Charities Act 2011

152 Examination of accounts an option for smaller groups E+W

(1) This section applies if—

(a) group accounts are prepared for a financial year of a parent charity under section 138(2), and

(b) section 151 (audit of accounts of larger groups) does not apply in relation to that year.

(2) If—

(a) this section applies in relation to a financial year of a parent charity,

(b) the aggregate gross income of the group in that year exceeds the sum specified in section 145(1), and

(c) subsection (6) or (7) (NHS charity: group accounts) does not apply in relation to it,

the group accounts for that year must, at the election of the charity trustees of the parent charity, be examined by an independent examiner (as defined in section 145(1)(a)) or audited by a person within section 144(2)(a) or (b).

(3) Subsection (2) is subject to—

(a) subsection (4), and

(b) any order under section 153(1).

(4) If subsection (2) applies to the group accounts for a year and the aggregate gross income of the group in that year exceeds the sum specified in section 145(3), a person qualifies as an independent examiner for the purposes of subsection (2) if (and only if) the person is independent and meets the requirements of section 145(3)(a) or (b).

(5) The Commission may—

(a) give guidance to charity trustees of a parent charity in connection with the selection of a person for appointment as an independent examiner;

(b) give such directions as it thinks appropriate with respect to the carrying out of an examination in pursuance of subsection (2);

and any such guidance or directions may either be of general application or apply to a particular charity only.

(6) If—

(a) this section applies in relation to a financial year of a parent charity, and

(b) section 149 (audit or examination of English NHS charity accounts) also applies in relation to that year,

the group accounts for that year must at the election of the Audit Commission be audited by a person appointed by the Audit Commission or examined by a person so appointed.

Subsections (4) to (6) of section 149 apply for the purposes of this subsection as they apply for the purposes of section 149(3).

(7) If—

(a) this section applies in relation to a financial year of a parent charity, and

(b) section 150 (audit or examination of Welsh NHS charity accounts) also applies in relation to that year,

the group accounts for that year must, at the election of the Auditor General for Wales, be audited or examined by the Auditor General for Wales.

References in this Act to an auditor or an examiner have effect in relation to this subsection as references to the Auditor General for Wales acting under this subsection as an auditor or examiner.

(8) If the group accounts for a financial year of a parent charity are to be examined or audited in accordance with subsection (2), section 145(1) applies in relation to the parent charity's own accounts for that year (whether or not it would otherwise so apply).

(9) Nothing in subsection (6) or (7) affects the operation of section 149(3) to (6) or (as the case may be) section 150(3) in relation to the parent charity's own accounts for the financial year in question.