Neatly organized annual report documents on a desk with a compass and soft light

Year-end accounts · Regulatory filing · Board-ready reporting

Accounts your board can actually discuss — and your regulator will accept.

We prepare your year-end accounts in the format your regulator expects — with plain-language notes written for trustees, not just for auditors.

Talk to us about your year-end Back to home

What this service delivers

Year-end accounts that close the loop on the year's work

A well-prepared set of annual accounts does more than satisfy a filing requirement. It gives your trustees confidence in what happened financially over the year, helps donors see that their contributions were handled responsibly, and positions your organization well for the year ahead.

Filed on time, in the right format

Accounts prepared in the format your charity regulator or oversight body expects — with the notes and disclosures they require.

Notes your trustees can follow

Plain-language explanations written for board members — so the accounts can be discussed at a meeting without everyone needing a finance background.

A record supporters can see

Donors and grant-makers do look at annual accounts. Well-prepared accounts that read clearly are a genuine asset to your credibility.

What often makes year-end difficult

The year-end that crept up again

For many charitable organizations, year-end is the part of the year that produces the most anxiety. The deadline exists, the records aren't quite where they should be, and whoever is responsible — often a volunteer — faces the task largely on their own.

Uncertainty about what format the regulator actually needs

Requirements differ depending on your organization type, size, and jurisdiction. Trying to navigate them without specialist knowledge takes time and leaves room for error.

Accounts that technically pass but nobody can explain

When the notes are written in accounting language rather than plain English, trustees often approve accounts they haven't fully understood — which doesn't serve anyone well.

The volunteer treasurer who's doing their best but stretched thin

Volunteer finance roles are genuinely valuable — but they weren't designed to carry the full weight of preparing compliant charity accounts on their own.

Accounts filed late or with gaps

Late filings and incomplete notes attract attention — from regulators and from funders who do their due diligence before making grants. It's a straightforward problem, but the consequences are real.

How Reckonly approaches this

Patient, careful preparation — in the format that works for your organization

We work with charities, foundations, and associations of different sizes and structures. Our approach to annual accounts preparation is steady and thorough — we work with what you have, ask the questions that need asking, and produce accounts that hold up to scrutiny.

We work with your existing records

Whether your bookkeeping is up to date or needs some organizing before we can begin, we'll work through what you have and tell you clearly what we need from you at each stage.

Accounts structured for your reporting framework

We prepare accounts in the format appropriate for your organization — whether that's receipts and payments, accruals, or a specific regulatory template — with the correct notes and disclosures included.

Notes written to be read, not just included

The narrative notes explain things in plain language. A trustee who joined the board recently should be able to read the accounts and understand the year's financial story without needing a glossary.

Comfortable with volunteer finance committees

We're used to working alongside treasurers and finance committees who are giving their time voluntarily. We explain things clearly, answer questions without impatience, and don't assume prior knowledge.

The process in practice

How the annual accounts engagement unfolds

Each organization is a little different, but the shape of the work tends to follow a consistent pattern.

Initial review and information gathering

We look at your year's financial records and let you know what we have and what we still need. This stage is collaborative — we'll work through it with your treasurer or finance contact at a sensible pace.

Draft accounts preparation

We prepare the draft accounts — primary statements and all supporting notes — and send them to you for review. We'll explain anything that needs context and welcome questions at this stage.

Trustee review and sign-off

Your board reviews the draft accounts. We're available to answer any questions that come up in the meeting — or to adjust the notes if the board identifies something that needs clarifying.

Final accounts delivered

Once approved, you receive the finalized accounts ready for filing and for sharing with supporters or funders. Everything in order, documented properly, and ready to go.

Investment

What this engagement costs — and what it covers

Annual Accounts & Reporting

Per annual engagement

$900

per year-end

This is a fixed fee for a single year-end engagement. If your organization's records require a significant amount of organizing before we can begin the accounts preparation, we'll discuss that with you in advance — there are no surprise additions to the bill.

What's included

Preparation of full year-end accounts (primary statements and notes)
Format appropriate to your organization type and size
Plain-language narrative notes written for trustees
Fund-by-fund disclosure where required
Draft review and one round of revisions following trustee feedback
Availability to answer board questions during the review process
Final accounts in a format ready for filing and sharing

Organizations that also use our monthly bookkeeping service often find year-end preparation is faster and simpler, since the records are already in good order throughout the year.

How it works in practice

What well-prepared accounts actually change

The effect of properly prepared annual accounts tends to be felt in quieter ways — until a moment comes when they really matter.

At the board meeting

Trustees can follow the accounts and ask meaningful questions — rather than nodding through figures they haven't quite understood and approving them anyway.

When a grant-maker looks

Many funders check your filed accounts before making or renewing a grant. Clear, well-organized accounts make that check straightforward and reflect well on your organization.

Over successive years

A consistent record of properly filed accounts builds a picture of an organization that takes its responsibilities seriously. That reputation is genuinely worth something to supporters and regulators.

A note on timelines

The time it takes to prepare your accounts depends on how complete and organized your records are when we begin. If you come to us with reasonably tidy books and a clear year-end date, the process is typically straightforward. We'll give you an honest timeline estimate early on — and we'll flag promptly if anything unexpected comes up.

Our commitment to you

Clear scope, honest communication, no obligation to begin

Annual accounts is a defined engagement — you know what you're getting, and we know what's expected of us. Here's how we make sure that stays clear throughout.

Talk to us before you commit

We always begin with a short conversation to understand your situation and your records. There's no obligation to proceed — and if we think a different approach would serve you better, we'll say so.

Fixed fee, agreed in advance

The fee for this engagement is $900. If anything in your situation would change that, we'll tell you before we start — not after we've completed the work.

We respond to questions personally

During the accounts preparation process, questions from your treasurer or board are welcome. We reply personally and clearly — no ticket system, no generic responses.

Your accounts are yours

The final accounts belong entirely to your organization. You can file them, share them, and use them however you need — there are no restrictions or ongoing dependencies.

How to get started

Getting your year-end accounts underway

The sooner you begin, the more calmly the process tends to go. Here's what the first steps look like.

Send us a short message

Tell us your organization's name, when your financial year ends, and roughly what state your records are in. That's enough for us to have a useful first conversation.

A brief call to assess what's needed

We'll talk through your records and your timeline. We'll give you an honest view of what the engagement involves, what we need from you, and when we can realistically complete the accounts.

We agree terms and begin

Once you're comfortable to proceed, we confirm the scope and fee in writing and start working through your year's records. No long delays, no complicated onboarding.

Ready to get this year's accounts sorted?

Send us a message about your organization and where you are with your year-end. We'll respond personally within two working days and let you know how we can help.

Get in touch with Reckonly

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