I know lots of small charities, social enterprises and charities who often approach me looking for someone who can do their VAT return/ final accounts etc but have no money to afford it.
In the legal world, lawyers put a big emphasis on pro bono work, but it doesn't seem as commonplace for bookkeepers and accountants.
I'm thinking of starting a website that will match small charities with bookkeepers and accountants willing to help them on an ad-hoc basis. There would be certain requirements (cap on charities unrestricted income) and restrictions on the type of work that could be done.
What do you think? Does anyone have any objections, suggestions or queries?
This idea is still quite embryonic but I run my own social enterprise on the side so I think I could do it.
Having watched the Jim Carey movie "Yes man" with my son just last night I've no objection to doing a bit of pro bono bookkeeping or even treasurer work for a local charity or two.
I think that my only real criteria would be that :
1) I agree with what the charity is doing (i.e. beneficial fund for unemployed bankers, guns for the anti spammers league, etc.)
2) They want free assistance specifically for the expertise that we bring to the table and not simply as another body to give general assistance.
3) The charity recognised that although all bookkeepers act with professionalism in all work regardless as to whether paid or unpaid, paid work will invariably take precedence so although one could state that the work would be done within say a given week, one could not state categorically that it would be done on a specific day of that week where there are other demands on our time.
4) The charities are relatively local (within say 20 miles) unless they are willing to pay reasonable expenses.
5) If we're giving our time free then nobody else is making any money out of the arrangement.
Think that covers all bases.
Good luck with the new site,
Talk soon,
Shaun.
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
1) I think the site would aim to match people based on their requirements, so on the bookkeeper's registration form it would include something about the type of clients you would or wouldn't assist. You would also get the chance to refuse a request.
2) Agreed re specific assistance. This should be a service for charities who need help with a specific task, who cannot afford to pay for it, rather than for charities looking to add to their advisory committee (who are unpaid anyway).
3) Yes, the charity would need to be flexible, but the bookkeeper would also need to respect that the charity may need to meet HMRC deadlines.
4) I agree that the work should be local, or perhaps remote?
5) Yes, this would definitely be a not-for-profit venture.
Do you think people would be interested in having a public profile on the site that could also serve as an advertisement for them in general? I was thinking of creating some sort of certificate or web badge that pro bono bookkeepers would receive upon acceptance into the network, as a sort of accolade. I was also thinking of some sort of annual award to recognize people's work.
Not sure about the advertisment. Some may like it, other wouldn't.
Personally I would prefer to be invisible as I wouldn't want paying clients taking umbridge at seeing that I've also got the time and money in order to do work for others for free. Don't know how much you've dealt with paying clients but if they get a sniff that someone, somewhere is getting a better deal than they are then they are certainly not backwards at being very demanding that their fee's are reduced.
Totally agree on point (3) by the way from the perspective of when there is a legitimate deadline. I was thinking more along the lines of them expecting everything back on a Monday morning regardless as to any real (rather than self imposed) deadline, but when you've actually got a paying client who also needs their books sorting by the Monday morning then the paying client is going to win every time in that scenario.
HMRC imposed deadlines for paid or unpaid work must of course always carry equal importance as that comes down to IFAC 230 that the financial professional will always act with due care and dilligence in the best interests of their clients. There's no get out of jail free clause in IFAC 230 stateing that unpaid work carries any less importance than paid work.
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
4) I agree that the work should be local, or perhaps remote? - I would say that it would have to be local. There has to be an incentive for people to give up their time for no financial reward, and local affinity is the best incentive I can think of. I already do several bits of work for which I don't get paid, the thought that I am putting something back into my community is what makes it worthwhile.
Free work for Charities is treading dangerous ground. They can often prove most costly when it comes to doing the actual work and taking up of your time.
That said, if it is small and local and doesn't impact too much time it can be very rewarding (personal benefit!)
__________________
Phil Hendy, The Accountancy Mentor
Are you thinking of setting up your own practice or have you set up and need some help?
If so a mentor may be the way forward - feel free to get in touch and see how I can assist you.
I would volunteer to do this if doing it for a charity with a good cause, that you don't need to be registered for Money Laundering as I cancelled my membership with professional body when I closed my bookkeeping business in September 2010 and that it does not cause deductions in income support that I am likely to be on next month and that it fits round caring for my 7 month old son.
