“Life is all about balance,” says local Accountant, Steve Sampson, “I am pleased to say that I have been able to achieve this in my working life.  As well as dealing with many successful business people, I am also actively involved in working with and advising charity clients.”

Steve’s work in the charity and not-for-profit sector at Hastings and Bexhill based Accountants, Ashdown Hurrey, has most recently been recognised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants who have awarded him with the prestigious Diploma in Charity Accounting.  To achieve the award, Steve had to meet the challenging requirement set by the Institute and successfully complete the exam style submission.  “Working with charities requires a different perspective to more traditional accounting work and this sector has its own rules, regulations and requirements and even quite small organisations have to comply with the rigorous standards set by the Charity Commission.  Amongst my charity clients are many small organisations who need considerable handholding and advice to meet the complexities of their registrations and although this takes up a considerable part of my time, I also work with many much larger concerns where the turnover and budgets may be as significant as a large business.

I had already obtained formal recognition in working in the charitable and not-for-profit sector by becoming a Fellow of the Association of Charitable Independent Examiners (FCIE), but when my controlling Institute established the Diploma in Charity Accounting (DChA), this seemed an ideal qualification to work towards to be able to demonstrate to clients that my experience in this area is to the necessary professional standard.

It had been a few years since I had undertaken study and exams, but I soon got back into the swing of it and was very pleased to achieve the necessary pass mark and the recognition that comes with it.  I enjoy working with charities, it helps me balance my working life and it is very rewarding working with the many unsung heroes who keep the charitable world moving along.

Charities are, correctly, subject to some of the heaviest regulation and scrutiny of any financial organisations and it is very important that I can help these organisations meet their requirements whilst at the same time allowing the army of volunteers to feel that their contribution is still being appreciated.  By taking the worry of financial compliance away from the volunteers, hopefully they can get on and do the work which the charity really needs.”

In addition to working with charities in his professional life, Steve is also involved with charities in a personal capacity and has recently been appointed as a Trustee of Seaview Project, helping him keep a balanced view by being both a volunteer and an adviser.

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