Inde endent Auditin of the Fund Account The School Financial Value Standards (SFVS) replaced Financial Management Standard in Schools (FMSIS) in the summer of 2011. Standard D22 of the SFVS is "Does the school have adequate arrangements for the audit of voluntary funds" The term voluntary fund applies to any account other than the Budget Share Account that is managed by the school. This includes the School Fund Account, Governors accounts etc. The governor's accounts are often already audited annually. At the end of each financial year, the finance staff prepare their final accounts which need to have an independent examinationlaudit. An independent examiner could be any person not involved with the running of the school with a financial knowledge Therefore it cannot be a governor but could be a parent. a person in the local community or request for FSS to audit the accounts. Some schools have taken the decision to swap accounts with a local school and audit each others. An audit rtIfICate is what an auditor will expect to see when visiting the school. This should be completed by the examiner to state they are an accurate set of accounts. This rtIfICate and what an independent examination consists of can be found at Appendix A (Proforma) and Appendix B (Definitions of 'audit' and 'independent examination,). Whilst the SFVS standard asks for an audit Hertfordshire will accept an independent examination in line with the Charity Commission guidelines. This states that the governors can opt for an independent examination as opposed to a statutory audit for fund accounts with gross income under £500,000 Also attached at the back of this document is a copy of the checks that audit make when doing a full school audit. This may be useful to the independent examiner when auditing the fund account.
APPENDIX A PRO FORMA AUDIT CERTIFICATE A separate certificate should be completed for each unofficial or private account run by the school or it's Governing Body. Examiner's report I have examined the final accounts for the year ending 31 August 2025 for the Bernards Heath Junior School PTA run by Bernards Heath Junior School PTA, and the underlying accounts and financial records. I have obtained all the infomiation and explanations I consider necessary to complete the statement below. Further. I have not identified any significant concerns regarding these accounts which remain either unresolved or undeclared in the accounts themselves or this report. I certify that the accompanying final accounts {summary income and expenditure account and balance sheet) present an accurate picture of the activities and transactions undertaken through this account and of the financial position at the end of the year. Examiner's signature Date.. 26.05.26 Name.. Malgorzata Gentry Status.. Accounting TechnicianlAssistant Accountant Contact telephone number: 07835 566 344
Appendix B Definitions of 'audit' and 'independent examination, based on those published by the Charity Commission. Professional audit: An audit undertaken by a person who is eligible under the 1993 Charities Act, nomially a registered auditor. The auditor has to express a professional opinion as to whether the accounts are 'true and fair, and they conduct the audit in accordance with relevant auditing standards. An independent examination is an external review of an organisation's accounts and is carried out by an independent person with the requisite ability and practical experience to carry out a competent examination. An independent examination provides an external check on the accounts and can be carried out by any person with the relevant ability and experience. An examination is a less onerous form of scrutiny than an audit and provides less assuran in terms of the depth of work which is to be carried out. An examiner, in their report, is only required to confirm that no eviden has been found that suggests certain things have not been done by the organisation. This fonn of'negative assurance, is a more limited form of scrutiny. The examiner is not acting as an auditor and so is not required to plan their work, to identify fraud or to test the internal financial controls operating in the organisation. An examination involves a review of the accounting records kept by the organisation and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also involves a review of the accounts and the consideration of any unusual items or disclosures identified. It is important to note that verification and vouching procedures, where an item in the accounts is checked against an original document such as an invoice or a receipt, only becomes necessary where significant concerns are identified from the work of the examiner, or where satisfactory explanations cannot be obtained from those responsible for the administration of the accounts. In the examiner's report, the examiner is only required to provide a statement on specific matters that have come to their attention as a result of the examination procedures followed. An auditor is required to build up a body of evidence to support a positive statement of opinion on the accounts. In particular, an auditor is required to form an opinion as to whether the accounts show a 'true and fair view,.
SCHOOL'S INTERNAL AUDIT PROGRAMME Sch No 416 Completed by PRIVATE (PTA) ACCOUNT Malgorzata Date 26/05/26 Gent Reviewed by Date Question Response How many private accounts, (including governor accounts), does the school have? One What formal is used for recording transactions". manual compulerised ledger Keys FMS6 ExTrl Sage Other Excel Vvho is responsible for.. recording transactions preparing income for banking banking recording transactions in the ledger bank reconciliations preparing cheques signing cheques? Celeste Paulse Celeste Paulse and Therese Duranl Celeste Paulse and Therese Durant Celeste Paulse Celeste Paulse N,'A no ¢heque5 used. Dual authoiisation for online payments (Celeste Paulse and Therese Durani) If one person completes all or most transactions is there any evidence of some form of internal check, e.g. countersigning bank reconciliations. checking of income records before banking, elc.? Cash takings from each event are counted by the event organi5er (excluding the Treasurerl before being passed to the Treasurer for banking. providing an independent check of receipts. For smaller events, the cash is counted and confimied by at least PTA members before il Is banked. Al the May Fair. responsibilities for recording cash takings and banking the cash were carried out sepaffitely. In addition. all cash was counted by at least 0 individuals on the day. How often are bank reconciliations undertaken? Monthly How often is the fund account reported to the Governing Body? (Minimum requirement is annually) Any large payments should be reported and discussed. PTA accounts sent to the governing body annually. Page4of8
SCHOOL'S INTERNAL AuDrr PROGRAMME Sch No 416 Completed by PRIVATE (PTA) ACCOUNT Malgorzata Date 26/05/26 Gent Reviewed by Date Question Response Ass't If the school sells uniform, or other slcck items, are there". issues records held regular stock checks undertaken comparisons made between the stock issued and the income bankedlgenerated trading accounts produced? NIA school does not sell new unifomi Vvho is responsible for.. issuing stock undertaking stock checks? NIA If this is the same person, is there any independent review? NIA Vvhere are the stock records retained? NIA Page 5 of8 Hertfordshire County Council
SCHOOL'S INTERNAL AUt)rr PROGRAMME Sch No 416 Completed by PRIVATE (PTA) ACCOUNT Malgorzata Date 26/05/26 Gent Reviewed by Date TESTS Test Conclusion Review the ledger, landlor other documenlationl, and ensure that". the balance brought forward from the previous year has been split beeen the various headings unpresenled or bounced cheques have been correctly treated • transactions are completed in ink correcting fluid has not been used there is evidence of regular bank reconciSiations bank reconciliations are signed by". the person performing them an independent reviewer, le.g. the Headleacherl. NIA NIA- all transactions are electronic Y (via enquiryl No docun]ented evidence of this was identified. HoN%."¢i'er. this ii.-as not considered necessary due to the limiled nurnber of transactions, the use of dual authorisalion for online payments, the absence of cheque pal'ments. and the independent review erfonned ai the end of ihe financial 'ear. All correct Check or reconstruct the last bank reconciliation to ensure that.. it Is correct that there are no old outstanding cheques or unpresenled income items that either need review or writing back into the accounts. Identify the income generated against each of the headings in the ledger, particularly where the VAT threshold limit is exceeded. and ensure that taxable sales are within this NIA Check a sample of income records and ensure that il Is possible lo determine". the source of income the date of re¢eipt the recipient banking reference confirmation of banking. See attached income tesb'ng sheet Check a sample of expenditure items for appropriateness Ipredominantly for expenditure for the children in the school) and eompleleness of information. See attached expendituie testing sheet 6of8 Hertfordshire County Council
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CHARITY COMMISSION . FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Bernards Heath Junior School PTA Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the perio frorn To Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funfls tothe neamt Restricted funds Endowment funds Total funds Last year tothe rEst£ tothe rreSt £ to the npare5t£ to the nearest £ A1 Receipts Charitable activiiies 37,785 37,785 37,918 Sub total (Gross income lor AR) 37,785 37,785 37.918 A2 Asset and investment sales. (see table). Sub total 37,785 37,78S 37,918 A3 Payments Event4elaled expEnditure Chantable Acbvilies 21,020 21.347 21.020 2f,Y7 16,448 12,46S Sub total 42.367 42,367 28,913 A4 Asset and investment purchases, Isee tsblel Sub total 42,367 42,367 28,913 Net of receipts/{payments) A5 Transfer5 between funds A6 Cash fund$ last year end Cash funds this year end 4.582 4,$82 9.005 33,384 28.802 33.384 28,802 24,379 33.384 CCXX R1 accounts Issi 2610512026
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds to noarest£ Restricted funds to neaTest £ Endowment funds Categorb Detsils to nearest£ 81 Cash funds 28.772 Total cash funds 28,802 Jxrfsl) Unrestrlcted fund$ Restricted funds Endowment funds Detstls to nearest £ to neare5t£ to nearest£ Fund to which 8$sÈt belo Details Costlopbonall Current ¥ale Fvnd to which asset belo ¢tsrrènt valuo Details Costloptionall B4 Assets retained for the charity's own use Fund to which rèla Amount due onal When due Details 85 Liabilities zaaa Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees Date of roval Signature Print Name CCXX R2 accounts ISSI 2610512026
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the trusteesl members of Bernards Heath Junior School PTA On accounts for the year ended 31st Augusl 2025 Charity no lif any) 1056642 Set out on pages 1 to2 I report to the Irustees on my examination of the accounts oflhe above harity lllhe Trust.) for the year ended '08,QC.2'. Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of Ihe Charities Act 2011 (Xhe Ad"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Acl and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(51{b) of the Act I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ") in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect-. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examiner's ststement I have no COnrnS and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets rf they do not apply. Signed: Date: 2610512026 Name: Malgorzata Gentry Relevant professional qualification{sl or body {if any): AAT Address: 81 Beech Road St Albans Herts, AL3 SAP IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete ifthe examiner needs to highlight matters of concem {see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidan for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018