Any PTA treasurers out there...I have a couple of questions?

[elltee]

I've recently taken over as PTA treasurer at my daughters' school. No big deal (I've done a similar role before) however.....

The outgoing treasurer has given me print outs of past years' accounts but no electronic copies and no supporting papers such as invoices, expenses receipts etc, cheque book stubs, bank statements. Nor has she given me copies of the Charity Commission returns (although I can see they have been done and I think she is planning to do last years' but hasn't been totally clear about it.

I know it's not unreasonable to ask for the records (it's a requirement of the Charity Commission after all) but am I being unreasonable if I ask/politely insist that she involve me in the process of doing the 2013-14 CC annual return and the audit/review of last year's accounts? I can see that the last annual return went in 10 months after the year end and don't want last year's return to hang around for anything like as long. I've done a lot of voluntary work before and prefer to avoid situations where there is a prolonged handover from one volunteer to another.

[TeenAndTween]

I think it would not be unreasonable to ask if you can sit together asap to prepare/check the accounts and CC return, and then she can hand over everything to you.
To check the return she may need cheque stubs, but as the new treasurer you need the cheque book.

Definitely a quick handover needed.

Have fun getting your name on the cheque book, I've found that changing signatures seems to be the most complicated bit!

[elltee]

Signatories are mercifully done - I was on that straight away as I know from experience how hard it can be.

[TalkinPeace]

I'm amazed she's not gleefully dumped the lot on your doorstep!
That is what my predecessor did and what I did to my successor
I also put all the files onto a cheap memory stick (7 years worth) and handed it to the incomer.

And YY to doing the handover accounts together : when I took over I took a bottle of cava and a pack of biccies and the whole thing worked a treat.

When I handed over I was given a bottle of cava (left over from the tombola!)