Theft from PTA

[WorthyPearlTiger]

Hi has anyone had experience of seeing theft from the PTA?

Our PTA gets thousands every year and I dont see anyone doing any accountability.
I am highly suspicious, and I believe that one of the members has issues with Alcohol

I've seen it several times over 20 years working in schools, but it's never once been the obvious person.

Does the treasurer show the accounts at the AGM?

Usually the PTA has to provide accounts.

Do they have accounts? Have you seen them?

Many PTAs do have thousands.

It is possible for stealing to happen.

They should have a full committee with treasurer and the accounts are part of the annual documentation for AGM.

Our PTA raises thousands every year. A lot goes on small things the school desperately needs like text books rather than big flashy items.

Just ask them. I’m PTA committee and it’s quite common for people to ask us how money is allocated. Its not a secret and we openly share details of money raised and allocated.

Not sure if it’s across the board but certainly for us, one single person can’t withdraw funds alone. It always requires a counter signature from a committee member.

There is AGM 😅

No accounts shown ever

Do you go to PTA meetings?
I was treasurer and had to give regular balances and produce an annual set of accounts detailing any spending and showing income from events

Same! (To the approximately 10 people who ever showed up! But also happy to make available to anyone who wants detail beyond what's on the charity commission website!)

But are you a member? Have you asked to see the accounts?

Hard to call, you might be right, but frankly having spent years on a PTA dealing with constant criticism from people who didn't lift a finger, I'd be mighty pissed off about a fraud accusation just because I like a glass of wine.

I've seen it happen once.

What has happened to make you think a theft has taken place? I don't get the link between someone on the PTA being a drinker, and theft from the accounts. Is it that you think much more has been raised than spent on the school?

People often underestimate the costs involved in some fund raising events and only look at the amount raised and not the profit.

There should be annual accounts to show where the money goes. This should be prepared by the treasurer. Do you have one and is it them you think is involved?

I'm unclear at what point you think it us happening?
. Stealing alcohol donated for a stall such as a bottle tombola
. Hands in the till at an event before it is counted
. Mis spending of money in the account

Each of these would have different solutions.
Is this a committee member or just a helper.

Also they need to publish accounts!!

You could raise security eg signing off money collected from stalls, dual people counting, dual signatures. Use of card readers to reduce cash. However ultimately preventing petty theft may be hard just from logistics.

Are you on the committee yourself?

This is going to be one of those drip drip one sentence threads isn't it?

So, I presume that you're on the committee, given that you're so confidently saying there are no accounts ever shown. That would give you a share of the responsibility in how the PTA is run, so if it isn't running properly, you need to do something about it. Talk to the chair about proper governance and ask to see the accounts.

Or are you just complaining from the outside without actually having a clue what you're talking about?

Theft of what? £100's of pounds, or an old pair of little Timmy's school trousers for the bring and buy sale. FFS.