Internal controls review for charities and NFPs
Internal controls are the everyday checks that protect your organisation’s money. We review how they work in practice and give you a short, prioritised list of practical fixes.
Simple checks that protect your money
Internal controls are the routines that reduce the risk of errors and fraud: who approves a payment, who reconciles the bank, how cash and donations are handled. We review yours and recommend improvements that fit a small team. The ACNC notes that fraud does happen in charities, and that a few simple steps, including sound money-handling processes, can help prevent problems.
Source: ACNC, Managing charity money: a guide for Responsible People
Who we help
- Charities and NFPs with a small team or volunteers
- Treasurers and CEOs who want a second set of eyes
- Boards asking whether the money is safe
- Organisations preparing for a funder or auditor review
What the review covers
We keep it proportionate. A five-person charity needs different controls from a large one.
What we look at
- Payment approvals and delegations
- Bank reconciliations and who does them
- Cash, donations and card handling
And also
- Expense claims and credit cards
- Access to your accounting system and bank
- Board oversight and finance reporting
What you receive
- A short written summary of findings
- Fixes ranked by priority, with the effort involved
- Support putting the fixes in place
Why it matters
A review is worth doing when:
- One person handles payments, records and reconciliations
- You have grown quickly, or staff or volunteers have changed
- A funder, auditor or Board member has raised questions
- You handle cash, donations or events
- You have never had your controls looked at
We review your controls and recommend improvements. This is a practical review, not an audit or assurance engagement. We do not perform external audits, and we do not give legal advice.
AI efficiency, human expertise, accessible pricing
Smart tools do the repetitive data work. Our people check the numbers and explain what they mean.
AI efficiency
Smart tools handle the repetitive data work, so reporting is faster and your costs stay down.
Human expertise
Our team reviews the numbers, explains them in plain English and answers your questions.
Accessible pricing
You know what is included before we start, with clear scope and no hidden extras.
Understand how you work
We talk through your processes and look at how money moves in and out.
Review and report
We test the main controls against what actually happens and write up what we find.
Fix and follow up
We help you put the priority fixes in place and check back later.
Clear scope, accessible pricing
We quote a fixed fee after a short scope call, so you know the cost before we start. The fee depends on the size and complexity of your organisation.
Internal controls questions, answered
What are internal controls?
Internal controls are the processes that help make sure money is handled properly and records are accurate. Examples include payment approvals, bank reconciliations, separating duties where possible and limiting who can access accounts.
We only have a few staff and volunteers. Does this still apply?
Yes, and it often matters more. With a small team, we focus on simple controls that still work, such as a second person approving payments and reviewing reconciliations.
Is an internal controls review an audit?
No. It is a practical review of how your processes work, with recommendations. It is not an audit or assurance engagement, and we do not perform external audits.
Will you write our finance policies?
We can draft or update finance policies, such as payment approvals and expense claims, to match the fixes we recommend, for your Board to approve.
Can you review controls on an ongoing basis?
Yes. Many organisations start with a one-off review and then ask us to check back on a regular basis as part of ongoing financial management.
Know your money is protected
Talk to our team about an internal controls review, or start with the free Charity Health Check.