Voluntary Action Orkney (VAO) provides practical, affordable finance services specifically for charities and voluntary organisations, helping trustees, staff and volunteers stay on top of their financial responsibilities while freeing up time to focus on their charitable work.
Running a charity is about making a difference and behind every successful organisation are strong financial systems, accurate records and confident people who understand the numbers.
Payroll services:
Managing payroll can be complex and time-consuming, particularly for smaller charities without dedicated payroll staff.
We can take care of your payroll accurately and efficiently, including:
- Regular payroll processing
- Payslips and payroll reports
- PAYE and National Insurance calculations
- New starters and leavers
- Payroll year-end requirements
- Support with payroll queries
Bookkeeping for charities:
Accurate bookkeeping is essential for good financial management and effective trustee oversight.
We can provide ongoing bookkeeping support tailored to your charity, helping you keep your records organised and up to date. This can include recording income and expenditure, bank reconciliations, maintaining financial records and preparing information for management and reporting purposes.
Whether you need regular monthly support or occasional help, we can tailor our service to your requirements.
Independent Examination and Annual Accounts:
If your charity requires an Independent Examination of its accounts, we can provide a professional and independent service from preparing your annual accounts through to completing the Independent Examination.
We can help ensure your financial records are complete and your annual accounts are prepared appropriately, before carrying out the Independent Examination. We will also highlight any areas that may need attention and provide trustees with greater confidence in their charity’s financial reporting.
Whether you need help preparing your accounts, an Independent Examination, or both, we can provide a service tailored to your group or organisation's needs.
Finance training for trustees, staff and volunteers:
Not everyone working in a charity is a finance specialist — and they don't need to be.
Our practical finance training is designed to make financial information easier to understand and help trustees, staff and volunteers feel more confident when dealing with charity finances.
Training sessions can include:
- Finance for Trustees – understanding financial responsibilities, reports and key questions to ask.
- Finance for Non-Finance Staff – building confidence with budgets, income, expenditure and financial terminology.
- Budgeting & Forecasting – preparing, monitoring and understanding charity budgets.
- Understanding Charity Accounts – making sense of financial statements and reports.
- Bookkeeping Basics – practical guidance on maintaining accurate financial records.
- Restricted & Unrestricted Funds – understanding how different types of charity income can be managed and reported.
- Financial Controls – practical ways to strengthen financial procedures and reduce risk.
- Excel & Spreadsheet Skills – using spreadsheets for budgets, monitoring, reporting and financial analysis.
- Accounting Software Training – practical training on your charity’s accounting or bookkeeping software, helping staff and volunteers use the system confidently and effectively.
- Software Set-Up & Processes – guidance on setting up efficient financial processes.
Training can be delivered as individual sessions or tailored to the specific needs of your charity, including one-to-one support or training for your wider team.
Need a Helping Hand With Your Charity Finances?
Whether you need ongoing bookkeeping or payroll support, annual accountspreparation, an Independent Examination, or practical finance and software training, we are here to help.
We understand that every charity is different, so our services can be tailored to your organisation, your budget and the level of support your group or organisation needs.
Get in touch today for a quote or to arrange an informal chat about your requirements. Just fill out the form and a member of the finance team will get back to you.
