International NGOs

International non-governmental organizations that deliver development, humanitarian and relief programs around the world face a unique set of challenges when it comes to oversight of their financial operations. Monitoring field office activity, ensuring compliance with US government regulations and monitoring strong internal controls are some considerations for executive and financial personnel as they serve communities around the world.

Accounting professionals with extensive experience working with international organizations can help ensure your programs and activities are financially sound and comply with all necessary regulations, policies and procedures including the OMB Circulars and other relevant federal award requirements. The auditors and consultants of Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman are unusual among accountants. We are familiar with the requirements of different domestic and international funding agencies (see our compliance page) and we also have extensive experience working with NGOs that maintain global operations. Ninety percent of our auditors have traveled internationally on behalf of GRF clients, no matter where they are. Not every auditor can say that.

As a result, we understand the conditions under which international organizations work. Our experience includes:

• Establishing and reviewing regional office financial reporting and accounting systems
• Performing on-site field office audits and internal control reviews
• Advising on provisions of OMB Circulars A-110, A-122 and A-133 and specific compliance requirements mandated by the US Agency for International Development, the US State Department and other agencies of the United States government that finance international development
• Working with local audit firms to coordinate other field office and/or statutory audits
• Implementing controls and establishing procedures manuals
• Providing financial management training
• Advising on procedures for the procurement of goods and services
• Providing technical assistance in meeting agency requirements
• Consulting on indirect cost rate calculations
• Designing accounting systems to comply with the reporting needs of organizations that receive federal awards and monitor awards to sub-grantees
• Analyzing and developing risk evaluation procedures
• Providing technical advice on the tax implications of sending employees overseas
• Advising about practices with respect to sub-award activities and compliance with US government regulation
• Preparing expatriate and nonresident alien tax returns

Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman’s reputation working with US-based non-governmental organizations is such that foreign-based NGOs including Norwegian People’s Aid, Oxfam and Accion Contre La Faim have also engaged our firm to conduct audits of their US-government funded projects.

In addition to audit, tax and financial consulting services, we also deliver outsourced accounting solutions to international organizations.

Our firm is active in non-governmental industry groups such as InsideNGO and InterAction through annual meetings, presentations and conference and workshop presentations, demonstrating our commitment to this industry and our stake in ensuring financial management success among its members.

Please submit your RFP today or check out our article, How to Create An Effective RFP.