Saturday, March 12, 2011

Accounting for Non-Profit Organizations - Accounting

Accounting is an important process for any business organization. Many people think that accounting is only for profit-oriented businesses, since these companies often have larger financial resources to manage and keep track of. Contrary to popular belief, accounting is a regular task for nonprofit organizations such as research facilities, religious foundations, and social service organizations. Accounting helps these organizations organize financial matters such as grants, donations, budget, and payroll.
To handle accounting responsibilities, businesses and nonprofit organizations usually employ the services of in-house accounting departments. Accounting teams are responsible for generating reports and documents about the business entity's financial status. These reports are used by the business management to assess the condition of the company or organization, as well as determine any imbalances or discrepancies in the company's finances.
Accounting teams are often comprised of qualified professionals such as certified public accountants (CPA). These CPAs occupy top positions in the accounting department and oversee all tasks and responsibilities handled by the team. Head CPAs regularly meet with the company management for the updating of financial reports. The team may also have clerks or assistants who are in charge of bookkeeping and auditing, both of which are important accounting processes.
The accounting needs of a business or organization may be demanding, especially if the said entity engages in large-scale operations. Accounting for nonprofit organizations may be even harder since these groups have more financial details to keep track of. Accounting departments of nonprofit organizations often put in long hours creating reports on the donations and grants the organization receives on a regular basis.
In addition, tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations are required to submit revenue and income statements, functional and individual expenses reports, balance sheets, and a schedule of the organization's sources of revenue to the state. Teams that handle the accounting nonprofit organizations needs are responsible for submitting these documents when required. When these documents are not provided, the organization may face consequences from the US Internal Revenue Service.
Accounting for nonprofit organizations, especially those with tax-exempt status, entails complicated processes that must be done with accuracy. Through efficient accounting, non-profit organizations can ensure that every cent of funding they receive is put to good use.