Introduction to Cashflow Forecasting for Small Charities

Welcome to the wonderful world of small charity finance.

In these sessions, we go back to first principles and revisit the what, why, how, who and when of small charity finance.

An online broadcast 60 minute session, with 15 minutes of Q and A at the end.

An online session designed specifically for small charities. We will look at what a cashflow forecast is, why it’s an essential small charity finance tool and how to prepare a simple cashflow forecast.

During this session, we'll introduce the importance of the "going concern" principle, and what to consider when things look concerning. A good budget will tell us how much is coming in and how much is going out. A cashflow forecast tells us whether the money coming in will come in time or not. A good cashflow forecast is essential in all small charities.

What we'll cover

• How to use a cashflow forecasting template to track income and expenses
• Understanding the "going concern" concept and its importance for your charity’s future
• What to do when cashflow issues arise and how to take corrective action
• Top tips and common pitfalls to avoid when managing cashflow

Learning Outcomes

• How to use a cashflow forecasting template to track income and expenses
• Understand the concept of "going concern" and its importance
• Take corrective action when facing cashflow issues and manage finances effectively
• Know where to look for guidance and support when facing financial difficulties

What you can expect:

• Slides

• Examples
• Example templates

• Time to connect
• Time for Q and A

What you will receive:

• Clear and practical guidance tailored to small charities

• Real-world examples and tools you can apply immediately

• A supportive environment to ask questions and share experiences

Important - Zoom links are sent out the day before to the email address that you book with. Please check your spam filter.

Who these sessions are aimed at:

These sessions are aimed at anyone needing to know about small charity finance. All are welcome; trustees, chief officers, finance officers and everyone dealing with finance. No prior knowlegde of finance is required. Perfect for small charities :)

What else:

This is a sit back and tune in session. You are welcome to engage as much or as little as you wish. There are no breakouts and all engagement is entirely optional.

Who delivers these sessions

Liz Pepler MIAB FRSA Liz is a charity resilience specialist, founder of Embrace Finance and co-founder of the Small Charity Friendly Collective. Liz is co-author of Lloyds Bank Foundation’s Organisational Resilience framework, co-author of the Association of Chair's Financial Leadership in Small Charitiesand finance trainer for NCVO. Liz is a practicing member at the Institute of Accountants and Bookkeepers, holds a Masters in Charity Accounting and Financial Management (Dist) and a PG Certificate in Charity Administration. Liz is a fellow of the RSA.

Kemi Olafare ACMA Kemi is a qualified management accountant with over 20 years experience in the not for profit sector in both paid and voluntary roles. Kemi is an experienced finance business partner in the charity, university, international development and healthcare sectors. Kemi is currently Director of Finance at UCLPartners, an Advisory Board member at Charterpath, Trustee at the Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation and Associate at Embrace Finance. Kemi has been a panel member with Getting On Board.

Fiona Young FCA DChA Fiona works with charities and voluntary sector organisations supporting financial reporting reviews, accounts preparation, governance reviews, strategic planning and social investment. Fiona has been internal and external examiner on theCharity Finance Masters at Bayes Business Schooland also co-authored the NCVO Good Financial Management Guide. Fiona is a qualified chartered accountant (ICAEW), holder of theICAEW’s Diploma in Charity Accountingand has a Masters in Charity Accounting and Financial Management (Dist). She initially specialised in charity audit working atBDObefore moving into the sector as Director of Finance and Resources atCrisis UKandThe Tudor Trust. For the last four years she has been working as a consultantFiona Young Priestand has held a number of trustee roles and is a volunteer at theCranfield Trust.

Please note:

These sessions are not intended to replace proper professional advice. Neither can they guarantee to cover everything required of us to be compliant and financially resilient. They are intended to build awareness and confidence in our first steps when leading or managing the finance function of our charity.