Jackson & Jackson - Accounting system ratings

Accounting Systems Ratings - Charitable Sector

We offer discounts for great accounting systems (but, of course, for poor systems we have to charge more). Select your accounting system, then find out what your rating is.

Do you use a proprietary accounting software package, such as Sage, QuickBooks, etc? (You may use spreadsheets for additional information) - click here.

Do you do everything on a spreadsheet, such as Excel? We treat this as a manual system, not computerised - click here.

Do you have a manual system (e.g. handwritten cashbook, etc., with or without spreadsheets)? - click here.

Please note that these ratings do not consider the requirements of the current SORP. Our fee is not affected by the level of information provided by you to comply with SORP. Please note, however, that failure to comply could result in a qualification or modification to our Audit Report. For more information, please contact us.

Your Computerised Accounting System	Quality rating
Please find where you are on our systems lists below. Please note that the Quality Rating only looks at the Financial aspects of your systems to comply with Companies and Charities Acts, excluding SORP requirements. Please refer to our further SORP guidance note.

You post all your entries in the system, but all to just one or two accounts. There is no analysis done. Sorry, but we treat this as the same as a manual system ('No proper accounting records')	None
You post all your entries in the system, analysed to expense and income headings.	Very poor
You post all your entries in the system, using the sales and purchase ledgers. Everything is analysed to expense and income headings.	Poor
You post all your entries in the system, using the sales and purchase ledgers. Everything is analysed to expense and income headings. You check and reconcile all bank accounts, and keep the reconciliation for us (at least the one for the year end).	Average
You post all your entries in the system, using the sales and purchase ledgers. Everything is analysed to expense and income headings. You check and reconcile all bank accounts, and keep the reconciliation for us (at least the one for the year end). You check and reconcile the Sales and Purchase ledgers, and produce and keep agreed aged reports.	Above average
This is what we expect from a good bookkeeper. This is the level we rate you if we were to carry out our bookkeeping service for you. You post all your entries in the system, using the sales and purchase ledgers. Everything is analysed to expense and income headings. You check and reconcile all bank accounts, and keep the reconciliation for us (at least the one for the year end). You check and reconcile the Sales and Purchase ledgers, and produce and keep agreed aged reports. You reconcile Petty Cash, and your VAT control accounts. If you don't have petty cash or VAT, you have to stay as above average - or move to Very Good!	Good
This is starting to produce figures for management purposes. This is the standard most charities should aim for as it gives information and accuracy to the Trustees. We will prepare accounts from your records, and make any adjustments found necessary. As for Good rating - You post all your entries in the system, using the sales and purchase ledgers. Everything is analysed to expense and income headings. You check and reconcile all bank accounts monthly, and keep the reconciliations for us (at least the one for the year end). You check and reconcile the Sales and Purchase ledgers, and produce and keep agreed aged reports. You reconcile Petty Cash, and your VAT control accounts. You also - Post gross wages and NI to the profit & loss account, and reconcile the Wages and PAYE/NIC control accounts. All your Fixed assets are properly recorded. If you have Loans and HP agreements, they have been correctly accounted for in the ledgers. Any Inter-company accounts are reconciled. Provisions are made (e.g. depreciation, bad debts). Accruals, prepayments are entered.	Very good
Some charities have an accounting team who produce accounts for the charity fully compliant with the Charities Acts, SORP, and, where applicable, the Companies Acts. If you instruct us to carry out an Audit only of the Charity's accounts, we must be supplied with a complete set of working papers in support of the financial statements being audited. Please note that should we recommend any changes to the financial statements, these are not compulsory. If, however, you do not accept them, then we may make modifications or qualifications to our audit report. If you do accept the suggestions, you will need to process them within your accounting systems, and update both the financial statements and any relevant working papers. We will review the amended documents, and report thereon. Please note that should further changes then be made by you, we will make an additional charge for the additional audit review and, if required, amendment to our Report. Please note that should any aspects of your financial statements not comply with legislation (SORP, Charities or Companies Acts), we will advise you of this, but we will not provide a revised section of the statement, unless requested by you, for which an additional charge will be made.	Audit Only

Your Manual Accounting System	Quality rating

Please find where you are on our systems lists below. Please note that the Quality Rating only looks at the Financial aspects of your systems to comply with Companies and Charities Acts, excluding SORP requirements. Please refer to our further SORP guidance note.
You put all your paperwork in a box or bag for us. Or perhaps you enter items in a book in just one or two columns. There is no analysis done.	No proper accounting system
You enter your bank receipts and payments in a cash book, analysed to expense and income headings, but not added up or checked to the bank.	Very poor
You enter your bank receipts and payments in a cash book, analysed to expense and income headings. You add up the book - down and cross totals, but don't check it to the bank.	Poor
You enter your bank receipts and payments in a cash book, analysed to expense and income headings. You add up the book - down and cross totals. You check and reconcile all bank accounts, and keep the reconciliation for us (at least the one for the year end).	Average
You keep sales and purchases day books. Everything is analysed to expense and income headings. Your cash book has a column for sales receipts and purchase payments (reflecting the invoices in the day books). You check and reconcile all bank accounts, and keep the reconciliation for us (at least the one for the year end).	Above average
This is what we expect from a good bookkeeper, using a manual system. You keep sales and purchases day books. Everything is analysed to expense and income headings. Your cash book has a column for sales receipts and purchase payments (reflecting the invoices in the day books). You check and reconcile all bank accounts, and keep the reconciliation for us (at least the one for the year end). You check and reconcile the Sales and Purchase ledgers, and produce and keep agreed aged lists. You reconcile Petty Cash, and your VAT control accounts.	Good
This is starting to produce figures for management purposes. This is a very good standard but, you should really be looking at computerising your records by this stage. However, if you still want to use manual records, then, for this rating: As for Good rating - You keep sales and purchases day books. Everything is analysed to expense and income headings. Your cash book has a column for sales receipts and purchase payments (reflecting the invoices in the day books). You check and reconcile all bank accounts monthly, and keep the reconciliation for us (at least the one for the year end). You check and reconcile the Sales and Purchase ledgers, and produce and keep agreed aged lists. You reconcile Petty Cash, and your VAT control accounts. You also - Keep reports on spreadsheets, reflecting the transactions in your day books and cash book. The spreadsheet will show your income and expenditure for the year in detail. You will enter gross wages and NI to the profit & loss account, and prepare a reconciliation of net Wages and PAYE/NIC liabilities. All your Fixed assets are properly recorded. If you have Loans and HP agreements, they have been correctly accounted for in the spreadsheets. Any Inter-company transactions are reconciled. Provisions are made (e.g. depreciation, bad debts). Accruals, prepayments are entered.	Very good
Some charities have an accounting team who produce accounts for the charity fully compliant with the Charities Acts, SORP, and, where applicable, the Companies Acts. If you instruct us to carry out an Audit only of the Charity's accounts, we must be supplied with a complete set of working papers in support of the financial statements being audited. Please note that should we recommend any changes to the financial statements, these are not compulsory. If, however, you do not accept them, then we may make modifications or qualifications to our audit report. If you do accept the suggestions, you will need to process them within your accounting systems, and update both the financial statements and any relevant working papers. We will review the amended documents, and report thereon. Please note that should further changes then be made by you, we will make an additional charge for the additional audit review and, if required, amendment to our Report. Please note that should any aspects of your financial statements not comply with legislation (SORP, Charities or Companies Acts), we will advise you of this, but we will not provide a revised section of the statement, unless requested by you, for which an additional charge will be made.	Audit Only

Your Spreadsheet Accounting System (Excel or similar)	Quality rating

Please find where you are on our systems lists below. Please note that the Quality Rating only looks at the Financial aspects of your systems to comply with Companies and Charities Acts, excluding SORP requirements. Please refer to our further SORP guidance note.
You put all your paperwork in a box or bag for us. Or perhaps you enter items in a book in just one or two columns. There is no analysis done.	No proper accounting system
You enter your bank receipts and payments on a spreadsheet, analysed to expense and income headings, but not added up or checked to the bank.	Very poor
You enter your bank receipts and payments on a spreadsheet, analysed to expense and income headings. The sheet is totalled - down and cross totals, but you don't check it to the bank.	Poor
You enter your bank receipts and payments on a spreadsheet, analysed to expense and income headings. The sheet is totalled - down and cross totals. You check and reconcile all bank accounts, and keep the reconciliation for us (at least the one for the year end).	Average
You keep spreadsheets for sales and purchases ('day books'). Everything is analysed to expense and income headings. Your payments spreadsheet has a column for sales receipts and purchase payments (reflecting the invoices in the 'day books'). (Alternatively, you do not keep day books, but you do maintain spreadsheets showing unpaid sales and purchases.) You check and reconcile all bank accounts, and keep the reconciliation for us (at least the one for the year end).	Above average
This is what we expect from a good bookkeeper, using a spreadsheet system. You keep spreadsheets for sales and purchases ('day books'). Everything is analysed to expense and income headings. Your payments spreadsheet has a column for sales receipts and purchase payments (reflecting the invoices in the 'day books'). (Alternatively, you do not keep day books, but you do maintain spreadsheets showing unpaid sales and purchases.) You check and reconcile all bank accounts, and keep the reconciliation for us (at least the one for the year end). You check and reconcile the Sales and Purchase records, and produce and keep agreed aged lists. You reconcile Petty Cash, and your VAT control accounts.	Good
This is starting to produce figures for management purposes. This is a very good standard but, you should really be looking at computerising your records by this stage. However, if you still want to use spreadsheets, then, for this rating: As for Good rating - You keep spreadsheets for sales and purchases ('day books'). Everything is analysed to expense and income headings. Your payments spreadsheet has a column for sales receipts and purchase payments (reflecting the invoices in the 'day books'). (Alternatively, you do not keep day books, but you do maintain spreadsheets showing unpaid sales and purchases.) You check and reconcile all bank accounts, and keep the reconciliation for us (at least the one for the year end). You check and reconcile the Sales and Purchase records, and produce and keep agreed aged lists. You reconcile Petty Cash, and your VAT control accounts. You also - Keep additional reports on spreadsheets, reflecting the transactions in your day to day spreadsheets. The additional spreadsheets will show your income and expenditure for the year in detail. You will enter gross wages and NI to the profit & loss account, and prepare a reconciliation of net Wages and PAYE/NIC liabilities. All your Fixed assets are properly recorded. If you have Loans and HP agreements, they have been correctly accounted for in the spreadsheets. Any Inter-company transactions are reconciled. Provisions are made (e.g. depreciation, bad debts). Accruals, prepayments are entered.	Very good
Some charities have an accounting team who produce accounts for the charity fully compliant with the Charities Acts, SORP, and, where applicable, the Companies Acts. If you instruct us to carry out an Audit only of the Charity's accounts, we must be supplied with a complete set of working papers in support of the financial statements being audited. Please note that should we recommend any changes to the financial statements, these are not compulsory. If, however, you do not accept them, then we may make modifications or qualifications to our audit report. If you do accept the suggestions, you will need to process them within your accounting systems, and update both the financial statements and any relevant working papers. We will review the amended documents, and report thereon. Please note that should further changes then be made by you, we will make an additional charge for the additional audit review and, if required, amendment to our Report. Please note that should any aspects of your financial statements not comply with legislation (SORP, Charities or Companies Acts), we will advise you of this, but we will not provide a revised section of the statement, unless requested by you, for which an additional charge will be made.	Audit Only

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Jackson & Jackson are independent accountants committed to making your organisation more successful and profitable.

Your Computerised Accounting System

Please find where you are on our systems lists below. Please note that the Quality Rating only looks at the Financial aspects of your systems to comply with Companies and Charities Acts, excluding SORP requirements. Please refer to our further SORP guidance note.

You post all your entries in the system, but all to just one or two accounts. There is no analysis done. Sorry, but we treat this as the same as a manual system ('No proper accounting records')

You post all your entries in the system, analysed to expense and income headings.

Your Manual Accounting System

Please find where you are on our systems lists below. Please note that the Quality Rating only looks at the Financial aspects of your systems to comply with Companies and Charities Acts, excluding SORP requirements. Please refer to our further SORP guidance note.

You put all your paperwork in a box or bag for us. Or perhaps you enter items in a book in just one or two columns. There is no analysis done.

You enter your bank receipts and payments in a cash book, analysed to expense and income headings, but not added up or checked to the bank.

Your Spreadsheet Accounting System (Excel or similar)

Please find where you are on our systems lists below. Please note that the Quality Rating only looks at the Financial aspects of your systems to comply with Companies and Charities Acts, excluding SORP requirements. Please refer to our further SORP guidance note.

You put all your paperwork in a box or bag for us. Or perhaps you enter items in a book in just one or two columns. There is no analysis done.

You enter your bank receipts and payments on a spreadsheet, analysed to expense and income headings, but not added up or checked to the bank.