Charities

• Where do I enter the registered charity number?

Select Client | View | Tax, the charity number field is at the bottom right of the screen.

• How do I show the trustees’ occupation/management position in the charity?

This information is picked up from Edit | Trustees | View | Occupation

• How are postings attributed to a fund?

Funds need to be set up under Edit | Funds. These are then broken down into the relevant category of Unrestricted, Restricted and Endowment. When posting a fund will need to be selected from those already created, this will then remain default until amended.

• Why does it ask me for an activity when posting to particular accounts?

Certain groups on the chart of accounts (groups 26 and 101) will need an activity selected when posting. This is because they are for charitable activities and will appear separately on the Statement of Financial Activities.  For posting to group 181 (Support costs) either an activity will need to be selected or a basis of (automatic) allocation will need to be set up in Edit | Support costs

• How do I post a transfer between funds?

A transfer between funds will always need two entries per fund.  One within the transfer codes of 968/11-30 and the other for where the transfer is occurring, i.e. from fixed assets or cash from back.  The balances between account 968/11-30 should always net off to zero.

Example: If a transfer of £100 was to be made from the unrestricted general fund to a restricted fund the entries would be as follows:

£100 cr to account 692 for general fund

£100 dr to account 968/11 for general fund

£100 dr to account 692 for restricted fund

£100 cr to account 968/11 for restricted fund

• When running a report why do I get the message funds do not balance?

As each fund is treated as an individual trial balance each fund will need to balance. There are checks within the system when closing the posting screen and when running a report to ensure this

• How can I amend the flysheet?

Select Edit | Data screens | Flysheet | Options

There are options to amend:

the prefix to 'Financial Statements' that is, Audited, Unaudited or Cessation

reference to: Registered number, Charity Number and Agent details

Order of title text

• I want to show grants paid to institutions individually, how do I do this?

All grants to institutions will need to be posted to account 189.  All outgoing grants set up in Edit | Grants will appear in a list to select from.

• I am not getting a support costs note.

The support costs note only needs to be produced for medium size charitable companies; however there is an option in the data screens to show this for a small charitable company.

• How do I get a more detailed breakdown of the support costs?

By default IRIS will show the totals of the Support costs in a table similar to that provided in the SORP.  If a further analysis of accounts that comprise the total is required by either accounts or groups this may be provided via the data screen in Edit | Data Screens | Notes to the Financial Statements | SOFA Items | Support Costs | Analysis

This may be set to apply to all clients in Setup | Data Screen Defaults

• Why are there so many repeated headings in support costs?

In order to provide full disclosure for the support costs note the costs need to be categorised into functions. Therefore, under each function you have each section headings found throughout the rest of the chart.

• Where are unrealised gains and losses for the Statement of Financial Activities posted?

As unrealised gains appear on both the Statement of Financial Activities and the Movement in funds note posting are to be made to the relevant sub account on 968. Realised gains and losses should be posted with the appropriate sections on the Statement of Financial Activities accounts.

• How do I show a breakdown of unrealised gains and losses of assets on the face of the Statement of Financial Activities?

By default IRIS will show posting to 968/2 as a single row on the Statement of Financial Activities, however a data screen is available to show a breakdown. Similarly, postings to 968/3, will be added to accounts 491, 492 and 493 shown together in their respective funds. A further data screen is available if a breakdown of the postings to account 968/3 is required.

Both screens can be found in Edit | Data Screens | SOFA | Other recognised gains and losses

• How do I show the split of assets between the fund types in a note rather than on the face of the Balance Sheet?

By default IRIS will show the split of the assets by fund type on the face of the Balance sheet.

If you wish this analysis to be shown in a note and only the totals on the balance sheet the screen can be accessed via Edit | Data Screens | Balance Sheet | Net Assets or Edit | Data Screens | Notes to the Financial Statements | Balance Sheet Items | Net Assets

This may be set to apply to all clients in Setup | Data Screen Defaults

• How do I show the Income from Charitable Activities note with activities as columns?

By default IRIS will show the Income from Charitable Activities by account with the activity that has been attributed.

To show the analysis by activity in columns you will need to tick the box in Edit | Data Screens | Notes to the Financial Statements | SOFA Items | Charitable Activities | Additional/Replacement Note

This may be set to apply to all clients in Setup | Data Screen Defaults