Guiding Charter Schools Toward Financial Confidence
Trusted advisors for charter school compliance and financial success.
Charter School Advisory, Audit, and Compliance Services
Running a charter school means balancing the mission of education with the realities of financial oversight. Our Education Services team has a dedicated practice to Charter Schools and partners with administrators to stay audit-ready year-round, maintain strong internal controls, and meet the complex reporting requirements of state agencies and federal grantors.
Across North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and throughout the Southeast, we have partnered with dozens of charter schools representing a broad cross-section of grade levels, missions, and organizational sizes. We know first-hand that compliance and reporting obligations can be a significant lift for school leadership, and our role is to help free up administrators and boards to focus on what matters most—operational success and educational excellence.
Our team is recognized across the region for its deep knowledge of state and federal regulations, governing board expectations, and the unique landscape charter schools face. In addition to audit and compliance, we support schools with bookkeeping, monthly reporting, and leveraging financial software like LINQ to streamline processes. We equip administrators and board members with sound analytics and clear reporting to guide decision-making.
Beyond our day-to-day work, our professionals are frequent speakers and active participants in statewide and national charter school organizations, ensuring we remain at the forefront of industry developments while continuing to serve as trusted advisors to schools and their communities.
Why Charter Schools Choose Us
- Industry expertise. We’ve worked with charter schools since the early years of the movement, giving us a deep understanding of the unique challenges schools face
- Audit and beyond. From annual financial statement audits to Single Audits and grant compliance testing, we deliver more than an opinion — we provide practical guidance that strengthens operations.
- Trusted by boards and authorizers. Our team helps leadership and boards understand their financial results, address findings quickly, and present clean reports to authorizers and stakeholders.
- Year-round readiness. We don’t just show up at year-end. We partner with schools throughout the year to improve internal controls, train staff, and ensure compliance with GASB/FASB standards.
- Team Leadership. We mentor and scale a cross-functional team of auditors, specialists, and outsourced accounting resources.
- We Know the Lingo. Our bookkeeping team has LINQ experience, and we understand monthly NC DPI reporting needs.
Our Services for Charter Schools
Advisory & Client Accounting Solutions
- Advisory on GASB updates and state reporting
- Budget development and management
- Client Accounting and Advisory Services
- Cloud-based financial system design and implementation
- Fractional CFO
- Grant and enrollment compliance testing
- Pre-audit readiness and board education
- Prepare projected financial statements for bond offerings
- Training and educational seminars
Tax Planning and Compliance
- Advice related to blended component units
- Applications for tax-exempt status
- Form 990 preparation
- Unrelated business income tax
Audit and Attestation
- Internal control assessments and remediation
- Financial statement audits and reviews
- Single Audits (Uniform Guidance) for federal funding
Meet Our Practice Leader
Eric Smith — Partner, Education Services, Charter Schools
Eric leads our Charter School practice, bringing more than 20 years of experience auditing schools and education nonprofits. Known for a collaborative, hands-on approach, Eric advises charter leaders on everything from navigating complex funding streams to preparing for board and authorizer presentations. Under Eric’s leadership, our team delivers audits on time, with clear communication and practical recommendations that build confidence with stakeholders.
