Accounting for Aid & Mission Organisations

Financial Clarity. Strong Governance. Greater Mission Impact. 

Your mission is changing lives. Our role is to help ensure your finances, governance and compliance frameworks support that mission with confidence. 

Whether you’re managing donor-restricted funds, navigating complex grant requirements, overseeing overseas operations, or preparing for audit, our experienced advisors understand the unique challenges faced by aid, development, missionary and faith-based organisations. 

Specialists in the Aid & Mission Sector 

Aid and mission organisations face unique financial and operational pressures.
Our specialist experience helps organisations navigate challenges such as:

  • Increasing fundraising effectiveness in a competitive environment
  • Meeting ACFID, ACNC and DFAT compliance obligations
  • Managing funding constraints and rising overhead costs
  • Building effective governance through strong board leadership
  • Addressing AML and regulatory compliance requirements
  • Overseeing international operations across multiple currencies and jurisdictions
  • Implementing robust financial controls in-country and across global programs

“Saward Dawson has been a trusted partner to Baptist Mission Australia for many years. Their team combines deep expertise in the not-for-profit and faith-based sector with a strong commitment to professionalism, integrity, and quality service. We value their understanding of the unique challenges facing mission organisations and their ability to provide practical, insightful advice and assurance.”

Caryn Chan, Director – Baptist Mission Australia

Our Services

Audit & Assurance

Our audit services include:
  • Annual financial statement audits
  • Independent reviews
  • ACNC and regulatory compliance assessments
  • Internal control and governance reviews
  • Risk Management and process improvement
  • Grant acquittal and compliance audits
  • Board reporting and governance support

Business Advisory & Bookkeeping

Our advisory services include: 
  • Strategic planning and organisational reviews 
  • Financial modelling and forecasting 
  • Budgeting and cashflow management 
  • Outsourced CFO services 
  • Management reporting and KPI development 
  • Risk management and governance reviews 
  • Systems and process improvement 

Taxation Services

Our specialists can assist with
  • Charity registration and endorsement 
  • ACNC compliance requirements 
  • Income tax exemption 
  • Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) endorsement 
  • GST concessions and compliance 
  • Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) obligations 
  • Ongoing taxation advice and reporting 

Remuneration Services

Our remuneration services team advises aged care providers on effectively managing employee fringe benefits and salary packaging arrangements — helping you remain compliant while supporting your staff.

Consulting

Our consultants offer outsourced CFO services, on a temporary or ongoing basis, along with advice on IT systems and reporting infrastructure. We help you build management reporting and benchmarking tools that drive efficiency and give you clearer, better-quality information — so your organisation can focus on its people, not its paperwork.

Meet our advisors

Paul Tan

Audit & Assurance

Cathy Braun

Taxation Services

Murray Nicholls

Remuneration Services
& Business Advisory

Partner with us for confidence

Whether you’re seeking to strengthen governance, ensure compliance, or gain deeper insights into your financial operations, our experts are here to support you every step of the way.  

Relationships that last

Our audit experience with Saward Dawson has been very positive. The team is highly knowledgeable, professional and thorough, and takes the time to genuinely understand our organisation and the environment in which we operate. They are approachable, responsive and communicate clearly throughout the audit, providing constructive insights and guidance along the way. We truly appreciate their expertise, attention to detail and the genuine care they bring to their work.

Over the years, we have recommended Saward Dawson to many not-for-profit organisations and remain pleased to do so. Their knowledge, experience, commitment to service excellence, and attention to detail provide valued support to management and reliable assurance to the Board.

We have trusted Saward Dawson for over a decade to help us guard the reputation of the Church Missionary Society of Victoria. Whether its working on the statutory audit, preparing financial statements or providing advice on governance and tax, Saward Dawson at all levels have been responsive and knowledgeable.  We highly value the NFP insights and experience each team member has brought to their work.

Frequently asked questions

Requirements vary depending on organisational structure, size, funding agreements, regulatory obligations and governing documents. We can help determine the level of assurance appropriate for your organisation.
Yes. Our team can help you manage any number of finance functions, from payroll to donation processing and reporting.
Restricted funds should be separately tracked and monitored to ensure resources are used for their intended purpose. Appropriate systems and reporting processes are essential.
Yes. We regularly assist organisations with grant reporting, acquittal requirements and compliance obligations associated with government and private funding.
We assist with multi-currency reporting, foreign exchange considerations, overseas financial controls, consolidated reporting and governance frameworks for international operations. Some of the most common challenges include cash handling risks, weak internal controls, governance issues, fraud prevention, cash flow pressures, financial reporting requirements and compliance with taxation obligations.
Common risks include restricted fund compliance, fraud, weak internal controls, governance challenges, cash flow pressures, grant compliance and regulatory obligations.
Yes. We assist organisations in understanding and meeting their ongoing compliance obligations, reporting requirements and governance responsibilities.