Charter Schools

Trusted advisors for charter school compliance and financial success.

Who We Serve

Charter School Advisory, Audit, and Compliance Services

Running a charter school means balancing the mission of education with the realities of financial oversight. Across North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and throughout the Southeast, our dedicated Charter Schools practice has partnered with dozens of schools representing a broad range of grade levels, missions, and organizational sizes.

We understand firsthand how demanding compliance and reporting obligations can be for school leadership. Our Education Services team helps administrators stay audit-ready year-round, maintain strong internal controls, and meet complex state and federal reporting requirements—freeing administrators and boards to focus on operational success and educational excellence.

Why Charter Schools Choose Us

We help our agriculture clients with key issues affecting their current and future success, such as:

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 & 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 & 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 and 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 North Carolina Department of Public Instruction reporting requirements.

Our Services for Charter Schools

Some reporting requirements call for a more focused engagement. Our team provides specialized audit and assurance services based on the organization, the information being evaluated, and the intended use of the report.

Advisory & Client Accounting Solutions

Strong financial operations give charter school leaders the clarity to plan confidently and respond quickly. We provide flexible, hands-on support. Whether strengthening existing processes or preparing for future growth, our team helps schools build a reliable financial foundation.

Our advisory and accounting capabilities include:

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 services
Grant and enrollment compliance testing
Pre-audit readiness and board education
Preparation of projected financial statements for bond offerings
Training and educational seminars

Tax Planning & Compliance

Charter schools face tax considerations that require an understanding of both nonprofit organizations and the education sector. We help schools establish and maintain tax-exempt status, meet annual filing requirements, and navigate more specialized issues as their operations evolve.

Our tax services include:

Guidance related to blended component units
Applications for tax-exempt status
Form 990 preparation
Unrelated business income tax guidance

Audit & Attestation

An effective audit should do more than satisfy a requirement, it should strengthen confidence in the school’s financial reporting and operations. Our team provides a clear, collaborative audit process while helping leadership identify control gaps, address findings, and remain prepared for stakeholder and regulatory review.

Our audit and attestation services include:

Internal control assessments and remediation
Financial statement audits and reviews
Single Audits under 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.

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Our People

A Team That Understands Charter Schools

Work with experienced professionals who understand the financial, operational, and regulatory challenges charter schools face, and who are committed to helping your school move forward with confidence.