Grant-ready

A UK community interest company needed financials that met the expectations of grant-makers and funders.

For an early-stage organisation, a strong application is only part of it. Grant-makers and funders look for evidence that the organisation can account for its activity, show a reliable financial position, and manage external funds with discipline. The organisation needed to establish that financial foundation while preparing and filing its first statutory accounts.

The SME CFO put the financial infrastructure and reporting in place to the standard funders expected. We prepared and filed the company’s first statutory accounts with Companies House and HMRC.

• We reviewed and organised the underlying financial records, ensuring that the information supporting the accounts was complete, reconciled, and ready for external review.
• We established a reporting structure that gave the organisation a clearer view of income, expenditure, cash, and the information that funders were likely to require.
• We developed the financial information needed to support the funding application, such as a budget, forecast, cash flow view, or financial narrative.
• We set the foundations for future funder reporting and annual financial management once the grant was awarded.

The company filed its first statutory accounts and secured grant funding on the strength of those accounts.

Beyond the grant itself, the organisation had built the financial credibility to approach funders with a complete, supportable record behind its applications.

The organisation had a more durable finance foundation for future funding conversations, annual statutory responsibilities, and the stewardship of external funds.