Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Applying an independent accounting firm

An audit is often a process exactly where an independent accounting firm formally certifies no matter if an organization’s economic statements happen to be ready in line with Frequently Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Some states have audit needs for nonprofit organizations. Having said that, if the nonprofit has received federal funds (like entities that get federal funds that trickle by way of state or neighborhood government entities), they’re essential to comply together with the audit needs contained inside the Workplace of Management and Price range Circular No. A-133. 
Applying an independent accounting firm

This document was issued in response for the Single Audit Act passed by Congress in 1990 to make sure that nonprofits that get federal funds comply with specific minimal audit procedures. It is named the Single Audit Act for the reason that it is intended to supply uniform audit standards for every one of the entities essential to comply with it (as an alternative to a patchwork of person state standards). You could view a copy of your Workplace of Management and Price range Circular No. A-133 (which explains the single audit needs) at www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a133/a133.html. Most bigger nonprofits voluntarily have their statements audited even when states do not call for them to accomplish so or they do not get federal funds. But, for the reason that audit opinions are highly-priced (they call for the organizations to spend their auditors on an hourly basis to test and verify the information and facts inside the economic statements), lots of nonprofits pick out not to possess their information and facts
audited.
 
But, recall, in case your organization does not have independent auditors, the function of your audit committee is usually a lot more vital, since the audit committee is charged with ensuring management has performed its job with respect to preparing correct economic statements.

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