Charity finance virtual conference 2025

This event was recorded on 02-03 Oct 2025

Enjoy this 2-day conference where you can stay ahead of the curve with the latest sector insights, practical guidance, and emerging best practices.

Who should attend:

This conference is essential for finance professionals working with or advising charities, as well as trustees and treasurers. It's also an excellent refresher for those who occasionally work with charitable organisations.

Please see the agenda below:

Day one

Day two

Overview:

It is a common misconception that charities pay no tax. Whilst charities enjoy generous tax exemptions for much of their income; reliefs from business rates; some relief from VAT and access to Gift Aid on donations, the rules to claim these reliefs are something of a minefield. Even with the reliefs, most charities have been impacted by the increases in employer NIC and they also incur large amounts of irrecoverable VAT.

This session will offer you a mixture of refreshing your knowledge and updating you on what has changed in the world of charity taxation in the last year.

We will cover the key aspects of the corporation tax and VAT exemptions, and the requirements for claiming Gift Aid. The update on recent developments will include the bedding down of the removal of the VAT exemption for schools, the recent win in the courts on fundraising [in Yorkshire and beyond], and a change in policy from HMRC that will leave some care providers across the nations in a difficult position.

Speakers

Kerry Skyes & Harriet Latham

Overview:

Charities and not-for-profit organisations face ongoing risks from fraud and financial crime and for over a decade, the Fraud Advisory Panel has supported the sector with fraud prevention activity. Drawing on insights from the BDO and Fraud Advisory Panel Annual Charity Fraud Survey, this session will explore risks charities are reporting, the sector’s growing engagement in tackling fraud, and practical prevention methods that charities and NGOs can implement to safeguard their operations.

Speakers:

Hope Sapey & Matthew Field (Fraud Advisory Panel)

Overview:

VAT is an enormous burden on this sector. Charities suffer from a restriction on VAT recovery due to their 'non-business' activities and also (usually) their partially exempt status.

This session focusses on the key points we need to remember to optimise VAT recovery, and in applying the correct VAT liability to income streams, thus avoiding costly pitfalls.

This session assumes a good knowledge of VAT generally, and is intended for charities, and those advising them i.e., anyone who needs a thorough understanding of the key VAT points covered here.

Key features

Business or not?

• The distinction between business and 'non-business' activities and income.
• Grants, donations, and legacies. Outside the scope of VAT or not?
• Effect of the above on input tax recovery

Do not forget these opportunities

• A very brief mention of all the VAT reliefs available to charities

Getting the VAT liability right on various common income streams

• Fundraising events
• Admission charges and donations in lieu
• Charity shops
• Some VAT exemptions available (e.g. for cultural and sporting activities, health, welfare, and education
• Supplies of staff
  
  

Where the big numbers are

• Partial exemption and non-business attribution methods
• Land and property
• Zero rate for construction of, and grants of, Relevant Residential and Relevant Charitable buildings
• Massive VAT traps to avoid
• The VAT option to tax – pertinent points for charities
• Disapplying the option to tax on Relevant Charitable buildings
• The VAT Capital Goods Scheme and impending changes

Speaker

Gwen Ryder

Overview:

This session will be an opportunity for practitioners unfamiliar with the SORP and recent developments to hear about the SORP consultation, understand the changes, differentiating those changes that will happen in particular leases accounting and income recognition from those that may well happen- tiered reporting and the trustees' annual report. Pertinent points from submissions to the SORP consultation will also be covered. The session concludes with details of ACCA's training for practitioners once the SORP is published. The new SORP is expected to be out in the autumn, hopefully by the end of October.

Speakers

Fiona Condron & Robin Harwood (BDO)

Overview:

This highly interactive and practical training session is designed to help participants embrace change and challenge with a positive mindset. Through engaging discussions and hands-on activities, you'll explore how to turn uncertainty into opportunity and lead others through change with clarity and confidence.

Whether you're navigating a restructure or supporting others through organisational transformation, this masterclass will equip you with the tools and insights to influence change effectively and inspire cooperation.

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Distinguish between the commercial and cultural aspects of influencing change
• Recognise unconscious barriers that inhibit progress
• Understand what drives cooperation and engagement
• Apply the 4 Boxes model to overcome resistance
• Communicate effectively to gain buy-in
• Use the 4 Ps of goal setting to motivate key stakeholders

Speaker

Nikki Wild

Overview:

Increased uncertainty places more emphasis on the leadership qualities shown by trustees if charities are to succeed in delivering their charitable purposes. Most importantly, trustees should always act with integrity and reflect their charity's ethics and values in everything that they do.

This session examines the key components of ethical leadership, focusing on the importance of tone at the top, maintaining the public's trust and confidence and using the charity's values to drive business decisions.

Key features

• Governance overview, board leadership and setting the right tone at the top
• Creating a positive culture that enhances reputation
• Personal responsibility and leading by example
• Using the ethical toolbox for assurance of good business ethics
• Discussion of recent cases

Speaker

Steve Giles

Accounting and other Charity Issues:

The first half of this session will cover accounting and other issues pertinent to charities, including:

• Common Accounting issues identified by the Charities Commission and Monitoring Units

• Latest public monitoring reports and statistics

• Charity Fraud and Financial Management Trends

• Disciplinary and Governance Failures: Lessons for Accountants

• Other potential accounting changes

Auditing Charities:

The final half of this session will cover auditing and other issues pertinent to charities. These will include:

• Monitoring Unit Findings on Audit Quality

• Recent Changes in Auditing Standards Impacting Charities

• Fraud, Economic Crime, and Auditor Duties

• Practical Audit Risk hotspots for 2025–26

Speaker

Darren Leiser

10.5 CPD units

ACCA members can use this learning to meet their CPD requirements provided it is relevant to their career. If the event contributes to general knowledge and skills, it should be recorded as non-verifiable CPD. If the learning can be applied in the workplace, it will contribute to verifiable CPD.

1 hour of learning = 1 unit of CPD.

The webinar handout material will be available on the webinar platform when you log in to view the session.

If you wish to view or download handout materials, before starting the webinar, they will also be available through your document library on https://events.accaglobal.com

This event is organised by ACCA UK Continuous Learning Team.

If you have any queries regarding this event please contact us on: