope of work.
Their audit and assurance experience includes academy trusts, teachers' pension audits and external grant assurance assignments. Alongside statutory work, they review financial processes, identify areas requiring development and respond to technical questions during the year. Their wider services include accounts preparation, tax, corporate finance and business advisory work.
Key Highlights:
- Northern England office network
- Accountancy, advisory, audit and tax teams
- Experience with education organisations
- External grant assurance work
- Ongoing technical support
- Financial process reviews
Services:
- Accounts preparation
- Business advisory
- External audit
- Grant assurance
- Tax advice
- Corporate finance
- Financial process reviews
- Strategic planning support
Contact Information:
- Website: www.cliveowen.com
- Phone: 01325 349700
- E-mail: enquiries@cliveowen.com
- Address: Great North House, 20 Allington Way, Darlington, DL1 4QB
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/CliveOwenLLP
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/clive-owen-llp
Moore Kingston Smith
Moore Kingston Smith is an accountancy and advisory firm working across charities, education, trade associations, membership organisations and other sectors. Their nonprofit work sits alongside audit, tax, outsourced accounting and advisory services. They also draw on the wider Moore Global network when an organisation operates internationally or manages activity across several jurisdictions.
Their service range covers both statutory financial work and operational finance support. Charities use the firm for audit, outsourced accounting, payroll, tax and nonprofit advisory assignments. They also work on donor-funded programmes, risk, sustainability, digital transformation and third-party assurance, giving finance teams access to additional expertise when reporting or organisational requirements extend beyond standard accounts preparation.
Key Highlights:
- Dedicated charities sector practice
- Nonprofit advisory services
- International network
- Donor-funded programme experience
- Outsourced finance support
- Access to risk and digital specialists
Services:
- Audit services
- Nonprofit advisory
- Outsourced accounting
- Donor-funded services
- Payroll
- Business and corporate tax
- Risk advisory
- Sustainability and ESG
- Digital transformation
- Third-party assurance
- International services
Contact Information:
- Website: mooreks.co.uk
- Phone: +44 (0)20 4582 1000
- Address: 6th Floor, 9 Appold Street, London, EC2A 2AP
- Twitter: x.com/MooreKSLLP
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/moore-kingston-smith
Rogers Spencer
Rogers Spencer is a Nottingham firm of chartered accountants working with businesses, charities and not-for-profit organisations across the Midlands. They start by understanding how the organisation operates, what pressures it faces and what its management team is trying to achieve before shaping the scope of the work.
Their services cover accountancy, audit, bookkeeping, cloud accounting, payroll, tax and wider business advice. They work on an ongoing basis rather than treating each assignment as an isolated annual exercise, with advice and reporting adjusted around the organisation's circumstances.
Key Highlights:
- Based in Nottingham
- Work with charities and local not-for-profit organisations
- Client-led approach to defining the service
- Accountancy, audit and advisory expertise
- Ongoing relationships with management teams
Services:
- Accountancy
- Audit and assurance
- Bookkeeping
- Cloud accounting
- Payroll
- Business taxation
- Private client taxation
- Business advice and planning
Contact Information:
- Website: www.rogers-spencer.co.uk
- Phone: 0115 960 8412
- E-mail: advice@rogers-spencer.co.uk
- Address: Newstead House, Pelham Road, Nottingham, NG5 1AP
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/RogersSpencer1871
- Twitter: x.com/rs_accountants
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/rogers-spencer
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/rogersspencerltd
ASC
ASC is an accounting firm focused on charities and mission-led businesses. They deal with the practical finance work that sits behind day-to-day operations, from processing payments and banking cheques to managing reporting for large grants and funded projects.
Their team includes qualified accountants who work on short consultancy assignments as well as fully outsourced finance functions. Reporting is prepared around the needs of managers, trustees and donors, including situations where the same financial information must be presented in several different formats.
Key Highlights:
- Focused on charities and mission-led organisations
- Qualified accounting team
- Experience with project-based accounts
- Jargon-free financial reporting
- Short-term and outsourced arrangements
- Reporting for donors and funders
Services:
- Outsourced finance functions
- Management accounts
- Donor reporting
- Grant reporting
- Supplier payments
- Banking administration
- Project accounting
- Financial reporting
- Short-term consultancy
Contact Information:
- Website: www.charity-accounts.org.uk
- E-mail: info@charity-accounts.org.uk
- Address: 23 Cadogan Gardens, London, N3 2HN
HaysMac
HaysMac is a mid-tier accountancy firm organised around specialist sectors, including charities, education, professional institutes and membership bodies. Their social purpose team works with charities and other not-for-profit organisations on financial reporting, compliance and the broader questions that arise as regulations and operating conditions change.
They combine charity sector knowledge with audit, tax, outsourcing, risk assurance and advisory work. This gives organisations access to separate specialists where an issue crosses several areas, such as reporting, internal controls, taxation or financial operations.
Key Highlights:
- Dedicated social purpose team
- Sector-led accountancy model
- Experience with charities and membership bodies
- Access to audit, tax and risk specialists
- Work covering financial and regulatory matters
Services:
- Audit
- Outsourcing
- Tax
- Risk assurance
- Advisory services
- Transaction services
- Corporate finance
- Financial reporting support
Contact Information:
- Website: haysmac.com
- Phone: 020 7969 5500
- E-mail: contact@haysmac.com
- Address: 10 Queen Street Place, London EC4R 1AG
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/haysmac
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/lifeat_haysmac
Perrys Chartered Accountants
Perrys Chartered Accountants works with charities and non-profit organisations from offices across London and Kent. Their in-house team brings together charity accountants, tax specialists, VAT advisers, business strategists and corporate finance professionals, with each organisation given a dedicated point of contact.
Their work ranges from bookkeeping and annual accounts to governance, reserves and treasury management. They also deal with Gift Aid, charitable trading, tax reliefs and VAT structures, explaining technical requirements in straightforward terms and tailoring the advice to the organisation's activities.
Key Highlights:
- Offices across London and Kent
- Dedicated charity accountants
- In-house tax and VAT expertise
- Individual point of contact
- Governance and financial management advice
- Day-to-day and statutory accounting work
Services:
- Charity accounts
- Independent examinations
- Bookkeeping
- Financial statements
- Tax compliance
- VAT advice
- Gift Aid
- Corporation tax calculations
- Governance reviews
- Reserves planning
- Treasury management
- Trading activity advice
Contact Information:
- Website: perrysaccountants.co.uk
- Phone: 020 7408 4442
- Address: 4th Floor, 399-401 Strand, London, WC2R 0LT
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/perryscharteredaccountants
- Twitter: x.com/PerrysAccs
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/perrys
Charity Accountant
Charity Accountant is the trading name of Shruti Soni Ltd, a firm of Chartered Certified Accountants focused on voluntary and charitable organisations. They handle routine financial work alongside year-end reporting, independent examinations and audits. Their services are adjusted around the charity's structure, reporting obligations and internal resources rather than delivered as a fixed package.
Their ongoing finance work includes bookkeeping, payroll, VAT returns, management accounts and fund reporting. They track restricted income and expenditure, prepare budgets and cash flow forecasts, and attend trustee meetings to explain financial results. They also advise trustees on reporting duties, internal controls and financial procedures, as well as helping new organisations choose and register an appropriate legal structure.
Key Highlights:
- Focused on charities and voluntary organisations
- Chartered Certified Accountants
- SORP accounts preparation
- Trustee and governance support
- Outsourced finance function
- Restricted fund reporting
Services:
- Charity accounts
- Independent examinations
- External audits
- Charity Commission filings
- Companies House filings
- Bookkeeping and payroll
- VAT and corporation tax
- Management accounts
- Charity formation
Contact Information:
- Website: charityaccountant.co.uk
- Phone: 0173 280 7482
- Address: 117A St Johns Hill Road, Sevenoaks TN13 3PE
Andrews and Palmer
Andrews and Palmer is an independent firm of Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors with offices in Gillingham and Sturminster Newton in Dorset. They work closely with clients through a team structure that keeps directors involved in discussions, assignments and decisions.
Their experience covers accounting, audit, taxation and financial planning for organisations, business owners, individuals and families. Work is managed through ongoing one-to-one relationships, with the team handling routine compliance alongside wider tax and financial questions.
Key Highlights:
- Independent Dorset accountancy firm
- Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors
- Director involvement
- Team-based assignment management
- Ongoing client relationships
- Business and personal tax experience
Services:
- Accountancy
- Audit
- Business taxation
- Personal taxation
- UK tax planning
- Business advice
- Financial planning
- Ongoing compliance support
Contact Information:
- Website: www.andpal.co.uk
- Phone: 01747 823147
- E-mail: office@andpal.co.uk
- Address: 32 The Square, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4AR
- Twitter: x.com/_andrewspalmer
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/andrews-and-palmer-ltd
Charity Accounting Partners
Charity Accounting Partners works with UK charities at different stages of development, from smaller organisations building basic finance processes to larger charities and international NGOs managing several programmes or entities. They operate as an extension of the internal team, keeping existing staff involved while taking responsibility for agreed parts of the finance function.
Their model begins with bookkeeping, clean records and structured financial controls, then adds management reporting, cash flow forecasting and board-ready information. They also prepare charities for audits and independent examinations, improve month-end processes and organise reporting around restricted funds, grants and programme activity.
Key Highlights:
- Focused on UK charities
- ICAEW Chartered Accountants
- Work with smaller, growing and larger charities
- Experience with international NGOs
- Finance function outsourcing
- Board and trustee reporting
- Structured onboarding process
Services:
- Charity accounting
- Bookkeeping
- Management accounts
- Cash flow forecasting
- Trustee reporting
- Financial controls
- Audit preparation
- Independent examination
- Grant reporting
- Programme reporting
- Multi-currency accounting
- Finance process reviews
Contact Information:
- Website: charityaccountingpartners.co.uk
- E-mail: support@charityaccountingpartners.co.uk
- Address: 124 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/charity-accounting-partners
Accounting for Good CIC
Accounting for Good CIC works exclusively with charities, Community Interest Companies, social enterprises, community organisations and other mission-led bodies. Their work combines financial administration with governance, planning and fundraising, keeping the language practical for people who do not work in finance every day.
They organise their services around accounting, advisory work, learning and wellbeing. Alongside accounts and tax, they provide training, resources and guidance on financial resilience, governance and future planning, with additional attention given to inclusion and organisations working with people who face barriers to employment.
Key Highlights:
- Community Interest Company
- Focused on social purpose organisations
- Plain-English communication
- Governance and fundraising expertise
- Training and practical resources
- Inclusive approach to service delivery
- Xero Software Gold Partner
Services:
- Accounting
- Tax support
- Financial management
- Governance advice
- Fundraising advice
- Strategic planning
- Training
- Learning resources
- Financial resilience planning
- Wellbeing support
Contact Information:
- Website: www.accountingforgood.co.uk
- Phone: 0300 998 3000
- E-mail: hello@accountingforgood.co.uk
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/accountingforgoodcic
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/accountingforgood
Conclusion
Choosing between UK accountants for charities usually comes down to the shape of the organisation and the level of support it actually needs. A small charity preparing annual accounts will be looking for something very different from a national organisation managing restricted funds, multiple grants, payroll, VAT and trustee reporting. Sector knowledge matters, but so does the way the firm works - whether they offer a fully outsourced finance function, provide occasional technical advice or stay involved throughout the year.
This guide is intended to make that comparison more straightforward. By looking at each firm's services, working style and areas of experience, charities can narrow the field without relying on vague claims or choosing on name alone. The most useful next step is to compare those details with the organisation's reporting duties, internal capacity and future plans, then speak to a few firms before making a decision.