Finance transformation for
Students’ Unions and Charities
We help students’ unions and charities take control of their finance systems, their reporting, and their numbers.
Financial clarity doesn’t happen by accident
Most finance teams we work with aren’t failing, but they are struggling with workarounds, disconnected systems and unhelpful reporting.
We redesign the way your organisation manages and communicates its finances so that everyone, from the finance team to the board, can see information clearly, understand it and make confident decisions.
We’ve been doing this for over 30 years for students’ unions and charities.
Three signs your finance function needs a reset
Your reports need explaining
Management accounts should speak for themselves. Clear reporting means anyone in the room can understand the numbers and ask the right questions.
Month-end takes too long
If your team is rekeying data, working around system limitations or reconciling figures from different places, that’s time and money you can save.
Your board isn’t confident in the numbers
Clean, well-structured financials reduce risk, protect the organisation and the people responsible for governing it.
Financial Transformation for Not-For-Profits
We review how your finance function actually works, identify where the problems are and redesign the structure around clarity, usability and reporting needs. We’re software-agnostic, so we are focused on improving your processes rather than selling you new tools.
Interim Finance Leadership
When you need an experienced head of finance to fill a recruitment gap or steer a critical project, we provide steady, senior-level cover. We hit the ground running and we hand over properly.
Discover how we gave Exeter Students’ Guild the finance leadership it needed here.
Coaching and Training
We work with finance managers and their teams to build genuine confidence. We show you how to make sense of the numbers, present at board level and run a year-end that doesn’t keep everyone awake.
Diagnostic Review
Our diagnostic review process is a practical first step. We identify the gaps and obstacles in your processes and systems, and set out a clear picture of what needs to change and why.
We specialise in two sectors
Although we have worked with a broad range of small and mid-sized businesses, we specialise in two sectors:
Students’ Unions
Students’ unions have a financial structure that’s genuinely unusual; commercial income sitting alongside charity accounting, clubs and societies to manage, block grants to justify and a board that includes students. We know this world well.
Charities
Charities face growing pressure on governance, reporting and audit readiness. We help finance teams work more efficiently and communicate more clearly, so the organisation can focus on its mission.
What our clients say
Alison Chambers
CEO
“Where would we have been without you? You have been an incredible support. I didn’t even think it was possible to find someone to do even half of what you have done with us, and more importantly, in the gentle and nurturing way that you have done it.”
Fiona Slaven
Head of Finance
“Tony’s presentation and training style is warm and engaging. He leaves you in a more knowledgeable position and, unlike others who can leave you overwhelmed, instead a sense of empowerment. Would highly recommend Whitegate and their services.”
James Hann
CEO
“I couldn’t recommend Tony more, not only for his technical knowledge, his adaptability, his flexibility, and his commitment throughout.”
Why Whitegate?
Independent advice
We don’t sell software. We have no preferred system and no referral arrangements with vendors. We are only interested in finding the right systems and processes for you.
Specialists
We work exclusively with students’ unions and charities. We understand the governance structures, the audit requirements, the VAT complexity and the stakeholder dynamics that come with the territory.
We coach
Our aim is always to leave your team more capable and confident than before. We build confidence, not dependency.
System expertise
Our system knowledge and migration experience spans a range of finance platforms including Sage, Exchequer, Exact Online, iplicit, AccountsIQ, Aqilla, Xero, Twinfield and Access Accounts. We also understand how to streamline data between accounting software and other systems such as Students’ Unions Management Systems (SUMS), expense apps and EPOS systems.
Over 30 years’ experience
Whitegate is founded and led by Tony Reissner who has been transforming not-for-profit finance operations since 1990. Spanning both commercial and charity sectors, Tony has worked at every level, from bookkeeping to system design and board presentations. Tony and his team bring that full set of skills to every engagement.
Not sure where to start?
A short conversation is all it takes to identify whether there’s a problem worth solving, and what solving it might look like.
Whitegate has been helping students’ unions and charities take control of their finances since 1990. We offer finance transformation services for not-for-profits including systems transformation, interim finance leadership, coaching, training and diagnostic reviews.
