Why Most Accounting Firms Don’t Want to Do Charity Bookkeeping
And What You Can Do Instead
You’re not imagining it — it really is hard to find an accountant who wants to help.
You’ve got a charity to run. You’re juggling volunteers, funding applications, board meetings, impact reporting… and now you’re trying to get someone — anyone — to help with the books.
You’ve emailed firms. You’ve asked around. You’ve been told:
“We’re not taking on charity clients right now.”
“We don’t specialise in nonprofits.”
“It’s just not a fit.”
At a certain point, it’s hard not to take it personally.
You start wondering if your charity’s too small, too messy, or just not worth the effort.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about you doing something wrong.
You’re not unorganised. You’re not unreasonable.
And no — you’re not asking for too much.
But there is a reason most accounting firms quietly shy away from charity bookkeeping. It has nothing to do with your cause — and everything to do with how their business model works behind the scenes.
In this article, you’ll learn:
Why most firms won’t touch charity accounts — even if they say they support the sector
What’s actually difficult about charity bookkeeping (and why it’s not your fault)
What accounting firms are thinking, but not saying
What to do if you’ve been turned away or are stuck without the support you need
I Know Your Pain — Because I’ve Lived It
Years ago, I became the treasurer for a small charity.
I stepped in after the last treasurer, who had no finance background, left the books in… let’s call it “vintage” condition.
We were using literal red ledger books. Pen and paper. No structure. No visibility. Just fear and guesswork.
The trustees were brilliant, passionate people. But when it came to the finances? They were terrified. So I became the bookkeeper, the accountant, and the finance director in one.
Moving our accounts to Xero changed everything.
We could finally:
See where we were spending our money
Pay expenses faster
Plan ahead with confidence
Make sure we were spending enough on the people we existed to serve
That moment taught me something I’ve never forgotten:
Charities don’t need complexity. They need clarity.
But most accounting firms don’t understand that — and they’re not built to deliver it.
The Truth: Most Firms Aren’t Set Up for Charity Clients
Let’s break it down.
Most accounting firms are built for:
Businesses with clear revenue streams
Clients who pay well for standardised services
Compliance-heavy, transactional work
Charities? You’re different. And I mean that in the best possible way.
You don’t just track money — you track meaning.
You need to show donors, funders, and trustees how money is used — not just that it’s accounted for.
You manage:
Restricted vs unrestricted income
Grant reporting
Project-based fund tracking
Volunteer expenses and donations in kind
All that extra nuance? Firms don’t have systems for it. They don’t have staff trained in it. And they don’t always want to build that from scratch.
So what do they do?
They smile politely… and pass.
The Specific Challenges of Charity Bookkeeping (That Scare Off Most Firms)
1. You don’t just manage accounts. You manage accountability.
Every pound has to be justified. Every report needs to tell a story. Every decision feels like it matters a little more.
2. Charities live in operational chaos — and accountants like order.
Volunteer expenses, community fundraising, donation platforms, event floats, grant money with strings attached… It’s not impossible. But it’s not plug and play either.
3. You speak “mission”. They speak “margin”.
Your goal is to help people. Their goal is to run a profitable practice. These two things can work together — but only when the support is designed with your world in mind.
4. Reporting is heavier. But budgets are tighter.
Firms often think: “More work, less pay? Not for us.” And again — it’s not personal. It’s structural.
What Accountants Are Thinking (But Don’t Say Out Loud)
Instead of ghosting or giving vague no-thank-yous, here’s what many accountants wish they could say:
“This will take more time than we can charge for.”
“We’re not confident working with charity regulations.”
“We don’t have a team trained in fund tracking or grant reporting.”
“We’ve had a bad experience with a charity client in the past.”
“Honestly… we’re afraid of getting it wrong.”
So rather than trying to bend their model to fit your needs, many firms just quietly step back.
And again: this is not about your value. It’s about their fit.
You’re Not Unimportant — You’re Underserved
Let’s reframe what rejection means.
You’re not being turned away because your organisation isn’t worthy of support.
You’re being turned away because the traditional accounting model isn’t built for people like you.
It’s built for speed.
It’s built for profit.
It’s built for simplicity.
You’re none of those things. You’re better.
Charities are complex, heartfelt, deeply operationally messy — and doing work that matters.
You don’t need to apologise for that.
You just need a different kind of support.
What You Can Do Instead
Here’s how to stop begging for help — and start building a finance setup that actually serves you.
1. Know what support you actually need
Bookkeeping? Reporting? Budgeting?
Don’t shop for a full-service accountant if what you really need is a bookkeeper who understands fund tracking and Xero.
2. Look for charity-experienced providers
Ask other charities. Search for freelancers. Seek out bookkeeping firms and fractional finance leads who mention charities on their site — because if they don’t say it, they probably don’t do it.
3. Set up one good system
You don’t need layers of tools. Just one clear setup can save you hours.
Start with:
Cloud accounting (like Xero)
Bank feed integrations
An expense process
One monthly check-in
That alone can change your life.
4. Ask smarter questions when hiring support
Instead of “Do you take on charities?”, ask:
“Have you worked with restricted/unrestricted funds before?”
“How do you help with grant reporting?”
“Can you help us build something simple and sustainable?”
If they hesitate? Keep moving.
5. Consider a hybrid approach
Many charities do well with:
A freelance bookkeeper
A finance-savvy trustee
Occasional advice from a strategic consultant or CFO-type
It’s lean. It’s flexible. It works.
Conclusion: You Deserve Better — and It’s Out There
If you’ve been turned away, overlooked, or let down — I see you.
I’ve been you.
But please hear this:
You are not asking for too much.
You’re just asking the wrong people.
You don’t need a complicated system.
You don’t need a Big Four firm.
You don’t need to do it all yourself anymore.
You need clarity.
You need someone who gets the charity world.
You need a setup that supports your mission instead of slowing it down.
And now, you know where to start.