A partner at accountants and business advisors Kreston Reeves has been appointed chairman of a national professional organisation.

Susan Robinson has become chair of the Association of Charity Independent Examiners (ACIE).

She will lead a board of trustees who comprise a mixture of professional accountants, voluntary independent examiners and people from other backgrounds.

In England and Wales, independent examination is the scrutiny of smaller charities, with annual incomes less than £1m, where an audit is not required.

The role of the examiner is to provide an independent scrutiny of the accounts which helps maintain public confidence and trust.

Susan Robinson, who was previously vice chair, said: “ Independent examination encompasses a core set of knowledge and skills which members bring to the charities they are working with and advising.

"Charities are facing an incredibly difficult period at the moment as they adapt to operate with Covid. It is essential to ensure they are accurately accounting for and reporting their finances to maintain the public’s trust that the donations they are making along with the assets held by a charity are being used effectively and in accordance with the charity’s principles.”

Kreston Reeves has offices in Canterbury , Chatham and Sandwich.

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