Transcript Slide 1

Charities Act 2009 - Charity
Accounting and Financial Reporting
Úna Ní Dhubhghaill
Charities Regulation Unit
Department of Justice and Equality
Charities Act 2009 - Charity Accounting and
Financial Reporting
Implementation process
 Legislative framework
 Relevant messages from Department of
Justice and Equality consultation on
implementation of Charities Act
 Interaction with this process
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Charities Act 2009 - Implementation Process
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Context
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Current position
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July 2013 – Government gave its approval to the establishment of a Charities
Regulatory Authority and published the outcome of the consultation
Planned next steps
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Charities Act enacted 2009
To introduce comprehensive new system for the statutory regulation of
charities
Remains Government policy despite implementation delay
Consultation process on proposed scaled down implementation – January to
March 2013
Appointments process
Period of shadow operation
Formal establishment
Anticipated timeframe
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Appointments envisaged before end 2013
Authority to begin operation in 2014
Charities Act 2009 – Accounting and Financial Reporting
Provisions
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Sections 47 to 54 of the Act
 Duty to keep proper books of account (s.47)
 Applies to all charities
 Annual statement of accounts (s.48)
 Minister may make regulations on form and content of
statement
 Section does not apply to all charities
 Annual audit or examination of accounts (s.50, 51)
 Minister may set audit thresholds by regulation
 Minister may make regulations on duties of auditor
 Section does not apply to all charities
Charities Act 2009 – Consultation on Implementation
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“What information would you like to see included in the
annual financial reports provided by registered
charities to the Charities Regulatory Authority?”
 “where does the money come from and where does
it go?”
 Proportionality vs. consistency/comparability
 SORP
“Sufficient to get a true picture.”
Charities Act 2009 - Charity Accounting and
Financial Reporting
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A means to an end…or to several ends…
 effective use of charity property;
 compliance by charity trustees with their duties in
the control and management of charities;
 accountability of charities to their donors and
beneficiaries and to the public;
 public trust and confidence in the management and
administration of charities.
…supporting behaviours and practices that will help
to achieve these goals…
…helping charities to fulfil their charitable purpose as
best they can…
Charities Act 2009 - Charity
Accounting and Financial Reporting
Úna Ní Dhubhghaill
Charities Regulation Unit
Department of Justice and Equality