Deciding between cash and accrual accounting methods
Small businesses may start off using the cash-basis method of accounting. But many eventually convert to accrual-basis reporting to conform with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Which method is right for you? Cash method Under the cash method, companies recognize revenue as customers pay invoices and expenses when they pay bills. As a result, […]
Time to spring clean your programming lineup
Does your not-for-profit offer programs that may have started out promising, but have become disappointing? Do you have replacement programs in mind but haven’t yet secured funding for them? Consider subjecting your programming lineup to a good spring cleaning. That way, you can reallocate funds to offerings that have the best potential to meet your […]
Key lessons from Deloitte and the Center for Audit Quality’s recent audit committee survey
In late January, a survey entitled “Audit Committee Practices Report: Common Threads Across Audit Committees” was published by Deloitte and the Center for Audit Quality, an affiliate of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The survey analyzed 246 responses, including 86% of respondents who served on audit committees of public companies. Here are some […]
Take your financial statements to the next level
Spring is the time of year that calendar-year-end businesses issue financial statements and prepare tax returns. This year, take your financial data beyond compliance. Here’s how financial statements can be used to be proactive, not reactive, to changes in the marketplace. Perform a benchmarking study Financial statements can be used to evaluate the company’s current […]
Your nonprofit’s board needs to know these financial warning signs
Is your board staring at financial red flags without knowing it? Although some warning signs — such as those experienced when the pandemic first hit — are obvious, others are easy to overlook. Here are several signs of trouble that board members need to be aware of and prepared to act on. Unexplained variances and […]
How to forecast smarter with reliable financial forecasts
Forecasting key business metrics — such as sales demand, receivables, payables, and working capital — can help you reduce excess inventory and other overhead, offer competitive prices, and keep your business on solid financial footing. Although historical financial statements are often the starting point for forecasts, you’ll need to do more than just multiply last […]
Audit disclosures: Why the fine print is important
Footnotes appear at the end of a company’s audited financial statements. These disclosures provide insight into account balances, accounting practices, and potential risk factors — knowledge that’s vital to making well-informed lending and investing decisions. Here are examples of key risk factors that you might unearth by reading between the lines in a company’s footnotes. […]
Rolling forecasts provide flexibility in uncertain times
As the pandemic persists, forecasting how your company is likely to perform over the next year can be challenging, especially when it’s unclear where the markets are heading. Accurate forecasts are critical when managing a business, therefore many companies have responded to these challenges by switching from static forecasts to rolling ones. Here’s how the transition […]
3 steps to a more financially resilient future
It’s a new year with new opportunities for your not-for-profit to boost its financial resilience. Although COVID-19 continues to make forecasting difficult, your staff and your board’s finance committee can take steps to negotiate obstacles. Here are three. 1. Managing reserves and cash flow Financial reserves have taken a hit across all types of nonprofits, […]
Handle your nonprofit’s restricted gifts with care
Most not-for-profits encourage donors to make unrestricted contributions that will give the organization flexibility to use the money where it’s needed most. But there will always be some donors who place restrictions on their gifts — and these require a higher level of responsibility. If your nonprofit fails to use a restricted donation as intended, […]