Start-up and incorporation
Accountant for NPOs in Quebec: find your specialized expert
17/7/2026
Managing the accounts of a non-profit organization (NPO) in Quebec is nothing like managing those of a private company. Government subsidies, donations, accountability to funders, NCOSBL standards, mandatory audits – the challenges are numerous and highly specific. Finding a chartered accountant specializing in NGOs then becomes a strategic decision for the long-term viability of your organization. At Bankeo, we have received over 15,000 requests from entrepreneurs and executives looking for accountants suited to their specific needs, supported by our network of over 1,500 accountants across Quebec.
A non-profit operates in a financial world that's totally different from a private business. Its income comes from many different, often strict, sources: government grants, foundation donations, fundraising campaigns, volunteer contributions, and member fees. Each funding source comes with its own reporting requirements.
Even a good general accountant can quickly get overwhelmed by the unique aspects of non-profits. Here are the main reasons to pick an industry-specific accountant instead of a general one for your organization.
Private sector NGOs at Canada must apply the Accounting Standards for Not-for-Profit Organizations (NCOSBL) , which is Part III of the CPA Handbook; Canada These standards differ considerably from Accounting Standards for Private Enterprises (ASPE, Part II) and IFRS (Part I). An accountant who works exclusively with SMEs may not be fully familiar with ASPE.
Unlike businesses, non-profits often manage restricted funds – money received for a specific purpose. For example, a $50,000 grant for a youth program can't be used to pay rent. A specialized accountant knows how to track these funds separately and create the reports funders need.
Every funder (like the Quebec government, foundations, Centraide, or federal agencies) has their own forms, deadlines, and reporting formats. A specialized accountant knows these requirements and prepares all the necessary attachments: expense claim reports, breakdown by program, and funding sources.
Since 2024, the Quebec government has raised the grant threshold for when a financial audit is mandatory: it went from $150,000 to $500,000. This change helps nearly 2,000 community organizations, who can now choose a less expensive review engagement instead.
Non-profits in Quebec have several legal obligations, both provincially and federally. Understanding these is key to picking the right accountant. For a look at the costs of accounting services in Quebec, check out our detailed guide.
Even though a non-profit is usually exempt from income tax, it still needs to file certain declarations:
If your non-profit makes taxable sales, it usually needs to register for GST and QST. The good news is: non-profits that aren't registered charities can claim a 50% GST rebate on certain eligible purchases (using the public service bodies' rebate method). This is a big tax advantage that only an accountant familiar with the sector will know how to fully use.
Like any employer, a non-profit that pays salaries must:
An accountant who specializes in non-profits also gets the ins and outs of volunteer work and how to handle volunteer expense reimbursements, making sure they're not mistaken for pay. If you want to get a better grasp of business accounting in general, check out our services page.
Every non-profit needs to hold onto its records and supporting documents for six years after the last year they're relevant to. You should keep these papers at your organization's main spot or another designated place.
The CPA Handbook Canada It comprises four parts. Private sector NGOs use Part III – Accounting Standards for Not-for-Profit Organizations (NCOSBLs) . According to CPA Canada , these standards govern the presentation of financial statements for non-profit organizations and introduce unique concepts.
An accountant who regularly works with non-profits knows these standards inside out and will apply them correctly. This helps you avoid expensive fixes during an audit or review.
The type of assurance you'll need for your financial statements depends on how big your non-profit is and where your funding comes from. Your specialized accountant will help you figure out the best option. To learn more about audits in general, check out our guide.
| Criterion | Compilation Engagement | Review engagement | Audit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level of Assurance | No Assurance | Moderate Assurance | Reasonable (High) Assurance |
| Work Done | Compiling the Data You Provide | Asking Questions + Checking the Numbers | Full Check (Confirmations, Inventories, Tests) |
| Estimated Cost | $1,500 - $5,000 | $3,000 - $10,000 | $5,000 - $20,000+ |
| When needed | Petits OBNL (< 100 000 $ de revenus) | NPOs receiving $100,000 - $500,000 in grants | NPOs receiving over $500,000 in government grants |
| Turnaround time | 2 - 4 weeks | 3 - 6 weeks | 4 - 10 weeks |
| Who handles it | Must be a CPA | Must be a CPA | Must be a CPA auditor |
To dive deeper into the differences between these services, check out our article on compilation engagements and notice to reader.
If your organization gets grants from different government departments or foundations, each funder might ask for a different level of assurance. The highest level they ask for is what decides the type of service you'll need. An accountant who specializes in NPOs will know exactly what's required right from the get-go.
Bankeo connects you for free with a CPA who really gets what it's like for community organizations in Quebec.
Find my accountantPrices change based on how big your organization is, how complicated your funding sources are, and what kind of service you need. Here's a quick guide based on typical rates in Quebec. For a full comparison with small business rates, check out our 2026 accounting rates guide.
| Service | Petit OBNL (< 250k $) | Medium NPO ($250k - $1M) | Large NPO (over $1M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly bookkeeping | $150 - $300/month | $300 - $600/month | $600 - $1,200/month |
| Compilation Engagement | $1,500 - $3,000 | $2,000 - $5,000 | $5,000 - $8,000 |
| Review engagement | $3,000 - $5,000 | $5,000 - $10,000 | $10,000 - $15,000 |
| Full audit | $5,000 - $7,500 | $7,500 - $20,000 | $20,000 - $35,000+ |
| Tax returns (CO-17 + T2) | $300 - $500 | $500 - $1,000 | $1,000 - $2,000 |
| Reporting (per funder) | $300 - $800 | $500 - $1,500 | $1,000 - $2,500 |
These rates are just estimates based on what we've seen in Quebec in 2026. The actual cost will depend on how many transactions you have, how many programs you manage, and how complex your organization's funding sources are.
Picking an accountant for an NPO is different from choosing one for a small business. Here are the key things to look at, along with our guide on how to choose your business accountant.
Ask how many non-profit organizations the accountant or firm works with. An NPO-specialized accountant should be serving at least ten. Make sure they know about NCOSBL and are used to preparing reports for various funders.
An NPO that mainly gets government grants has different needs than one relying on individual donations or self-generated income. Your accountant needs to understand the requirements for each of your income sources.
If your NPO needs an audit or a review engagement, the accountant must be a CPA (Chartered Professional Accountants) registered with the Ordre des CPA du Québec. A bookkeeping technician can't do these kinds of engagements.
NPOs often use different software than small businesses. Tools like Sage Comptabilité or specialized solutions help manage restricted funds and program-based accounting. A good NPO accountant knows these tools and can guide you on how to use them. Check out our comparison of accounting software in Quebec.
An accountant who works with NPOs should be able to give you references from organizations similar to yours – same field, comparable size, same types of grants.
Beyond just bookkeeping and preparing financial statements, an NPO-specialized accountant offers strategic services:
Every grant, whether it's from the government or a private group, comes with reporting rules. Your accountant will handle all the financial statements, expense reports, and program breakdowns that each funder needs.
If your non-profit qualifies, you can get a 50% refund on the GST you've paid. Your accountant will figure out and claim these refunds, which could mean thousands of dollars back in your pocket every year! They'll also take care of any tax stuff that's unique to non-profits.
A great non-profit accountant doesn't just look at what's already happened. They'll help you plan out your future budgets for each program, get a handle on your cash flow, and put together project budgets for grant applications.
Future budgets are super important for grant applications. An accountant who really knows your organization can put together realistic and believable budgets that make your funding applications stronger.
Lots of small non-profits depend on staff who aren't finance pros for their day-to-day money stuff. A specialized accountant can train your team on the best bookkeeping practices, how to use accounting software, and getting all your supporting documents ready.
Quebec is home to thousands of non-profits doing amazing work in all sorts of areas. A specialized accountant really gets the unique financial ins and outs of each of these sectors, based on info from ESPACE OBNL:
It's not easy to find an accountant who really gets the ins and outs of the community world. Lots of accounting firms offer general services but don't have deep expertise in the non-profit sector. That's exactly where Bankeo steps in to help!
Think of Bankeo as your accountant matchmaker! We'll hook you up for free with an accountant who truly understands your organization's unique needs. Our process is super simple:
Since 2023, we have received more than 15,000 requests from entrepreneurs and executives looking for suitable accountants, with the support of our network of 1,500+ accountants across Quebec and a satisfaction rate of 95%+.
It's a free service for organization leaders. We'll match you personally based on your mission, funding, and budget.
Find my accountantThere's no legal requirement to hire an accountant, but NPOs do need to file tax returns (like CO-17, T2) and financial statements. Once your organization starts getting grants, a professional accountant becomes pretty much essential for keeping track of everything.
An audit gives you reasonable (high) assurance on your financial statements and typically costs between $5,000 and $25,000+. A review engagement offers moderate assurance, costs between $3,000 and $15,000, and is usually sufficient for most NPOs getting less than $500,000 in government grants.
Since 2024, the Quebec government requires a financial audit for NPOs that get more than $500,000 in government grants (either provincial or municipal). The old limit was $150,000.
For a small NPO (with less than $250,000 in revenue), you can expect to pay around $150 to $300 a month for bookkeeping, plus $1,500 to $3,000 for an annual compilation engagement. So, the total yearly cost is usually somewhere between $3,500 and $7,000.
Generally, no. An NPO is usually exempt from income tax as long as it follows the rules (like not giving out surpluses to members and keeping activities aligned with its mission). But even if it's exempt, it still needs to file its tax returns.
Private sector NGOs apply the NCOSBL (Part III) of the CPA Handbook Canada They can also choose IFRS (Part I), but NCOSBL is the most common standard. A chartered accountant is familiar with these standards and knows how to apply them correctly.
Yes, partially! Eligible NPOs (public service bodies) can claim a 50% refund of the GST they paid on certain purchases. The QST refund changes depending on the type of organization. A specialized accountant can help you get the most out of these refunds.
An NPO needs to keep all its accounting records, supporting documents, bank statements, and receipts for six years after the last year they're for. For donation receipts (charities), you only need to keep them for two years after the registration is revoked.
Absolutely. Bankeo has a network of over 1,500 accountants across Quebec, many of whom specialize in non-profit organizations and community groups. The service is free for organization leaders and allows you to compare several accountants before making a choice.
An NPO is an organization that doesn't give its extra money to its members. A registered charity is an NPO that's registered with the CRA so it can give tax receipts to donors. Charities have stricter accounting rules, like a 3.5% disbursement quota and needing to file a T3010 form.
General information provided for guidance purposes only, reflecting current 2026 tax rules. It does not replace the advice of a CPA: always consult a professional for your specific situation.
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