In addition to careers in the private sector, graduates of accounting training have exciting career options they can pursue with non-governmental and charitable organizations. For many, these organizations are an opportunity to set professional skills toward altruistic ends and cherished causes. These positions often help accounting professionals grow, adapting to the particular demands of the non-profit sector.
As both full-time employees and contractors, accounting professionals offer crucial services to charitable organizations, helping them juggle financial considerations with a charitable mandate. Accounting professionals can also help non-profits maximize a specific tax status, ensuring their interests are pursued effectively and within the law.
From donated funds to strict operational budgets, this sector places unique—but rewarding—demands on professionals.
Are you curious about a career in non-profit accounting? Read on for important information.
Non-Profits Require Distinct Accounting Solutions
Non-profit accounting differs in crucial respects from its for-profit equivalent. Chief among these differences, charitable organizations do not issue a statement of their profits but rather their activities, typically detailing how they are spending donor money. Moreover, since these charitable organizations are not owned privately, they do not admit stockholder equity.
Beyond this structure, accounting needs are likely to vary by organization. Whereas one charitable organization might need assistance with payroll, another might request expertise to devise long-term financial policies. Thus, non-profits are not a single professional avenue but a collection of possible careers, which vary across the many types of charitable organizations—from religious organizations to health and welfare groups.
Non-profit accounting could also be a way to a preferred freelance work style
Non-Profits Operate on Strict Budgets and Guidelines
While planning for future accounting careers, students may note the unique financial and legal considerations of charitable organizations. Distinguishing them from private-sector companies, non-profits operate on a minimal budget, often clearing only the profits needed to cover unforeseen expenses. While these stipulations vary by jurisdictions, charitable organizations are typically given some level of tax exemption, which may also determine the accounting services they require.
While there is a commonly-held belief that non-profits are unconcerned with taxes, tax regulations, in fact, hold great sway over accounting in this sector. Given potential penalties for stepping beyond an exemption status, a keen accounting professional will pay close attention to these regulations, saving clients and employees potential headaches down the road. Future accounting professionals should also note that while tax exemption helps charities grow, it can also carry a strict set of regulations.
Students in Accounting Training Can Plan for Non-Profit Careers
For many students in accounting training, non-profit careers will be the perfect opportunity to marry personal passions with professional skills. In preparing for this rewarding work, students may begin searching for opportunities and determining the type of organization best suited to their interests. While the job path might be less defined in this sector, aspiring non-profit accounting professionals may begin developing prospects through personal networks, and online platforms like LinkedIn.
An effective accounting college will also play a crucial role, developing professional qualifications to help students thrive in the workplace. For instance, AOLCC’s accounting school in Edmonton combines technical skills with crucial career and industry insights, preparing future accounting professionals for sustained professional success.
Are you hoping to launch a rewarding career as an accounting professional?
