Carolyn Charman FICB (“Cally”)
was very honoured to have been awarded the ICB Global LUCA Award for “Charity
Bookkeeper of the Year 2015” by HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO at a
prestigious awards ceremony held in the Princess Anne Theatre at BAFTA last Wednesday,
9th December 2015.
“I have been working in a totally
voluntary capacity for Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy (GTCC) as the Honorary
Treasurer and Secretary since 2013 and my role is extensive and extremely
varied, ranging from the management of all the daily bookkeeping and accounting
records, setting and managing the annual budget, administering the payroll and
HR, overseeing compliance and statutory obligations to heading up fundraising
initiatives, IT procurement and preparing detailed reports and presentations
for the Board. I enjoy the role very much although it has grown
considerably since my first involvement and has now become the focal part of my
working life alongside a few other key clients. GTCC is perhaps most well-known
for the delivery of its Street Angels project within Guildford and is now one
of the leading charities nationally who manage similar schemes – indeed we have
just been awarded the highly prestigious Queens Award for Voluntary Service in
recognition of the positive contribution we have made in the community. I
am also proud to be one of our 85-strong team of Street Angels, all of whom
give their time selflessly and voluntarily.
My previous role as a Finance
Director for a large sports marketing company earning a significant salary
contrasts greatly with my current role at GTCC where I am unpaid and yet
bizarrely I have found greater fulfilment and motivation in providing my
services to the voluntary sector. Success as a bookkeeper is clearly not
just defined by a high salary or a practice’s turnover or profit but also by
the satisfaction of the employer and/or clients and the opportunity to enhance
their objectives. It’s the quality of the services provided and the
“value-addeds” that a good bookkeeper can bring to the table.
I have always been passionate
about the quality and professionalism of bookkeepers in business and commerce
but the “unsung heroes” within the voluntary sector now deserve equal
recognition. I feel great pride to have been given this award but there
are many charities, small organisations and social enterprises whose mainstay
is their treasurer or bookkeeper who not only “keeps the books” but often
becomes involved in many other aspects, working tirelessly within their
organisation without any financial reward or public acknowledgement. A good bookkeeper can transform the way an
organisation thinks!
In today’s society with
ever-increasing government cutbacks and all the diverse challenges that life
throws at us, the need for charity intervention, support groups and
humanitarian campaigns is now more important than ever. These
organisations rely on donations and contributions from the public and good
stewardship of these financial resources is vital in delivering their services
and support. Working capital can be optimised and put to much better use
with an enhanced understanding of financial position, the preparation of
analytical reports to prioritise and plan, the active management of reserves
and good communication both internally and externally. Often there are
also greater restrictions, compliance and other obligations placed on charities
which highlights an even greater need for strong financial input and
management. Sadly, within the voluntary sector this capability is often
absent or inadequate due to the lack of knowledge and understanding of how a
good bookkeeper can transform the financial management and administration of an
organisation and subsequently improve its financial stability, focus on key
services and plan for growth and longevity.
I am very proud to have been
recognised by ICB Global, a professional Institute who represents bookkeepers
in over 110 countries and has just announced its own charitable initiative to
raise £1M to provide training and support in underdeveloped countries in a bid
to unite communities, create opportunities and relieve poverty. This will
involve not just raising cash but also providing free courses and
certification, training trainers and a range of other supportive efforts.”
I would like to dedicate my
LUCA Award for “Charity Bookkeeper of the Year 2015” to everyone involved in
charity work to help others, with special mention to all the Street Angels
across the UK but especially my fellow Street Angels in Guildford. You’re
the best!
I would also like to encourage
everyone to consider what they can give in 2016 – just one hour of your time
can make a huge difference to someone else!
Carolyn J Charman FICB MIAB ACICM MInstLM
December 2015
December 2015
