Finance experts Burgess Hodgson are speaking at a special forum for Kent charities to give essential advice on tackling the accounts.

The firm of chartered accountants is holding a workshop at the KM Charity Team Forum on Friday, October 3, and is the headline sponsor of the event.

Its session will include the ‘ten questions you need to ask your accountant’ as well as important changes to the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), which outlines accounting standards for charities.

Mark Laughton, partner at Burgess Hodgson, said: “The not for profit sector provides a valuable role in all walks of life and in delivering services to the community, often where government are not adequately equipped.

“We are delighted to be a leading sponsor of the KM Charity Team Forum and aim to provide advice and tips to best promote charities and ensure that they can meet the closer scrutiny placed upon them both by funders and the Charity Commission, and how this can be achieved following the publication of the new Charity SORP.”

Laura Caswell, accounts assistant at the Canterbury based firm, added: “During our workshop we will touch on some of the new payroll rules relating to employees and volunteers to ensure charities use their limited resources wisely and do not fall foul of the new rules.”

Simon Dolby of the KM Charity Team urged good causes to protect themselves by taking advantage of the expertise on offer.

He said: “Many people hand this important aspect of their charity over to their accountants, but it’s ultimately the trustees’ responsibility to ask their accountants the right questions.”

Other sessions at the forum include insurance for charities by Jelf Insurance, and how to apply for charitable trust and grant funding by CCWorks.

Good causes will also discover how to boost their fundraising with KM Treasure Chest prizes, as well as how to apply to become KM Charity of the Year.

The KM Charity Team Forum is being held at the Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel on Friday, October 3. To attend, visit www.kmcharityteam.co.uk and click on the event booking link. To find out how to sponsor the event, contact Mr Dolby on 07989 164 752.

FACT FILE

• Burgess Hodgson is a firm of chartered accountants and business advisers based in Canterbury, although with strong London connections. It has 13 partners, eight associates and approximately 80 staff, including a tax team of 15 chartered taxation advisors.
• Clients include quoted companies, personal tax return clients, pension funds and charities, although owner/managed and family businesses make up the largest part of its client base. The majority of clients are in Kent, London and the South East.
• Burgess Hodgson has developed specialism in forensic accounting and provides support and independent expert reports in litigation situations.