Regulator investigates accountancy charity over failure to submit accounts
Source: gov.uk (2025-01-10)

The Charity Commission has launched a statutory inquiry into Community Accountancy Self Help over a repeated pattern of failures in submitting accounting information.

The charity (https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/3989296) has purposes to advance education by providing training and advice in financial management, in particular for charities. It also has general charitable purposes.

The regulator is concerned about the trustees’ failure to submit any accounting information over a number of years. The charity last filed its annual return and accounts for year ended March 2020. The charity was twice previously, in 2018 and 2020, placed under the regulator’s double defaulters inquiry. That inquiry investigates charities that have defaulted twice or more over the past 5 years on submitting required accounting information.

During those previous engagements, the Commission emphasised trustees’ statutory duties, noting that the charity, given its purposes, should be setting a good example to the charities to which it offers services. The regulator encouraged the trustees to make the necessary provisions to ensure all future accounting information were filed on time.

Despite this extensive engagement, the charity is again in default, having failed to file accounts for years ended March 2021, 2022, and 2023. The accounting information for the year ended 2021 is now over a thousand days overdue.

The inquiry will examine the extent to which the trustees are complying with their legal duties in respect of the administration, governance, and management of the Charity and in particular:

trustees’ compliance with their legal obligations for the content, preparation and filing of the charity’s accounts and annual returns.

whether the trustees are managing their charity in line with its objects and governing document and has a sufficient number of willing and capable trustees.

To identify if there has been any misconduct and/or mismanagement in the administration of the Charity.

The Commission may extend the scope of the inquiry if additional regulatory issues emerge.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its ambition is to be an expert regulator that is fair, balanced, and independent so that charity can thrive. This ambition will help to create and sustain an environment where charities further build public trust and ultimately fulfil their essential role in enhancing lives and strengthening society. Find out more: About us - The Charity Commission - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/charity-commission/about)

On 10 December 2024, the Charity Commission opened a statutory inquiry into the Charity under section 46 of the Charities Act 2011.

A statutory inquiry is a legal power enabling the Commission to formally investigate matters of regulatory concern within a charity and to use protective powers for the benefit of the charity and its beneficiaries, assets, or reputation. An inquiry will investigate and establish the facts of the case so that the Commission can determine the extent of any misconduct and/or mismanagement; the extent of the risk to the charity, its work, property, beneficiaries, employees or volunteers; and decide what action is needed to resolve the concerns.

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