Introduction to Bookkeeping

A pre-recorded session designed specifically for small charities wanting to get on top of keeping good financial records. In the world of small charity finance, all roads lead to bookkeeping. It is the one of the key foundations of good financial management. Investing time in bookkeeping will ensure that your charity can keep track of grants and reserves, and prepare year-end accounts with (relative) ease.

During this session, we will review how to maintain a simple bookkeeping system in Excel and in an online accounting platform and what to consider when moving from one to the other. We will introduce essential financial concepts and guide you through key bookkeeping tasks. This session is ideal for anyone looking to establish and maintain financial records that are both compliant and actually useful.

What we’ll cover

• Basic bookkeeping terminology and two key finance reports
• Some of the key functions of bookkeeping and how to track grants and reserves
• The pros and cons of using an Excel cashbook v an online accounting system
• When to do it in house and when to outsource

Learning Outcomes

• Understand basic bookkeeping terminology and tasks
• Be able to assess the best solution for a small charity
• Apply best practices for tracking grants and reserves

 What you can expect

• Clear and practical guidance tailored to small charities
• Real-world examples and tools you can apply immediately
• A supportive environment to ask questions and share experiences

Who is this aimed at

Everyone who wants to learn about the basics of small charity bookkeeping and financial record keeping.