Non-profit Bookeeping Issues: Systems, Software and Special Problems

Make your non-profit the best it can be!

Do we have a deficit problem, a cash flow problem, neither, or both? Unless the bookkeeping system can produce reliable data, it is impossible for the readers of financial statements to answer this important fiscal management question. The goal of good bookkeeping is to provide that reliable data. This workshop is to help bookkeepers and their “friends” clear up matters that have created problems in providing accurate data in the past or seem to be unsolvable system control issues. We will also spend some time discussing software decisions and other important issues that involved bookkeepers and the accounting system. Topics include:

How does our size impact how our books need to be kept?
What is accrual basis and do we need to be using it?
Who should keep the books and have access to them?
Should we hire an outside bookkeeping or payroll service?
What accounting software should we use?
How the books are kept: A little about debits and credits.
How do you create and update the chart of accounts?
How do you separate duties in a small organization?
Why is communication so important between bookkeepers and executive directors and how do you do it well?
What will the auditor will look at and want to know?
How do you back up, set passwords and maintain other software controls?
What are cost centers and how does Quickbooks create them?
How should you record and account for donor-restricted and board-restricted money?
What is a joint cost and how is it allocated?
What is indirect cost/overhead and where is it in the books?
How do you record in-kind contributions?
How do you record depreciation and track fixed assets?
How does the statement of financial position (balance sheet) impact the statement of activities (income statement)?
How should the reduction of long-term debt be recorded?
What is the difference between contractors and employees?
How should payroll be recorded in the books?
How does UBI impact the accounting system?
What are lobbying rules and how do they impact on the accounting system?