Accountants for Charities in London: Companies Guide (2026)
AC
Acumon Chartered Accountants·12 min read
Charities in London can choose from specialist charity practices, independent accountancy firms and larger advisory groups with dedicated not-for-profit teams. This guide highlights a selection of accountants for charities in London with a focus on areas such as SORP accounts, audit, independent examination, fund accounting, Gift Aid, VAT and financial governance.
Acumon
Acumon is a UK firm of chartered accountants and registered auditors providing accounting, audit, tax, and financial reporting services to charities and not-for-profit organisations, including those based in London. The firm works with charities of different sizes and structures, from smaller community organisations and charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs) to established charities with more complex reporting and governance requirements. Its work can include charity accounts preparation, SORP reporting, fund accounting, independent examinations, statutory audits, Gift Aid, VAT, and financial management support.
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 enable the firm to support international corporate groups where entities are located across multiple jurisdictions.
Charity accounting requires careful treatment of restricted and unrestricted funds, income recognition, reserves, grants, donations, and expenditure. Organisations may also need to meet reporting requirements under the Charities SORP while maintaining financial records that give trustees a clear view of how charitable funds are being used.
Acumon works with trustees, management teams, and charity finance teams to support annual reporting and compliance while helping organisations maintain appropriate accounting processes, financial controls, and governance arrangements. This can be particularly relevant for London charities experiencing growth, receiving new sources of funding, approaching audit thresholds, or managing increasingly complex financial activities.
Accounting Capabilities for Charities
Acumon provides accountancy 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
offshore holding companies and investment vehicles
Accounting engagements are typically led by senior professionals with direct involvement throughout the engagement.
Regulatory Licences and Registrations
Acumon holds several audit registrations that enable it to support organisations operating across multiple jurisdictions.
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 provide audit services to groups that include entities in both the UK and key international financial centres.
Core Services
Acumon provides a range of services that support financial reporting and governance.
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
Audit work is often delivered alongside discussions with management and boards regarding financial reporting processes and governance frameworks.
Many organisations initially 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 audit firm can help ensure that financial reporting systems and documentation are aligned with statutory audit requirements.
Address: 1-2 Craven Road, Ealing, London, W5 2UA, UK
Sayer Vincent
Sayer Vincent is particularly focused on charities and social purpose organisations rather than treating the sector as one part of a broad commercial practice. Its work covers external audit, accounting and reporting, financial management, internal audit, risk, VAT, Gift Aid, corporation tax, grants and contracts.
That specialist model can be relevant to charities looking for advisers whose day-to-day work is concentrated on the sector. The firm’s published resources also address subjects such as reserves and charity financial management.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Charities and social purpose organisations
Buzzacott has a dedicated Charity and Not-For-Profit team supporting organisations with audit, tax, VAT and related advisory requirements. Its charity audit work includes statutory external audits, grant assurance certification, compliance reviews, due diligence and internal assurance.
The firm states that its specialist charity and not-for-profit team includes more than 120 people and supports more than 600 clients. Its sector specialists work with organisations ranging from smaller foundations to international charities, educational institutions and other third-sector bodies.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Charities requiring audit and multidisciplinary advisory support
Core services: Audit, tax, VAT, grant assurance, due diligence, internal assurance
Specialization: Charities and not-for-profit organisations
Location: London
Notable strength: Large dedicated charity and not-for-profit team
HaysMac provides accounting and tax services to charities and other social purpose organisations through a substantial specialist practice. The firm states that it works with more than 800 charities and not-for-profit organisations, as well as professional institutes, membership bodies, independent schools, academies and universities.
Its scale makes it relevant to organisations that need access to charity accounting expertise alongside broader tax, audit and advisory capabilities, particularly where their activities involve education, membership structures or more complex tax requirements.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Established charities and larger social purpose organisations
Core services: Accounting, audit, tax, compliance and advisory
Specialization: Social purpose and not-for-profit organisations
Location: London
Notable strength: Broad charity and social purpose client base
Moore Kingston Smith has a dedicated charities practice working with more than 750 charities. Its stated areas of focus include NHS charities, faith-based organisations, educational charities, grant-making trusts, museums and cultural organisations, international aid charities, care organisations and membership bodies.
Alongside accounting and audit, the firm’s nonprofit advisory services cover areas such as financial sustainability, impact measurement, fundraising strategy and strategic planning. This combination may suit organisations looking beyond annual compliance towards broader finance and organisational advice.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Established and complex charities
Core services: Audit, accounting, tax and nonprofit advisory
Specialization: Charities and nonprofit organisations
Location: London
Notable strength: Extensive work across multiple charity subsectors
Crowe UK has a Social Purpose and Non Profits practice covering charities, INGOs, education and social housing. For charities, services include audit and compliance, tax, VAT, risk management, outsourced accounting and payroll, operational effectiveness and strategic support.
The firm also publishes specialist guidance on fund accounting, Gift Aid, reserves, governance and SORP reporting. Its London-based specialists work with organisations including international NGOs, foundations, grant makers, service providers and fundraising charities.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Larger charities, INGOs and organisations with complex assurance needs
Specialization: Social purpose and nonprofit organisations
Location: London
Notable strength: Multidisciplinary charity and nonprofit practice
Contact Information
Website: www.crowe.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/crowe-uk
Twitter: x.com/CroweUK
Instagram: www.instagram.com/crowe_uk
Address: 55 Ludgate Hill, London, EC4M 7JW
Phone: +44 (0)20 7842 7100
RSM UK
RSM UK provides audit, tax and consulting services across the not-for-profit sector. Its charity practice reports supporting around 1,000 charity clients and includes specialists in charity finance, governance, accounting and assurance.
The breadth of the practice can be useful for larger charities that need access to multiple technical disciplines or have operations extending beyond straightforward annual accounts. RSM also works across education, social housing, government and public sector organisations.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Medium-sized and larger charities with multidisciplinary requirements
Core services: Audit, tax, consulting and charity finance support
Specialization: Charity finance and governance
Location: London and other UK locations
Notable strength: Large national not-for-profit practice
Contact Information
Website: www.rsmuk.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/rsm-uk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/rsm.uk
Address: 25 Farringdon Street, London, EC4A 4AB
Phone: +44 (0)20 3201 8000
MHA
MHA works with charities, social enterprises, social housing organisations and other not-for-profits through a specialist team covering accounting, audit, tax and related advisory areas. The firm states that its not-for-profit practice includes around 100 specialists across London and the wider UK.
Its London office includes the firm’s Head of Not for Profit and provides audit, tax, outsourcing and advisory capabilities. This gives charities access to sector specialists alongside the wider resources of a national accountancy practice.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Charities needing accounting, assurance and wider advisory services
Core services: Accounting, audit, tax, outsourcing and advisory
Specialization: Not-for-profit organisations
Location: 2 London Wall Place, London, EC2Y 5AU
Notable strength: Dedicated not-for-profit specialists across a national practice
Price Bailey has a dedicated Charities and Not For Profit team and states that it provides compliance services to more than 400 organisations in the sector. Its services extend beyond annual accounts and audit to outsourced finance support, management information, bookkeeping, financial controls, budgeting, fund analysis and systems improvement.
The firm has a City of London office, where its locally identified sector expertise includes charities. This makes it an option for organisations seeking London-based support combined with the resources of a wider regional practice.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Charities needing compliance and outsourced finance support
Core services: Accounting, audit, outsourcing, reporting, tax and advisory
Specialization: Charities and not-for-profit organisations
Location: City of London
Notable strength: Flexible outsourced finance support for charities
Address: 8th Floor, Dashwood House, 69 Old Broad Street, London, EC2M 1QS, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0)20 7065 2660
Goodman Jones
Goodman Jones works with UK charities and social impact organisations on statutory accounts, SORP compliance, audit, independent examinations, VAT, tax, Gift Aid, governance and risk management.
Its advisory work can also extend into budgeting, forecasting, management accounting, accounting systems, financial controls and organisational structuring. Published examples include helping charities improve accounting systems and management reporting for designated and restricted funds.
Address: 1st Floor, Arthur Stanley House, 40-50 Tottenham Street, London W1T 4RN
Phone: +44 (0)20 7388 2444
BKL
BKL’s not-for-profit practice covers charities, schools, academies and other nonprofit organisations. For charities, the firm provides statutory accounts preparation and audit, tax advice, Gift Aid support, VAT advice, payroll, employment-related assistance, risk management and governance support.
The practice may be particularly relevant where a charity wants its accountant to address financial reporting and tax alongside operational areas such as payroll, controls and governance.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Charities and nonprofit organisations needing multidisciplinary support
Core services: Accounts, audit, tax, Gift Aid, VAT, payroll and governance advice
Specialization: Not-for-profit, charities and education
Location: London
Notable strength: Integration of charity compliance with tax and operational advice
Address: First Floor, 5 Fleet Place, London EC4M 7RD
Phone: +44 (0)20 7832 0444
HW Fisher
HW Fisher has a dedicated not-for-profit practice working with more than 300 organisations, including charities, higher education institutions, independent schools, membership organisations and trade associations. Its client base ranges from smaller domestic organisations to entities with more complicated overseas activities.
The firm’s services include accounting, audit, tax, management reporting and broader financial planning support. It also provides sector-focused updates and events for trustees and charity finance teams.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Charities ranging from smaller organisations to international operations
Core services: Accounting, audit, tax, management reporting and financial planning
Specialization: Not-for-profit organisations
Location: London
Notable strength: Experience across charities and other nonprofit structures
Contact Information
Website: hwfisher.co.uk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/hwfisheruk
Address: Acre House, 11-15 William Road, London NW1 3ER
Phone: +44 (0)20 7388 7000
Perrys Chartered Accountants
Perrys has specialist charity and nonprofit accountants serving organisations from its London and Kent offices. Its charity services cover accounts, independent examinations, tax, VAT, Gift Aid, governance, risk, reserves, financial management and related advisory work.
The firm also supports routine bookkeeping and financial statement preparation, making its offering relevant to charities that want ongoing accounting assistance rather than audit or year-end work alone. Its London head office is on the Strand.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Small and established charities requiring ongoing accounting support
Address: 4th Floor, 399-401 Strand, London, WC2R 0LT, UK
Phone: 020 7408 4442
Knox Cropper
Knox Cropper works with charities and other not-for-profit organisations through its London practice. Its specialists have experience in external audit, independent examinations, statutory accounts, financial reporting, internal audit, accounting controls, charity taxation and governance.
The firm’s charity and not-for-profit work also includes housing associations, student unions and higher education bodies. That broader third-sector experience can be useful for organisations whose reporting or governance requirements overlap with other nonprofit structures.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Charities requiring audit, accounting and governance support
Gerald Edelman’s audit and assurance practice includes services specifically for charities and not-for-profit organisations. Its charity and nonprofit audits focus on areas including financial reporting, governance, transparency and assurance requirements.
The wider assurance offering also includes internal controls and other specialist assignments, making the firm more relevant to organisations seeking formal assurance and audit support than charities looking solely for basic bookkeeping.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Charities and not-for-profits requiring audit and assurance
Core services: Charity audit, not-for-profit audit and assurance
Specialization: Audit and assurance
Location: London
Notable strength: Dedicated charity and not-for-profit audit capability
The accountants for charities in London covered here vary considerably in scale and focus. Some concentrate heavily on charities and social purpose organisations, while others combine specialist nonprofit teams with broader audit, tax, outsourcing and advisory practices.
There is no single firm that suits every charity. The practical choice depends on factors such as organisational size, legal structure, income and audit requirements, restricted funding, VAT exposure, internal finance capacity and the level of ongoing support trustees need. Comparing those requirements with each firm’s verified charity services provides a more useful basis for selection than treating the list as a ranking.
AC
Written by the Acumon team
Acumon is an ICAEW-registered firm of chartered accountants and registered auditors
based in London, with offices in Pitstone, Aylesbury and Bournemouth. Need advice on
anything covered here? Talk to us.
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