What to Look for in a Nonprofit Accounting Partner

Managing a nonprofit can be complex, especially when it comes to nonprofit accounting. Nonprofits face unique financial challenges and responsibilities that require specialized expertise and support. Finding the right accounting partner for your nonprofit is essential to the financial success of your nonprofit organization.

Take a closer look at the importance of a strong nonprofit accounting partner and what you should look for when choosing a nonprofit accountant for your organization.

The Importance of a Strong Nonprofit Accounting Partner

A nonprofit organization’s finances can be complicated, thanks to reporting and filing regulations and laws. In addition, you need to make sure your financial data is accurate and readily available for donors, board members, and other stakeholders.

Keeping up with your nonprofit’s accounting needs might simply take too much time away from your ability to run other aspects of your organization. That’s why you need a strong accounting partner who specializes in nonprofits.

A nonprofit accounting team provides important benefits to your organization, including:

• Expertise in nonprofit financial regulations and reporting requirements
• Understanding of nonprofit funding and grant management
• Strategetic financial planning and advice tailored to nonprofits
• Increased financial transparency and accountability throughout your organization
• Resource optimization and improved cost efficiency through effective nonprofit accounting setup
• Access to nonprofit sector insights and best practices from your knowledgeable nonprofit accountant

Elements for a Good Nonprofit Accounting Partner

Not all accounting firms are created equal, even those that specialize in nonprofit accounting. It’s important to do your due diligence when looking for an accounting partner. As you look for an accounting team, consider the elements that make a nonprofit accountant a good fit for your organization, such as:

• Nonprofit accounting specialization
• Commitment to accuracy and on-time reporting
• Education and experience in providing financial planning and advice
• Open communication channels and a team that’s regularly available for support
• Knowledge and recommendations of technology and tools for your organization

Specialization in Nonprofit Accounting

One of the most important things to look for in your accounting partner is a firm that specializes in nonprofit accounting. Nonprofit accounting has several major differences from for-profit accounting. An accounting firm that specializes in nonprofit accounting knows the legal and tax limitations of a nonprofit organization.

In addition to knowing the legal requirements of nonprofit accounting, a good nonprofit accountant also understands the things that make the nonprofit sector unique. They’ll know how to approach common financial issues for nonprofits, such as limited budgets or restricted funds.

Accurate and Timely Reporting

Most nonprofit leaders have been there: you can’t make a crucial decision until a certain financial report comes in, but you’re never sure when the data will be available. Even worse, sometimes the report looks different than previous months–or it never shows up at all. This leaves you scrambling as you try to appease your board of directors and donors all while attempting to make data-driven decisions for your organization with inconsistent and inaccurate data.

Luckily, a good nonprofit accountant removes the responsibility of reporting from your shoulders. Your nonprofit accounting partner will help ensure your monthly financial statements and reports are delivered on time. They’ll also work to eliminate inaccuracies within your data, so you can make data-driven decisions you trust and avoid accounting mistakes that might come up in an audit.

Proactive Guidance and Expertise

An unexpected and sometimes overlooked element of a good nonprofit accounting team is the ability to offer financial guidance and expertise. Good nonprofit accountants do more than just provide reports, they also become your trusted source of nonprofit financial advice. You should aim to work with an accountant who has the experience to provide expertise and financial planning for your organization.

If you’re facing a financial question and your first thought is to reach out to your accounting partner for guidance, you’ve likely found a strong nonprofit accounting team. If you don’t trust their advice, it might be time to look for a new accounting team.

Strong Communication and Accessibility

Your nonprofit accountant can only provide expert advice and accurate reporting if you can easily get in touch with them. Whether you have a pressing filing question or just need general financial guidance, you want to be sure your accountant will respond to questions in a timely manner.

As you search for the right accounting firm, think about how easy they are to contact. Generally, a firm that is easy to communicate with before you’re even working together will remain so after you partner together. This can be an invaluable quality in your nonprofit accountant.

Technology and Tools

Technology can be an absolute game-changer for nonprofit organizations. However, technology and financial tools are only as good as their implementation and use.

Your nonprofit accounting partner should have knowledge of the latest accounting software and tools. They should be able to make expert recommendations for a tech stack that’s tailored to your organization’s unique needs.

Searching for an Experienced Accounting Partner?

The right accounting partner can make all the difference in managing your organization’s financial needs. From on-time reports to consistent, accurate data, a nonprofit-focused accounting team like The Charity CFO can help your organization be more effective and efficient.

While many accounting firms focus on for-profit business accounting, The Charity CFO specializes in nonprofit accounting. Our team meets every element of a strong nonprofit accounting firm by providing:

• Nonprofit accounting expertise
• A commitment to timely reporting with accurate data
• Expert guidance and advice from nonprofit accounting specialists
• Ongoing communication and a friendly, easy-to-reach team
• Recommendations and education on the latest technology and tools for efficient nonprofit accounting

Want to learn how The Charity CFO can help manage your nonprofit’s financials? Contact us today!