acie annual conference: Online 2nd November 2023

Programme

09:20 Welcome: Kerry Clayton, “The Current Climate and the Role of the Independent Examiner”.

09:30 Rossa Keown, Charity Commissioner from Northern Ireland. An update on CCNI's recent activity and future plans

The session will give attendees an update on the current position in relation to charity annual reporting in Northern Ireland, including recent changes to our systems and planned changes in the coming months. An update will also be provided on how Independent Examiners can interact and report issues to CCNI.

Rossa was appointed to the Commission in August 2021 as Head of Compliance and Enquiries. He is responsible for leading the Commission’s development of appropriate systems for the annual monitoring of all registered charities in Northern Ireland and leading the enquiry function to include investigation of the mismanagement of charities.

10:00: ICAEW, Nick Sladden, Head of Charities, RSM: Charity Myths following ICAEW’s publication Dispelling common myths about charities

Nick heads the RSM charities team at RSM. He advises on audit, assurance and financial reporting and is an audit partner for a number of Top 250 charities. Using his 20 years’ experience in the sector, including working in Germany and Romania, Nick has developed RSM’s in-house guidance on Charities SORP FRS102 and undertaken research projects on the adoption of the Charity Governance Code. Nick holds the Diploma in Charity Accounting and has completed the Governing for Nonprofit Excellence Program at Harvard Business School and is a trustee of a national charity and a school governor. He is also Chair of Trustees at the RSM UK Foundation.

10:30 coffee and break

11:15 Tamara Habberley, VAT People, Tax Considerations for Charities,

Informative and help identify issues or opportunities for clients.

Tamara Habberley (Tamara) is a VAT consultant with a wide range of experience in assisting clients as diverse as arts and theatre companies, charities,  property developers, construction companies, e commerce suppliers and sports clubs to understand and deal with the complexities of VAT. Tamara is based in the North West of England but has clients throughout the UK and EC. Tamara has experience working as a VAT inspector for HMRC (then HM C&E) before jumping ship to join Deloitte and then BDO in the West Midlands, thus having the valuable ability to understand VAT issues from both a HMRC and tax payer’s perspective

11:45 Amsel Page von Spreckelsen (BFC Consulting), The Trustees Annual Report and the Accounts: Two sides of a Coin.

This will be a reflective and informative session looking at the two parts of statutory reporting - the words and the numbers - and asking what they need to do to support each other, so that the whole is as good as it can be. We'll be looking at what the purpose of the Annual Report is, and what it can be. Good examples and less so will be talked about and attendees should come away with a sense of what they can do to support trustees and enhance their practice.

Amsel has been an accountant working in the not-for profit and social enterprise sector for over 15 years, is part qualified with a CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting and qualified by experience. They have had a varied career across employed roles, freelance and voluntary posts, and currently trade as BCF Consulting, specialising in management accounting services for small and medium charities.

 

12:45 Lunch and networking session from Keegan & Pennykid

What are the Insurance challenges right now?

The current economic climate has created numerous financial constraints on all of us. Insurance it not immune from those and this session will raise awareness of those keys factors and what considerations arise from cover adequacy, rising premiums and those benefits of having a broker work on behalf of their Clients to source the most competitive terms.

13:30 a choice of two workshops.

a) “Good Charity Governance: Key trends and developments”,  Aggie Taylo: NCVO

Aggie is a governance consultant with NCVO with a background in social impact and movement building, focusing on using governance effectively to reach charitable objectives. Her experience includes designing and leading hybrid AGMs, enabling networks of children and young people to engage in the governance systems of international youth organisations, and supporting boards to implement inclusive and interactive board facilitation. 

Or

b) “Best practice - planning for an examination” Margaret Birse, FCIE.

Attendees should leave the session with enhanced practical skills and increased knowledge of the planning and recording of an Independent Examination.

Margaret has been an Independent Examiner for around 15 years, and a Fellow of ACIE for over 10 years. Having been a volunteer for most of her adult life, an employee of a charity, a trustee of a number of charities and an independent examiner, gives her a well rounded view of charities from both inside and outside.

14:00 “Reporting matters of material significance to the Regulator, what to do, what to expect”, Susan Robinson, FCIE. Kreston Reeves,

An understanding of what is a matter of material significance, when to report and how to report.

Susan Robinson is a a partner and head the Charity and Not For Profit sector at Kreston Reeves. She is  also a trustee of three charities.

14:30 “Accounting for Volunteers: Are your charity published report & accounts really true & fair? Reflections on the Invisibility of Volunteers in non-profit financial statements.”,  Jo Eayres, Consiglieri Consulting

Jo Eayres is an experienced Charity Consultant operating in the UK and South Africa. Previously Arthur Anderson & Co, and regional & global roles at Credit Suisse/CSFB, NatWest, and RBS

15:00 Regional Network Break

15:30 a choice of two discussions

“Soft skills - building your business ideas, best practice, marketing and engaging with clients”, Kerry Clayton, Rathbones"

or,

Networking Session for full members: what you can do for the organisation”, Farah Mendlesohn

16:00 Close and  Full Member networking session until 16:30