Working as a charity accountant
As part of our series on different career paths within accountancy we turn to another less common path for new accountants - working in the charity sector.
What is charity?
Chartered accountants play a vital role in the running of public services, social enterprises and charities. At every charitable organisation there are individuals who are responsible for monitoring and managing the organisation's finances and raising the profile of fundraising projects.
There are roles for accountants in all sizes of charities - from small local charity to large global organisations.
What type of work does this involve?
Working as an accountant in the charity sector gives you the opportunity to use your skills in to support a cause that you are really passionate about.
You might be working to raise the profile of fundraising projects one week and ensuring donations are accurately recorded and allocated the next. You could have a wide-ranging role if you work in a small local charity and or work for a specialist team within a large global organisation.
Work that you might carry out may include:
Preparing financial projections
Developing cash-flow forecasts
Ensuring that donations are accurately allocated
Managing and creating financial records
Preparing annual reports
Involvement in the month-end and year-end reporting process
Keeping up to date with and implementing legislative changes
Why work in charity?
Working within the charity sector allows accountants the opportunity to use their financial acumen to make a real difference in the world.
Whether you want to support your local community, protect our environment or fight for causes that affect people all over the world, you can work for an organisation that is dedicated to a cause that means something to you.
Would charity suit me?
A career in the charity sector would suit an individual that:
Is empathetic and understanding
Is a team player
Has strong numerical and analytical skills
Has great interpersonal and communication skills
Has great commercial awareness
Wants to make a real difference in their role
If you would like to be involved in charitable work but don’t work in the charity sector there are a number of volunteering opportunities which can be found through the ICAEW Volunteering Community.