Request Quote

Specialist Accounting for Charities & Non-Profit Organisations

Charities have unique financial reporting and compliance obligations that general accountants often overlook. MazeKey brings specialist expertise in charity accounting, Gift Aid, trustee reporting and Charity Commission compliance — so your organisation can focus on its mission.

Business Startup Specialism

20+

years advising UK charities

£0

cost for your initial consultation

100%

Gift Aid maximised

All

charity sizes served
Enquire Now
  • Charity Specialism: We understand the unique regulatory, reporting and tax environment that charities operate in — helping you maximise income and remain fully compliant with the Charity Commission and HMRC.

Charity Finance Needs
Genuine Sector Expertise

Charities operate under a completely different financial and regulatory framework to commercial businesses. The Charities SORP, fund accounting requirements, Gift Aid rules, Charity Commission reporting obligations and scrutiny threshold requirements are all specific to the charity sector — and demand genuine expertise.

“We understand the differences between industries and what specialist advice means in practice. For charities, that means maximising Gift Aid, ensuring SORP compliance and giving your trustees the financial clarity they need to govern effectively.”
We’ve been advising charities and non-profit organisations across London and the UK for over 20 years. We understand that your trustees are often volunteers, that every pound of income matters, and that financial compliance is non-negotiable when public trust is at stake.

What is fund accounting?

2.2. Accounting for the particular classes of charitable funds held by a charity is a key feature of charity accounting. Each class of fund has unique characteristics in trust law. Fund accounting distinguishes between two primary classes of fund:
  • those that are unrestricted in their use, which can be spent for any charitable purposes of a charity
  • those that are restricted in their use
2.3. The proper management and administration of individual restricted funds is essential and failure in this respect can result in charity trustees acting in breach of trust.
2.4. Restricted funds are further analysed between restricted income funds and endowment funds (also known as capital funds). In England and Wales, restricted funds that must be lawfully used for a specific charitable purpose are known as special trusts.
sets out these classes of fund diagrammatically. This differentiation of funds is an essential feature in the presentation of a charity’s statement of financial activities (SoFA) and balance sheet.
The classes of charitable funds
Download Sample Statement of Financial Affairs(Pdf)
Download Sample Balance Sheet(Pdf)

Six Areas Where Charities
Need Specialist Accounting

Charity accounting follows entirely different rules to commercial businesses. Here’s where specialist knowledge makes a measurable difference to your organisation’s compliance, income and governance.
Gift Aid maximised
We ensure every eligible donation is claimed through Gift Aid
SORP-compliant accounts
Charity SORP reporting prepared accurately every year
Trustee confidence
Clear financial reports your trustees can understand and rely on
Charity SORP Accounts
We prepare your annual accounts in full compliance with the Charities SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice) — including the Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet and Trustees’ Annual Report, meeting all Charity Commission requirements.
Gift Aid Registration & Claims
We handle Gift Aid registration with HMRC and submit regular Gift Aid claims on all eligible donations — maximising your income from every pound donated and ensuring all declarations are correctly maintained.
Charity Commission Filing
We prepare and submit your annual return to the Charity Commission accurately and on time — keeping your charity in good standing with the regulator and ensuring every threshold requirement is correctly addressed.
Fund Accounting & Restricted Funds
We track restricted and unrestricted funds separately, ensure donor restrictions are honoured in full, and provide the fund-level reporting your trustees, funders and major donors require to maintain their confidence.
Trustee Financial Reporting

We produce clear, plain-English financial reports for your trustee board — explaining your financial position, reserves policy and key risks in language that non-finance trustees can understand, act on and rely upon.

Audit & Independent Examination

Depending on your income level, we provide independent examination or statutory audit services — ensuring your accounts meet the scrutiny requirements appropriate to your charity’s size and satisfy all Charity Commission obligations.

A Full Specialist Service
Tailored to Charities

We provide everything a charity or non-profit organisation needs from its accountants — tailored to the specific requirements of the charity sector, with no generic advice and no unnecessary services that don’t add value.
Annual Accounts & SORP Compliance

Full preparation of your charity’s annual accounts in line with Charities SORP — including the Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet and all required disclosures for your income threshold.

Gift Aid Maximisation

We register your charity for Gift Aid, submit regular claims to HMRC, and ensure every eligible donation generates the maximum tax relief — typically adding 25p to every £1 donated at no extra cost to the donor.

Payroll for Charity Staff

Full payroll processing for your employees — including PAYE, National Insurance, auto-enrolment pensions and all RTI submissions to HMRC — managed accurately and on time every pay period.

Charity Commission Compliance

Annual returns, trustee changes, financial threshold monitoring and all Charity Commission filing obligations managed professionally throughout the year — keeping your charity in good standing at all times.

Reserves Policy & Financial Planning

We help your trustees develop a sound reserves policy, produce budgets and financial forecasts, and plan for the long-term financial sustainability of your organisation — supporting every strategic decision.

Independent Examination & Audit

We provide independent examination for charities with income up to £1 million and statutory audit services for larger charities — meeting all Charity Commission requirements and giving donors and funders full assurance.

How We Support Your Charity Organisation

From your first conversation through to ongoing year-round support — here’s exactly what working with MazeKey’s charity specialists looks like.
Free Charity Consultation
We discuss your charity’s structure, activities, income sources and current accounting arrangements — at no cost and with no obligation whatsoever.
File
Records & Fund Review
We review your existing accounting records, fund structure and Gift Aid position — identifying any compliance gaps or opportunities to improve your income and reporting from the outset.
Accounts Prepared
We prepare your SORP-compliant annual accounts, Gift Aid claims and trustee reports — accurately and in plain English, ready for your trustee board’s review and approval.
Filed & Submitted
We submit everything to HMRC and the Charity Commission correctly and on time — you receive confirmation and copies of all filings made on your organisation’s behalf.
Ongoing Support
Year-round support for Gift Aid claims, payroll, trustee meeting financial packs and any compliance queries — available whenever your organisation needs us.

Why Most Charities Face Financial Compliance Challenges

Gift Aid not fully claimed
73%
SORP accounts errors
61%
Restricted funds mismanaged
54%
Late Charity Commission filings
48%
Weak trustee financial reporting
42%

Charity Finance Is Uniquely Complex

Charities operate under a completely different financial and regulatory framework to commercial businesses. The Charities SORP, fund accounting requirements, Gift Aid rules, Charity Commission reporting obligations and scrutiny threshold requirements are all specific to the charity sector — and most general accountants simply aren’t equipped to handle them correctly.
We’ve been advising charities and non-profit organisations across London and the UK for over 20 years. We understand that your trustees are often volunteers who need clear, accessible financial information — and that every pound of compliance failure has a real impact on the people your charity serves.

Without Specialist Advice
vs With MazeKey

The difference between generic accounting and specialist charity advice is significant. Here’s what it looks like in practice for your organisation.

Flying Blind

Charities using general accountants risk compliance failures, unclaimed Gift Aid and potential trustee liability — with serious consequences for your organisation and the people it serves.
  • Gift Aid unclaimed or incorrectly submitted — losing thousands in income annually
  • Accounts not SORP-compliant — risking Charity Commission investigation
  • Restricted funds incorrectly allocated — potential personal trustee liability
  • Late Charity Commission filings — regulatory penalties and reputational damage
  • Trustees lack financial clarity — poor governance decisions made without insight
  • Audit requirements missed — accounts rejected by major funders and grant-makers

Built to Succeed

Our specialist charity clients get full compliance, maximised Gift Aid income and trustee-ready financial reports — every year, without fail, so they can focus on their mission.
  • Optimal structure selected — maximum tax efficiency from day one
  • SORP-compliant accounts prepared accurately — Charity Commission always satisfied
  • Restricted funds tracked and reported correctly — trustees fully protected
  • All filings submitted on time — flawless compliance record maintained
  • Clear trustee financial reports — board governed with complete confidence
  • Independent examination or audit completed — funders and regulators reassured

Why Choose MazeKey for for Charities?

01
Deep Charity Sector Expertise Built Over 20 Years

We understand the Charities SORP, Gift Aid rules, Charity Commission requirements and fund accounting inside out — built over 20 years of specialist charity accounting work across organisations of every size and type.

02
Gift Aid Maximised — Every Single Year

We ensure every eligible donation generates a Gift Aid claim — and manage the entire process from donor declaration to HMRC submission, maximising your income so more money reaches the causes you care about.

03
SORP-Compliant Accounts — Every Time

Your annual accounts are prepared in full compliance with the Charities SORP — meeting Charity Commission requirements and giving trustees, funders and donors complete confidence in your organisation’s financial management.

04
Clear Trustee Reporting in Plain English

We produce financial reports that non-finance trustees can actually understand — covering your financial position, reserves policy and key risks without jargon or confusion, supporting informed governance at every board meeting.

05
All Filings On Time — Zero Penalties, Ever

We track every deadline — Charity Commission returns, HMRC submissions, payroll filings — and ensure everything is submitted accurately and on time, every time. Our charity clients have never received a compliance penalty.

06
Available When Your Trustees Need Us

Available from 9am to 10pm, seven days a week — so whether it’s a trustee meeting question, an urgent Gift Aid query or a Charity Commission correspondence issue, we’re always reachable and always ready to help.

Ready to Focus on Your Mission? Leave the Finance to Us.

Get specialist charity accounting from a firm that understands the Charities SORP, Gift Aid, Charity Commission obligations and trustee reporting inside out. Book a free, no-obligation consultation today.
Get in Touch Today
020 3981 9311

Quick Links

Copyright@2026 www.mazekey.co.uk. All rights Reserved.
Scroll to Top