Nonprofit Accounting Assessment Scorecard

A comprehensive tool to evaluate your accounting partnership

Provided by EveryCentCounts - Strategic Financial Partners for Nonprofits

How to Use This Scorecard

Rate your current or potential accounting partner on each criterion using the 1-5 scale. Total your scores at the end to evaluate the strength of your accounting partnership.

1. Nonprofit Expertise & Experience

Understanding of fund accounting principles

1
No experience
2
Basic knowledge
3
Moderate experience
4
Strong experience
5
Expert level

Grant management and compliance expertise

1
No experience
2
Basic knowledge
3
Moderate experience
4
Strong experience
5
Expert level

Experience with Form 990 preparation

1
No experience
2
Basic knowledge
3
Moderate experience
4
Strong experience
5
Expert level

Knowledge of nonprofit audit requirements

1
No experience
2
Basic knowledge
3
Moderate experience
4
Strong experience
5
Expert level

Category Score: ______ / 20

2. Technology & Systems

Proficiency with nonprofit accounting software (Sage Intacct, QuickBooks)

1
No experience
2
Basic knowledge
3
Moderate experience
4
Strong experience
5
Expert level

Ability to integrate with fundraising/CRM systems

1
No experience
2
Basic knowledge
3
Moderate experience
4
Strong experience
5
Expert level

Real-time reporting capabilities

1
No capability
2
Limited capability
3
Moderate capability
4
Strong capability
5
Excellent capability

Data security and confidentiality protocols

1
No protocols
2
Basic protocols
3
Moderate protocols
4
Strong protocols
5
Excellent protocols

Category Score: ______ / 20

3. Strategic Advisory Services

Budget development and forecasting support

1
No support
2
Limited support
3
Moderate support
4
Strong support
5
Excellent support

Cash flow management and forecasting

1
No capability
2
Limited capability
3
Moderate capability
4
Strong capability
5
Excellent capability

Financial analysis and insights for decision-making

1
No analysis
2
Limited analysis
3
Moderate analysis
4
Strong analysis
5
Excellent analysis

Board reporting and presentation support

1
No support
2
Limited support
3
Moderate support
4
Strong support
5
Excellent support

Category Score: ______ / 20

4. Communication & Responsiveness

Accessibility to senior team members

1
No access
2
Limited access
3
Moderate access
4
Good access
5
Excellent access

Response time for urgent matters

1
> 5 days
2
3-4 days
3
2 days
4
1 day
5
Same day

Clarity of communication and explanations

1
Very unclear
2
Somewhat unclear
3
Moderately clear
4
Mostly clear
5
Extremely clear

Proactive communication about issues/opportunities

1
Never proactive
2
Rarely proactive
3
Sometimes proactive
4
Often proactive
5
Always proactive

Category Score: ______ / 20

5. Cultural Fit & Value Alignment

Understanding of your organization's mission

1
No understanding
2
Limited understanding
3
Moderate understanding
4
Good understanding
5
Excellent understanding

Commitment to your success beyond compliance

1
No commitment
2
Limited commitment
3
Moderate commitment
4
Strong commitment
5
Exceptional commitment

Fee structure alignment with value delivered

1
Poor alignment
2
Some misalignment
3
Moderate alignment
4
Good alignment
5
Excellent alignment

Flexibility to adapt to your changing needs

1
Inflexible
2
Somewhat inflexible
3
Moderately flexible
4
Generally flexible
5
Extremely flexible

Category Score: ______ / 20

Assessment Results

1. Nonprofit Expertise & Experience: ______ / 20

2. Technology & Systems: ______ / 20

3. Strategic Advisory Services: ______ / 20

4. Communication & Responsiveness: ______ / 20

5. Cultural Fit & Value Alignment: ______ / 20

Total Score: ______ / 100

Scoring Interpretation:

90-100: Exceptional partnership - your accounting provider is a true strategic asset

75-89: Strong partnership - minor areas for improvement

60-74: Moderate partnership - significant improvements needed

Below 60: Weak partnership - consider exploring other options

Key Strengths:

________________________________________________________________

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Areas for Improvement:

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Action Steps:

________________________________________________________________

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Need Help Improving Your Score?

EveryCentCounts specializes in nonprofit financial management. Contact us for a complimentary consultation to discuss how we can help strengthen your accounting partnership.

Website: everycentcounts.net

Email: advisor@everycentcounts.net

Phone: +1 (804) 729-8760

LinkedIn: everycentcounts-net