Not-For-Profit Organizations

A Priority for Our Community. A Priority for Our Firm.

Not-for-profit organizations (NPO) have needs that differ greatly from those of traditional businesses and often have different priorities. We understand these realities. We are proud of the accomplishments of our NPO clients and it is our responsibility to help by providing services beyond their expectations.

We are committed to provide quality service at a fair value to our NPO clients. Our NPO group strives for leading professional services from incorporation and charitable registration to annual reporting and advisory services throughout the year.

Our Experience

For over 35 years, we’ve grown our business to create a group specializing in not-for-profit organizations and are able to service these clients with insight and proficiency on audit and non-audit matters. We have three partners and a dedicated team of managers and chartered professional accountants who specialize in work with NPO audits. We believe that our size is the key to our relationship with our clients – we are big enough to offer specific knowledge and expertise yet small enough to be accessible on a timely basis.

Through our affiliation with Allinial Global we are linked internationally with independent accounting firms worldwide. This gives our clients access to the knowledge base of firms that work with NPOs across the world, and allows us to remain up to date on best practices and leading-edge knowledge in this field.

Our Services

We offer a full range of services for our NPO clients including:

• Audit and accounting: We provide audit, review and notice to reader engagements, including advice on the options that are available for NPOs, including International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), Accounting Standards for NPOs and special procedures for funders.
• Taxation planning and compliance: Taxation issues, including GST/HST compliance, can be complex and will vary for different types of NPOs, including charitable organizations. Along with our tax specialists, we can help our NPOs to be tax-compliant and efficient by providing advisory services related to required tax filings.
• Advisory services: We offer various advisory services including evaluation of internal controls, due diligence, special reports, review of agreements, corporate governance review, and reinstatement of registered charity status. Often our NPO clients ask for advice on the structure or mandate of various committees, such as Audit/Finance committees. We also advise on the formulation of financial policies, such as investment policy.

Our Recent Projects

Some examples of what we have recently done to assist our clients include:

• Planning regarding purchase and sale of land and buildings
• Advice on GST and PST of NPO-specific revenues and services
• Assistance on application and reinstatement for charitable status
• Structuring organizations and operations to minimize GST/HST implications
• Analysis and review of budgets
• Strategies regarding donations and loans
• Review of accounting policies for revenue recognition
• Internal control review
• Advice on donation receipting
• Assistance with charity dissolution

Current Clients

A sample of our current NPO clients include:

• Museums
• Professional Associations
• Educational Institutions
• Community Centres
• Housing Societies
• Community Services organizations
• Volunteer Centres
• Health Care

Presentations & Publications

Understanding Financial Statements – Renee Martin, Partner – Smythe LLP

Accounting Standards Update – Ben Capps, Senior Manager – Smythe LLP

Industry Involvement

We are proud to support various NPOs through volunteer involvement at various levels including service on the Board and Finance and other Committees of both local and national organizations, including:

• Canadian Mental Health Association
• BC 211
• Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation
• Canadian Animal Assistance Team
• Ronald McDonald House
• BC Economic Planning Board – Ismaili Community