RSPCA may be one of the country’s most well-known charities, but what many people don’t know is that it’s made up of 140 individual branches, each separately registered charities. The RSPCA Manchester and Salford Branch manages an animal centre, a large animal foster network, and runs welfare community events to support people in caring for their pets. The charity has 22 staff, a turnover of around £700k a year, and an engaged group of more than 80 volunteers.
When their accountant approached retirement, Susie Hughes, RSPCA’s Manchester and Salford branch manager, approached their local Champion office for support.
“We knew that Champion looked after a number of other RSPCA branches, so we decided to get in touch, hoping that their familiarity with our work would make for an easy set up process,” explained Susie.
Initially calling on Champion to support its compliance activities and end of year books, Champion’s remit for RSPCA soon grew. “We had such a positive experience with the business that when our payroll provider retired, I didn’t hesitate to move this function to Champion,” Susie added. “Initially, I didn’t realise the breadth of services available from Champion, but the relationship has grown significantly over time. Champion now delivers all our bookkeeping, accounting, VAT returns and payroll, and we have gained excellent support from them.”
Facilitating transparency has been key to the success of Champion’s support for the charity. The organisation used QuickBooks, but found that the platform wasn’t a good fit. Champion advised the branch to switch to Xero and utilise Dext. The change immediately minimised needless duplication and provided the transparency and control that the charity had long sought. Susie explained, “It’s been amazing and so time saving. You have far more control over what’s going on. I don’t need to keep any paper trails, and I can see every penny that’s been spent. I love this accountability as I can report back to necessary parties like trustees with ease. We’re spending public money, so this transparency is key for me.”
What’s more, Susie has found Champion to be an approachable, friendly, and efficient resource. “I’m always encouraged to drop Champion an email when I find myself in the dark. I’m never made to feel like a burden. I love the Champion culture and the way they support their clients. I always get a sense that they really do care – and that sets them apart.”
Champion has a long history of providing accounting support for charities. To find out more visit www.championgroup.co.uk/sectors/charity or contact us on info@championgroup.co.uk or 0161 703 2500.