Charity / CIC
“We rise by lifting others.” - Robert Ingersoll
UK Charity law requires all charity trustees to prepare accounts for their charity. The trustees of registered charities must also prepare a trustees’ annual report (the report).
The report and accounts inform donors and those interested in the work of the charity about what the charity is set up to do, what it has done in the year and how it has raised and spent its money.
Therefore, the role of the independent examiner is to provide an independent scrutiny of the accounts. The examiner plays a part in maintaining public trust and confidence in charities.
In order to maintain public confidence in the work of charities, charity law requires most charities to have an external scrutiny of their accounts.
Provided a charity is not required by law or its governing document to have an audit, then trustees may choose a simpler form of external scrutiny called an Independent Examination.
This also costs considerably less than an external audit.
An Independent Examination provides trustees, funders, beneficiaries, stakeholders and the public with an assurance that the accounts of the charity have been reviewed by an independent person