Who can carry out an IE?

Trustees of the Charity

The Trustees of the Charity for whom the Independent Examination is to be carried out have to be confident that the person conducting the IE:

1. is independent;

1. and has the required skills and the practical experience to carry out a competent examination of the accounts.

An Independent Examiner does not always need to be a professional accountant.

A person with ‘financial awareness’ and ‘numeracy skills’ should have the requisite ability to act as an independent examiner for Receipts and Payments accounts.

Trustees are responsible for appointing an examiner with the necessary skills and/or the required qualifications to undertake an IE.

England & Wales: 

You need an Independent Examination if your income is (a) above £25,000 but does not exceed £1,000,000 and (b) your gross assets do not exceed£3,260,000, Charities with an income not exceeding £25,000 are not required by law to have an Independent Examination, but may elect to do so.

For all accounts below £250,000 Trustees must choose an examiner they believe to have the requisite skills and experience. (An appropriate person).

For accounts £250,000 and over you must choose an Examiner who is comes from the list of professional bodies laid out in the 2011 Act, as amended by the 2015 Order.

Scotland:         

All charities with an annual income of less than £500,000; and (b) gross assets not exceeding £3,260,000 must have an Independent Examination.   

The examination of R&P accounts can be carried out by anyone with the requisite skills. The examination of Accruals accounts must be carried out by members of the professional bodies listed in the 2006 Regulations.

Northern Ireland:   

    

All charities with an annual income of less than £500,000 must have an Independent Examination.           

The examination of all accounts under £250,00 can be carried out by ‘an independent person’. Accounts over £250,000 must examined by a members of one of the professional bodies list in section 65 of the Charities Act.

Trustees of the Charity

Why should I choose an ACIE member as my IE?

1. Choosing an ACIE member gives you the reassurance of working with someone who:

1. Is part of national network, with access to regular updates on practice and the backing of our technical helpline;
2. Has access to our ‘IE Workbook” - a step by step guide to carrying out an examination;
3. Has demonstrated a commitment to good practice by joining ACIE;
4. In the case of Associates and Fellows, someone who has had their work scrutinised and validated by ACIE;
5. Is encouraged to maintain their professional development by accessing our training events and national conferences. CPD is compulsory for full members.
6. Can ensure that your funders and supporters can be presented with accounts that have been professionally examined.
   

We recognise that being a good independent examiner requires a thorough understanding of the charity sector in general and that is why our training events and conferences cover a wide range of issues such as tax and gift aid, anti-money laundering, managing reserves and reporting to the Regulator; an ACIE examiner can offer more  than just scrutiny of accounts, they can offer charities advice and information to do things better.

Our independent examiners are organised into regions. You can search the handbook here.