Services - Non Profits

We offer full services to Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs):

We believe in being active in our communities.  Volunteers are, in many instances, the heart and soul of what makes our communities work.  Walter Schummer is an active volunteer member and executive of many organizations in the Cannington area.  Our office feels that the Non-Profit area is one of the biggest in need of professional services and we offer to assist you.

Non-Profit Organizations are one of the industries most at risk from non-compliance and financial risks.  Let us help you identify and correct these issues before they hurt your organization.

Special pricing discounts are available to many NPOs.  We understand the purpose and challenges of NPOs.  The funds you raise should be maximized in the services you provide.  Discounts to Non-Profit Organizations can be as high as 50% and in selected circumstances... 100%.

NOTE: in some circumstances disbursements charges and additional fees may apply.  These are always discussed and disclosed up front.

COMMON NPO SERVICES

Your Non-Profit is, for all intent and purpose, a business... just a different kind of business.  That's why you'll notice these services are very similar to those offered to our business clients.  We can help you run your NPO efficiently, effectively, and PROPERLY:

• Accounting & Bookkeeping Services

• Budgeting and Cash Management

• Government Reporting

• Systems Implementation and Improvement

• Operations Consulting and Profit & Cost Recovery

• Setup

• Compliance Assurance and Internal Controls & Audit

Accounting & Bookkeeping Services

The starting point in managing any business, including a NPO, is to maintain proper records and accounting systems, policies, procedures, and controls.  Without these critical systems in place you do not have the information you need to make the decisions necessary to be successful and deliver the services you're chartered for.  Having timely, accurate, and relevant financial information at your disposal will assist your delivery of services, inform and assure your directors, and keep your members properly informed.

In addition to the benefits of properly managing your organization having these systems and records in place will keep you in full compliance of both Provincial and Federal legislation.  You are required to maintain your records adequately and failure to do so can come back to haunt you.  Problems you may run into can include fines, major audit exposure, and the potential loss of your NPO status.

To help you our office provides comprehensive accounting solutions at any level which best accommodate your needs.  Our services can go beyond simple bookkeeping for you and at reasonable costs.  Our services are from the basic to the comprehensive and everywhere in between.  Here's a quick overview:

Basic Bookkeeping Services:

• Your books will be professionally maintained on computerized accounting systems.  We can usually accommodate any system you may prefer.  The service can be performed on any time basis from weekly, monthly, or quarterly.  This will keep you up to date on the success of your organization.
• We will review your operations at your convenience to discuss any  aspects which may require addressing.  We will ensure you fully understand the financial aspects of your organization and will provide guidance on any yield or cost issues.
• If you wish, we can facilitate any applicable government reporting schedules including PST remittance, GST remittance, Current Source Deductions remittance (payroll), and others.
• At your year end our office will prepare the necessary tax return filings (yes NPOs are required to file).  Any Bookkeeping Service qualifies for bundle discounts which provide for no-charge business related tax returns.
• You will also receive a comprehensive report and comparative analysis of your NPO's results.  It will put much of your numbers in plain language and give you comparisons to similar organizations.

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Systems Implementation and Improvement:

We can assist you in installation, implementation, and improvement of a computerized accounting systems.  Regardless of the size of your operation we can help you decide on a system that best fits your needs and requirements.

Accounting systems are often complicated and overwhelming.  We will assist in training and understanding what your system can and can't do.  We can help automate processes making your use of the systems more efficient which helps keep your costs down and aggravation at a minimum.

Many such information systems do not provide the level of reporting which is always what your organization needs or wants.  We can assist in the customization of online reporting functions to meet your needs.

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Operations Consulting, Cost & Profit Recovery:

Our office provides many businesses with invaluable services in reviewing the operational efficiencies of ongoing operations.  This includes assisting businesses in strategic decision making and the assessment of operations.  The same services are necessary to NPOs.

• We can identify areas of operational improvement to maximize efficiency and profitability.
• We can assist you in competitive decision making and effective management processes.
• We can advise you on matters of effective management practices to help you better manage your resources and personnel.
• We can assist you in the development of a business plan.  Whether you are continuing an ongoing operation or thinking of initiating one, a business plan is always a wise move... even for, and especially for, Non-Profit Organizations.  Contrary to popular belief, the business plan is more useful to the organization than it is to anyone else.  And a proper plan can mean the difference between a successful venture and a catastrophe. 

We provide services to help you identify areas of cost and profit recovery.  This could include areas of yield maximization while keeping within legislative requirements, legal obligation reviews, and many other targeted issues.  Many businesses and NPOs often incur costs they are not required to absorb or are not recovering maximum profits or yields due to insufficient management in these areas.  We can assist in identifying and returning these costs or profits to you.  Charges for these services are often on a recovery basis which means you do not incur costs unless savings are identified.

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Setup:

If you are just starting out or think it may be time to change your organization's structure we can help.  Included in these services are the following:

• Assessment of the current and best available legal structure of your organization in terms of operation and yield maximization.
• Setup and filing for all structures including non-share corporations including all required provincial or federal filings and registrations
• Applications for Federal Business Numbers including business accounts Payroll, GST, Duties, and more
• Applications for Provincial accounts including Taxation, Employer Health Tax, WSIB, Business Names, and more
• We can assist you in the development of a business plan.  Whether you are continuing an ongoing operation or thinking of starting one, a business plan is always a wise move. 

It is critically important to have your NPO established correctly from the start.  The improper establishment of your enterprise could cost you money and problems with compliance down the road.  We make certain that ALL of your business setup issues are resolved.  Many firms only look after the legal registration of your business leaving other aspects unresolved and this can cause you many problems if not addressed.

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Compliance Assurance and Internal Controls & Audit:

Keeping your organization in compliance with regulatory and legislative requirements is extremely important.  Equally important is maintaining systems of internal controls and audit to ensure that your finances and assets are secure.

We can assist you in these areas.  We can...

• Assist you in identifying areas of compliance failure and initiate systems of maintenance
• Identify areas of policy failure and provide guidance in review and implementation
• Identify areas of control failure and provide guidance on correction
• Identify areas of internal audit failure and assess your risk to help you correct matters which could cause you and your operation loss

Do not allow your organization, and its hard working members and volunteers, to be the victim of deceitful individuals or organizations.  Non-Profit Organizations are among one of the most vulnerable groups to fraud and theft by their own employees or members.  It is a truly sad situation.  Our offices have worked, many times at no charge, with such groups to help them avoid such problems or to assist them in determining the cause of financial and accounting irregularities.  If you think your organization may be at risk, or may have been victimized don't hesitate to call us or your local police department for assistance in moving forward

Don't think it can happen to you..... Check this out 

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