Regulator investigates charity for repeated filing failures

The Charity Commission has announced a statutory inquiry into Community Accountancy Self Help, citing concerns over persistent non-compliance with financial reporting requirements.

Community Accountancy Self Help, a charity focused on advancing education through financial management training and advice—primarily for other charities—has not submitted any accounting information since its filings for the year ended March 2020.

The Commission had previously investigated the charity in 2018 and 2020 as part of its double defaulters inquiry, which targets charities that repeatedly fail to meet their statutory obligation to file annual returns and accounts.

During these engagements, the regulator stressed the importance of the charity fulfilling its legal duties, particularly given its mission to support other organisations in financial management.

Despite these warnings, the charity has failed to file its accounts for the years ending March 2021, 2022, and 2023, with the 2021 filings now more than 1,000 days overdue.

Scope of the Inquiry

The statutory inquiry, opened on 10 December 2024 under section 46 of the Charities Act 2011, will examine:

• The trustees’ compliance with legal obligations related to the preparation, content, and submission of accounts and annual returns.
• Whether the charity is being managed in line with its objectives and governing documents, and whether it has a sufficient number of capable trustees.
• Any evidence of misconduct or mismanagement in the administration of the charity.

The inquiry’s remit may be expanded if additional regulatory issues arise during the investigation.

A spokesperson for the Charity Commission stated, “Given Community Accountancy Self Help’s purpose of guiding other organisations in financial management, its repeated non-compliance with accounting regulations is especially concerning. Our inquiry will assess the extent of governance failures and determine appropriate action to safeguard the charity’s integrity and the public’s trust.”