An important component of the Trustee Finance Toolkit is the Charity Commission’s CC8 guidance on internal financial controls. CC8 sets out essential practices such as segregation of duties, robust authorisation procedures, secure cash and banking handling, and timely, accurate financial reporting.
At the heart of CC8 is the annual self‑assessment checklist.
What is the CC8 Annual Self-Assessment Checklist?
This checklist is a practical tool that helps trustees evaluate how well their charity is performing against both legal obligations and recognised good‑practice standards. It guides trustees through key areas including governance, record‑keeping, monitoring arrangements, budgeting, and fraud prevention. Each question is linked directly to specific paragraphs of the CC8 guidance, enabling trustees to understand the requirements behind each control and identify where action is needed.
Crucially, CC8 stresses that internal controls must operate in reality, not just exist on paper. The checklist provides trustees with a structured way to test this, reinforcing transparency and accountability.
Completing the checklist at least once a year is essential.
The environment in which charities operate is continually evolving, and regular review ensures that internal controls remain effective and relevant. An annual assessment enables charities to keep pace with ongoing changes, supporting trustees in identifying emerging risks, detecting weaknesses at an early stage, and demonstrating the active oversight expected by the Charity Commission as part of their legal duties.
Trustees can access the full CC8 guidance and the accompanying checklist through the Charity Commission’s website at: Internal financial controls for charities: protect your charity from fraud and loss (CC8) – GOV.UK
If you have any questions about anything in this article, please contact the BHP Charities team.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as professional advice.
