January 20, 2025 · 3 min read
The annual accounts: how to present them so they are approved first time
Approving the accounts is the chair's moment of truth. With the right format, it takes ten minutes.
The three figures that open the presentation
- What came in (dues issued and collected — and how much is still outstanding).
- What went out (total, compared with the budget).
- What is left in the account (and whether the reserve fund is covered).
If those three add up and are understood, the rest is detail.
The breakdown that prevents questions
Expenses by category (cleaning, electricity, lift, insurance, maintenance, contingencies), each compared with the previous year. Large variances explained before anyone asks: "electricity went up 18% because of the tariff, not consumption".
The documents to hand
There is no need to hand out 40 photocopies: it is enough to be able to show any invoice if somebody asks. A tidy archive inspires more confidence than a printed doorstop.
And afterwards
The approval resolution, in the minutes, with the result of the vote. Accounts approved at a meeting are very hard to challenge later — which is precisely why the process should be impeccable.
Keep reading
Three-hour meetings: the manual for getting them down to 45 minutes
A diagnosis of why they drag on, and the concrete chairing techniques that work without giving offence.
How to draw up the community's annual budget (without being an accountant)
The five figures you need, how to split them and the safety margin that prevents surprise levies.
How to prepare a meeting so it does not last three hours
Long meetings are not long because of the topics. They are long because of how they were prepared. Six decisions that change everything.
Stop reading about managing. Try it.
Step into a sample building with everything working and try it yourself.