This page is here to help you reflect on the conference and hopefully remind you of what you heard at the conference but didn’t get a chance to write down. Do check out all the post-conference resources below, including all the slides from our speakers as well as some information and useful links from our sponsors and exhibitors.
Many of you were inspired by Bishop Mark’s talk, and we hope to have this available soon, so do keep an eye on our website and newsletter for that.
If you haven’t already, please take the time to give us your feedback on this year’s conference and leave us a review.
Thank you again for being part of ACAT 2025.
Last but by no means least, a huge shout out to our amazing sponsors and exhibitors. Their support made this whole conference possible, and we’re eternally grateful.
A special thank you must go to CAF Bank, CCLA, Ecclesiastical Insurance and Epworth IM – we can’t thank you enough for being on board with ACAT 2025.
Richard Hunt (CAF Bank), Heather Ford (Ecclesiastical), Andrew Robinson (CCLA), Matthew Jones (Epworth) and Simon Woolnough (Epworth) have kindly provided the slides used during their presentations to be shared with conference attendees. These slides are a great resource to help you better reflect on what was shared at the conference. You can find the slides below in programme order. Paul Bailey (Diocese of Manchester) and Manny Kemp (ACAT Board Member) did not use a presentation in their Q&A session, so no slides are provided.
CAF Bank is more than a bank. We are dedicated to supporting charities and social purposes enterprises and understanding the pressures they face. Owned by a charity, the Charities Aid Foundation, we share the ethos of the 14,000 organisations using our banking, deposit account, and lending services. From the one-person causes to the large-scale organisations, we are the bank charities turn to. We believe in the power of good, and in treating the goals of charities as our own.
CAF Bank Security Centre: Security centre | CAF Bank
These are some external links that Richard would like to share. these are not part of CAF or CAF Bank and are not endorsed.
CCLA is committed to delivering sustainable returns to our clients in a way that aligns with their values and furthers their mission. Our philosophy as an asset manager, our aim is to deliver superior, sustainable risk-adjusted returns to our clients in a way that aligns with their values and furthers their mission.
Ecclesiastical is proud to support the Association of Church Accountants and Treasurers Conference. We understand the vital role churches play in their communities — and the unique challenges they face.
Our team is made up of real people who genuinely care and have deep experience supporting churches. A church is more than just bricks and mortar, and when the unexpected happens, we know how to respond—because we’ve been doing it for over 135 years.
We offer a network of church specialists, practical support, expert guidance, and a sincere commitment to help. Whether the concern is big or small, someone is always here to listen and provide support.
As an insurer owned by a charity, we work to strengthen churches, charities and communities. From free fundraising tools and guidance to access to grants and funding, our aim is to help churches thrive.
Church Fundraising Hub providing guidance, templates & resources to help churches build a successful fundraising campaign can be found here; Church Fundraising Hub | Ecclesiastical
Risk management, health and safety guidance, templates, checklists and Made Simple guides can be found here; Protecting your church | Church Insurance | Ecclesiastical
Information on and contact details for our Church Support Managers can be found here; Church Support Managers | Church Insurance | Ecclesiastical
Epworth are proudly part of the investment arm of The Methodist Church. We are stewards of our investors’ money and carefully select investments using Christian ethical criteria. Epworth manages assets of around £1 billion and is wholly owned by the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church – a statutory body established by the Methodist Church Funds Act 1960
Data Developments have developed three main software packages as well as bookkeeping, independent examination, training and support services. Our software packages include:
MyFundAccounting – The dynamic cloud-based application poised to revolutionise your financial co-ordination. With a proven track record of fifteen years, Finance Co-ordinator has established itself as a leading solution, and now its successor, MyFundAccounting.Online, steps into the spotlight with an array of impressive features.
Our team have meticulously designed the user experience, with you in mind, to enhance efficiency
and effectiveness in your financial processes. Experience the power of MyFundAccounting first-hand with our free trial. Take advantage of this opportunity to not only explore the features but also import your own data from Finance Co-ordinator, enabling you to test the application with your own information.
The trial period lasts for 30 days, and no credit or debit card details are required. At the end of the trial, should you decide to continue with MyFundAccounting, you can seamlessly sign up and retain the information you have entered, ensuring a smooth transition.
MyGiving – We understand the challenges you face in managing donations effectively while staying true to your mission. That’s why we have developed MyGiving.Online a comprehensive upgrade that goes beyond mere efficiency. With MyGiving.Online, you’ll experience a seamless and intuitive platform that respects the unique needs of your organisation.
But it doesn’t stop there. MyGiving.Online is carefully designed to cultivate a sense of connection
and trust with your donors. Our innovative features empower you to provide a seamless giving
experience, fostering a deeper sense of community and engagement. You’ll be able to strengthen
relationships, express gratitude and keep your supporters informed about the incredible work you’re doing.
Moreover, rest assured that your compliance with HMRC regulations is made simple and stress-free.
Our platform ensures that you effortlessly meet the necessary requirements. Choose MyGiving.Online as your partner in growth, and together, we’ll empower your organisation
to flourish, amplify your impact, and create a brighter future for those you serve.
Experience the power of MyGiving first-hand with our free trial. The trial period lasts for 30 days, and no credit or debit card details are required. At the end of the trial, should you decide to continue with MyGiving, you can seamlessly sign up and retain the information you have entered, ensuring a smooth transition.
MyFoodbank – Say goodbye to overwhelming manual processes and embrace a harmonious workflow that frees up your valuable time and resources. With our user-friendly interface and 24/7 accessibility, you can effortlessly manage the administration of your foodbank from anywhere, allowing you to focus on what truly matters – making a positive impact on the lives you serve.
We have worked with a number of foodbanks to develop our innovative and transformational foodbank administration software to simplify and automate a number of the processes to enable foodbanks to help more people and reduce the stress on volunteers and staff.
if you don’t have a website for your foodbank, that’s no problem our software includes a free website builder, with secure hosting and a free Donate Now button. Simply enter the text, upload a couple of pictures and you’re ready to go
Try our new Foodbank administration software first-hand with our free trial. The trial period lasts for 30 days, and no credit or debit card details are required. At the end of the trial, should you decide to continue with MyFoodbank, you can seamlessly sign up and retain the information you have entered, ensuring a smooth transition.
Utility Aid exists to help charities and not-for-profit organisations source energy. We use
our knowledge and experience. We anticipate and solve problems. Above all, everyone at
Utility Aid is united by their desire to do more good for our stakeholders and that sets us
apart in terms of how we are as a business.
For over 20 years, we have helped charities and not-for-profit organisations bring down
their energy costs. This includes reclaiming overcharges, managing administration and
advising on all energy-related matters. Our customers include housing associations and
community groups, schools, churches and frontline support services. We treat every case
as unique while drawing on many years of experience working across multiple authorities
and organisations of all shapes and sizes.
Lovely to meet so many of you at the ACAT conference last week. I wanted to quickly share how easyfundraising can help your church: it’s a simple, safe and secure way to generate extra income at no cost to your church – when your supporters shop online with thousands of leading retailers, the retailers donate money to your church. We’ll support you every step of the way with set-up and ongoing guidance, so it’s easy to get started and keep momentum. Please visit www.easyfundraising.org.uk/acat to find out more. If you’ve got any questions or would like me to help you create your church’s easyfundraising page, please email me at becky@easyfundraising.org.uk.
“Introducing Liberty Accounts: Streamlining Financial Management for Churches and Charities
Managing the finances of churches and charities can be a challenging task. With limited resources and a need for transparency, organisations often struggle to find an accounting solution that meets their unique requirements. That’s where Liberty Accounts comes in.
Liberty Accounts is a cloud-based accounting and payroll software designed to meet the requirements of churches and charities. Our platform offers a range of features that streamline financial management, providing organisations with the tools they need to effectively track and report on their finances.
One of the key benefits of Liberty Accounts is its user-friendly interface. Even for those with limited accounting knowledge, our intuitive software makes it easy to navigate and input financial data.
As important are the features that Liberty Accounts delivers for churches and charities above standard commercial features (including full customer and supplier ledgers where required). These features include:
Fund accounting (restricted, unrestricted etc);
Handling Fund transfers;
Additional cost centre analysis (Activity and Department);
Account terminology as used in the sector;
Integrated donor ledger;
Gift Aid claim preparation and online filing;
Integrated payroll with analysis at organisation or employee level, across Funds/Departments/Activity;
Budgeting by organisation or Fund and/or Activity and/or Department;
Reporting by Funds/Department/Activity;
Reporting of SORP compliant Statement of Financial Activities (I&E or R&P)
Reporting of the Return of Parish Finance for the Anglican Church.
Liberty Accounts simplifies the entire process.
If all of the above sounds daunting then not to worry as Liberty Accounts is customisable to the charity/church requirement i.e. menu options are only shown where the optional features (as well as customer/supplier ledgers) are a requirement for the church/charity. Understanding that individuals within a church/charity often have specific roles the individual users can be assigned a role that could, if appropriate, further restrict the menu options available to them. There is NO additional cost for any extra users.
Transparency is crucial for churches and charities, as donors and stakeholders want to ensure their contributions are being handled responsibly. With Liberty Accounts, organisations can easily generate reports that provide a clear overview of their financial standing. In addition to full fund management the system offers the analysis, reporting and budgeting to funds and/or departments and/or activities of transactions including payroll costs. This not only helps build trust with donors but also ensures compliance with regulatory requirements. Each transaction has a full audit trial to aid the work of the Independent Examiner and/or Auditor.
In addition to its comprehensive features, Liberty Accounts offers the convenience and flexibility of cloud-based technology. Accessible from any device with an internet connection, organisations can securely manage their finances from anywhere at any time.
Furthermore, Liberty Accounts understands the unique financial challenges faced by churches and charities. Our software is tailored to accommodate specific requirements such as fund accounting, gift aid management, Gift Aid Claim submission to HMRC, accounts templates for different faith-based organisations and charities; and reporting of the Return of Parish Finance for Anglican churches. With Liberty Accounts, organisations can rest assured that their financial management needs are met.
In conclusion, Liberty Accounts provides a reliable and user-friendly cloud accounting and payroll solution for churches and charities. Try Liberty Accounts today and experience the difference it can make for your church or charity and/or sign up to any of our free online training courses.”
Thank you again for attending ACAT 2025 Conference, and we hope to see you soon at our future events!
