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Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Certificate
Charity Finance and Accounting

Location
Southwark: classroom-based. London, Newcastle, Sheffield, Manchester, Plymouth, Bristol, Birmingham and Belfast dependent on interest for Blended Learning (a mixture of CD-ROM audio lectures, online learning and study rooms with access to lecturers via our online site or email).

Duration
1 year (part-time)

Start date
September

Number of places
100

Simple timetable information
Thursday afternoons and evenings for the classroom basis. 1 day in Semester 1, 2 days in Semester 2 plus 3 afternoons for examinations for the blended basis.

How to apply
Direct to LSBU

LSBU code
Southwark classroom basis: 3372
Blended basis: 3371

Course contact
Nigel Scott
scottne@lsbu.ac.uk – 020 7815 7760

Non-standard entry requirements
Students should be employed within a charity finance role with at least 1 years experience and no other professional accounting qualifications.

Course units

– Charity Finance and Accounting

– Voluntary Sector Financial Management

– Advanced Charity Accounting

– Taxation of Charities

The taught units of the Certificate are assessed by a mixture of coursework project assignments and by examination at the end of some units.Successful completion of 4 units allows the student to move to CIPFA Diploma level and/or the MSc in Charity Accounting and Finance.

Course description

This course offers an entry route to professional and academic qualifications for finance staff employed in the wider voluntary and community sector. This course was developed following CIPFA’s recognition of the need for a course that provides a professional qualification based upon knowledge of the specific charity finance world, rather than the commercial or public sector.

The course is run both as an attended course at the University and also by Blended Learning, based at centres around the UK but taught and assessed by LSBU staff.

Career opportunities

On completion of the course, successful students will be partqualified CIPFA students and may be looking to complete their professional qualifications with CIPFA as a prelude to a full career in Charity Finance. This specialist qualification will significantly enhance employability and will be a recognisable specialist professional qualification. All successful students will be entitled to be Affiliate members of CIPFA with the designation CPFA (Affil).

Typical background of applicant

Students must demonstrate that they are employed in charity finance and have at least one years experience in this area.

Professional contacts/industry links

The Certificate is fully accredited by CIPFA and gains exemption from appropriate papers within the CIPFA professional qualification.

Recent guest lecturers

– Eddie Finch and Katherine Patel, Partners, Buzzacotts Chartered Accountants

– Charles Mesquita, Fund Manager, Rensburg Sheppards

– Stephen Gilbert, Chief Executive, Printers Charitable Corporation

– Nick Kavanagh, Director of Finance, Save the Children Fund UK