On Friday 16th October, HM Chartered Accountants welcomed charity leaders, trustees and professionals to The MAC Belfast for Protecting Every Pound, a practical and interactive event focused on fraud prevention, cybercrime, financial risk and good governance within the charity sector.
Hosted in partnership with the Fraud Advisory Panel, with contributions from Concern Worldwide and the PSNI Cyber Crime Unit, the event brought together industry experts to share real-world experiences, highlight emerging risks and provide practical guidance to help charities better protect their organisations.
The morning was a great success, with excellent engagement throughout the sessions and positive feedback from attendees.
Hope Sapey from the Fraud Advisory Panel opened discussions around the unique challenges facing charities and why effective fraud prevention remains so important.
With charities often operating on limited resources, relying on volunteers and managing significant public trust, identifying vulnerabilities and implementing proportionate controls is essential.
The session encouraged organisations to consider where weaknesses may exist across their people, finances and processes, and the importance of regularly reviewing their approach to risk management.
Catherine Gleeson and Daniela Rea from Concern Worldwide shared valuable insight into managing fraud risk in practice, drawing on the organisation's international operations and experience of internal audits and investigations.
Their presentation explored the importance of effective reporting procedures, trustee oversight, internal controls and responding appropriately when concerns are raised.
Through practical case studies, attendees gained an understanding of how fraud investigations are managed and the lessons organisations can take from them.
A key message was that no single measure can prevent fraud, but strong controls, consistently applied, can significantly reduce risks and limit their impact.
HM Chartered Accountants' Barry O'Donnell led an interactive session which challenged attendees to consider how they would respond to situations commonly faced by charity boards.
Working through scenarios involving recruitment, supplier changes and intellectual property, participants were encouraged to identify potential warning signs, discuss risks and consider the appropriate safeguards.
The session reinforced the importance of due diligence, clear decision-making processes and ensuring fraud risk remains a regular item on the boardroom agenda.
HM Chartered Accountants' Angela Craigan and Jane Fyffe explored the financial responsibilities of charity trustees and the questions boards should be asking to ensure effective financial oversight.
Their session covered financial reporting, cash flow, reserves, funding arrangements and the importance of understanding potential liabilities.
They also highlighted practical governance measures, including segregation of duties, clear authorisation procedures, regular financial reviews and maintaining accurate records.
The message was clear: trustees do not need to manage every financial process, but they must have sufficient information and understanding to provide effective oversight and challenge.
The morning also featured an interactive cybercrime demonstration delivered by DC Susan Dempster and her colleague from the PSNI Cyber Crime Unit.
This practical session gave attendees the opportunity to consider how cyber threats can affect their organisations and the importance of recognising risks, responding effectively and strengthening cyber awareness.
It was an engaging addition to the programme, reinforcing that cybercrime is an important part of the wider fraud risk landscape facing charities.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to making Protecting Every Pound such a successful event.
A particular thank you to Catherine Gleeson and Daniela Rea from Concern Worldwide, Hope Sapey from the Fraud Advisory Panel, DC Susan Dempster and her colleague from the PSNI Cyber Crime Unit, and our HM Chartered Accountants colleagues Barry O'Donnell, Angela Craigan and Jane Fyffe for sharing their expertise and insights.
We are also grateful to everyone who attended, participated in the discussions and shared their experiences throughout the morning.
The feedback received has been extremely encouraging, and we hope attendees have taken away practical ideas and actions to strengthen fraud prevention, financial oversight and governance within their own organisations.
At HM Chartered Accountants, we remain committed to supporting the charity and not-for-profit sector across Northern Ireland, helping organisations navigate their financial responsibilities, manage risk and maintain strong governance.
