Financial Controls Policy

Name of Club 5UP C.I.C
Location 13 Raleigh Industrial Park, Handsworth, Birmingham, B21 8JF
Contact Person Nathan Bendon
Date 10th Jan 2019

Why do we have this policy?
5UP has this policy so that individuals who receive support, funders, referrers, other agencies and
organisations that we work with, workers, volunteers and other stakeholders are aware of the
procedures we follow to minimise the risk of fraud and protect the assets of the organisation.


What are Internal Financial Controls?
The Charity Commission says that: Internal financial controls are just one part of a charity’s overall
control framework. The wider framework should cover all the charity’s systems and activities.
The aims of internal financial controls are:
• To protect the charity’s assets.
• To identify and manage the risk of loss, waste, theft, or fraud.
• To ensure the financial reporting is robust and of sufficient quality.
• To ensure that the trustees comply with charity law and regulation relating to finance.


Internal financial controls are rules or procedures that tell everyone in 5UP how the organisation’s
finances should be dealt with. These controls should be firmly administered but not impractical. If these controls are followed the risk of mistakes or fraud occurring should be reduced.


The 5UP management team has a legal duty to ensure that the assets of 5UP are appropriately used
to achieve our charitable objectives. They therefore need to ensure that all income that is received
is banked, and that all expenditure is appropriate and properly authorised and recorded.5UP C.I.C

5UP has established a suitable structure to ensure that financial accountability is retained at the right level. Some of the main areas where internal financial controls are necessary are detailed as follows:


Expenditure
Any expenditure can only be made provided that it is within the following framework, and therefore it is made.


• Within Charity and Company Law
• Within the rules, policies, and procedures of 5UP
• In accordance with 5UP’s objectives
• With regard to 5UP’s contracts and commissioners wishes and expectations, for example
Supporting People & Children’s Services.


Levels of Expenditure Authorisation
• Within the framework the management team may authorise any level of expenditure
provided that the expenditure is made and recorded at a quorate management team
meeting
• Within the framework two board members jointly (NB and MH) may authorise expenditure
of £1,000 or over
• Within the framework NB or MH may authorise expenditure of £500
• Within the framework any board member of 5UP may authorise expenditure of up to £100


Salaries
• The management team do not get a salary for the positions they hold. Their services are
voluntary.


Payments
• Payment to be only made upon receipt of invoice
• No cash payments are to be made above £10
• Authorisation of transactions and documentation to show that this has taken place


Bank Accounts

• There are two signatories required for each banking transaction – NB & MH
• Bank statements should be checked and reconciled each month
• Bank account information, cheque books and bankcards are kept securely
• Only NB & MH should access internet banking
• No cash withdrawals are to be made more than £5


Risk Assessment
• Should a financial risk assessment be necessary 5UP would seek expert advice from our
advisors. Our advisors are currently Mibsons Limited (chartered certified accountants)5UP C.I.C
• 5UPwill continue to update financial policy and procedure in line with reviews and guidance
• 5UP will strive to deliver good practice in its financial management systems


Insurance
• 5UP shall continuously maintain adequate and legal insurance cover. Our policy is currently
with Insure 4 Sport and we display all insurance certificates on our website – www.5up.co.uk


Cash Income
• All income must be deposited into 5UP’s bank account – we do not normally accept cash as a
payment, but under special circumstances


Financial Reports
• MH in consultation with the NB should present regular reports and budgets to the
management team in order that they may review the activities and future plans of 5UP


Assets
• 5UP should keep a list of the fixed assets owned by 5UP and have regular yearly checks on
their existence and condition
• All valuable assets should be kept in a secure location


Petty Cash
Within 5UP the following petty cash controls must be followed
• When money is spent out of petty cash it should be replaced with a receipt
• Where possible avoid making cash advances for payments. If this is necessary, the advance
should be authorised and signed for
• 5UP does not allow borrowing out of petty cash
• Access to the petty cash tins is restricted to NB and the admin support worker. This should
minimise the risk of errors or unauthorised expenditure occurring
• There is an upper limit of £10 that can be spent out of petty cash in a single transaction
• These items should be recorded separately from the petty cash system
• The petty cash floats should always be replenished via a separate cash withdrawal from the
bank


External Financial Controls
• 5UP’s annual accounts are reported to Companies House.
• 5UP’s accounts need to comply with the requirements of the Charities Act and should
include an account of receipts and payments as well as a statement of assets and liabilities
They may also include some notes, which may help to make the accounts more significant
• 5UP’s yearly accounts should be approved by the management board5UP C.I.C


Designated and Restricted Funds
• If 5UP has more than one funder the notes should include a description of each designated
or restricted fund and the reason for any restriction
• Accounts should have a note to state the amount of any payments that have been made to
management board, in the form of remuneration or expenses
• There should also be note of which fund or funds any bank interest received has been
allocated to

Statement of Assets and Liabilities
• This is basically a list of all the assets and liabilities of 5UP. They are divided into two types,
monetary and non-monetary
• The statement of assets and liabilities will then show the total balance for each of the two
types at the end of the year
• Monetary assets and liabilities include bank and cash balances. The total of these balances
must be equal to the total funds carried forward on the Receipts and Payments Account
• Non-monetary assets and liabilities include fixed assets, debtors and creditors and will be
listed at the end of the statement


Fixed Assets
• These will be items such as buildings, equipment and furniture. These are listed, with
approximate valuations, where possible. They should be summarised into different
categories rather than listing each individual item
• Debtors
These are people that owe money to 5UP at the end of the financial year
• Creditors
This will be the amount that is owed by 5UP to others, including unpaid bills and loans