Financial Management Workshop

Many staff members within NGOs and social enterprises (SEs) do not have a solid understanding of financial planning, financial management, tax and audit requirements, institutional arrangements and other financial considerations that are critical for NGO and SE success. It is crucial that non-profits and SEs should be structured properly in order to maintain their financial integrity. This will provide “peace of mind” to donors, investors, and will ensure long term sustainability. In order for NGOs and SEs to function holistically, financial and non-financial staff should have an understanding of the legal and practical matters related to financial management.

Workshop objectives:

• Understanding the legal & tax structures NGOs are required to work within;
• Understanding how to preserve financial integrity through governance, integrity and & accountability;
• Understanding internal controls and reporting;
• Understanding how to report to funders and what they require;
• Income generating projects – institutional, tax and other factors to consider when generating income;
• Learning from audits – what do auditors want to see and what does the law require.

Targeted participants

NGO staff working in the following departments: finance, fundraising, business development and project managers.

YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER TO ATTEND THIS EVENT! DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS MONDAY 2 MAY 2016

To register, please email the completed registration form to Henriette.

The workshop includes formal presentations, discussions, group work and exercises.

Provisional agenda

Session 1: Introduction: Legal & Tax Structures

• The current environment in South Africa, pertaining to Non-Profits.
• Various legal structures incl. the registration, benefits and compliance environment
• Tax benefits and structuring

Session 2: Governance & Financial Integrity

• Responsibility and accountability of trustees / directors
• Preserving financial integrity (internally and with regards to donors)

Session 3: Internal Controls & Financial Reporting

• Importance of internal controls (continuous from governance session)
• Implementing controls in an informal environment
• Financial reporting: compliance and transparency to donors

Session 4: Financial Management and Sustainability

• Basics of financial accounting and management
• Long term sustainability of the non-profit
• Social enterprise development – how to manage revenue generating activities

Materials

All presentations will be provided to each participant on a CD. Additional worksheets and hand-outs will also be provided.

Cost: R850 per person covers venue, catering and presenters.

About the facilitators

Daniel Steenkamp is a Chartered Accountant and registered auditor. He is a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (CA (SA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Independent Regulatory Board of Auditors (IRBA). He acts as independent auditor to a broad scope of NPO’s in South Africa and Lesotho. Holding an MBA in business strategy from the University of Stellenbosch, he is particularly passionate about development in Africa. He consults NPO’s all over South Africa with regards to Financial Integrity and Sustainability and serves as Trustee and Non-Executive director on various NPO’s.

Lisa Thompson-Smeddle is the Founder/Director of the Sustainable Development Network. She has a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development from Stellenbosch University, and honours degrees in social sciences and sustainable development. She has 25 years’ experience in the NGO sector in South Africa. She has managed a variety of programmes for the UNDP; DANIDA; Cordaid; the Sustainability Institute; Stellenbosch University; the SA National Department of Human Settlements, SA provincial and local government authorities, the Hanns Seidel Foundation, the University of California Berkeley and more. She has recently been on contract as a sustainability advisor to Family Health International, an Umbrella Grants Mechanism managing a $90 million USAID PEPFAR grant. She is currently on contract as a fund developer with the Peace Parks Foundation.

Directions:

FROM CAPE TOWN/AIRPORT

Take the N2 to the Baden Powell exit. Left at the exit. After about 8km go straight through the robot (Total Garage on your left). Pass Spier, go over the railway bridge. Vredenheim Estate is a bit further up on your right (there are game animals in pastures in front of the estate). Turn into Vredenheim, cross over the railway line, turn left at the T and right into the Barrique parking.

FROM STELLENBOSCH

Take the R310 from Stellenbosch (toward Spier). At the robot (Asara and Neetlingshof on your right, Polkadraai road carries on straight) turn left. Vredenheim Estate is a few hundred metres further, on your left (there are game animals in pastures in front of the estate). Turn into Vredenheim, cross over the railway line, turn left at the T and right into the Barrique parking.

Sustainable Development Network

The Sustainable Development Network (SDN) is an international NGO registered in South Africa (NPC: K2011/122880/08) and in the US (501c3 Number: 3388896). The SDN’s mission is to empower NGOs, government and communities through research, education, training and through encouraging networks and partnerships that will promote sustainable solutions. The SDN’s vision is to empower NGOs, government and communities to work together toward more sustainable economic, environmental and social solutions.

The SDN has the following programmes and platforms:

• Research – this programme provides access to open source and purchasable research and information on a wide variety of topics related to sustainable development. This includes documentaries, accredited training materials, research studies, books and more.
• Education and training - in South Africa, this programme provides education and training services for non-profits and government in organisational and sustainable development.
• Networking – this programme enables NGOs, government agencies and communities access to workshops, conferences, information and other networks working together toward common sustainable development goals. The SDN provides relevant training and mentoring programmes to assist in meeting these capacity needs.