Blog & Newsroom

Shuttered Venue Operators Grants and Restaurant Revitalization Fund Grants can pose accounting challenges.

On Aug. 10, the AICPA released a Technical Question and Answer (TQA) surrounding how a recipient should account for these grants. TQA 5270.01, Recipient Accounting for Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOG) and Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) Grants Received Under the Small Business Administration (SBA) COVID-19 Relief Program provides nonauthoritative guidance about how to account for SVOG and RRF grants. It applies to not-for-profit organizations who were only eligible for SVOG and private businesses entities who were eligible for both grants.

Selecting a firm to conduct your not-for-profit’s audit services can feel like a daunting task. There are hundreds of firms online and most (if not all) claim to perform not-for-profit audit services.. How can you know which audit firm is the right for your Organization?

Selecting the right audit firm is like creating a long-term relationship with a partner that is dedicated to helping your organization fulfill its mission. Selecting the wrong firm can feel like trying to swim with a 500 lb. weight strapped to your back.So how can you be sure you are selecting the best fit for your needs?

Estimates show that over 5% of all revenue is lost to fraud and theft each year. The numbers are staggering - odds are if you have not experienced it, you will.

One of the best ways to prevent fraud and theft is to implement a system of internal controls (though no system of internal control can prevent all fraud and theft). We have developed a comprehensive checklist of internal controls you should be using, but here are our top 5:

Q: As a sitting board member of an organization, can I be personally liable for the actions of the entity? 

In a word, yes.

As a member of the board of directors, you assume certain fiduciary responsibilities.

Audits are important. Investors, lenders, government agencies, potential buyers and - in the case of not-for-profit organizations, your donors - rely on audit reports to assess your organization. Audits can be long, arduous, headache-inducing ordeals…but they don’t have to be. Proper preparation can go a long way towards simplifying the audit process.

Part 5 of a 5 Part Series 

Can board members be held personally liable for actions of the organization? Yes!

Agreeing to sit on a board for a nonprofit is a great way to donate your time and expertise. However, it comes with a great deal of responsibility.

Part 4 of a 5 Part Series

Not-for-profit boards have an important role in reviewing and approving the financial reports of the organization. In order to effectively evaluate the organization’s activities, plan for the future, and make decisions, financial reports are almost always on the agenda at board meetings.

Part 3 of a 5 Part Series

An Organization’s management is charged with managing the day-to-day operations of the non-for-profit; however, this does not relieve Board Members from taking on certain oversight responsibilities.