Financial and Accounting Management in Nonprofit Organizations: A Comparative Analysis between Spain and Colombia
Abstract
Nonprofit organizations (NPOs) play a pivotal role in contemporary society by addressing diverse social, cultural, educational, and environmental needs. Unlike for-profit enterprises, NPOs operate with the primary goal of benefiting society without pursuing economic profit for their members. Effective financial and accounting management is crucial for these organizations, given their reliance on various funding sources such as individual donations, corporate grants, government subsidies, fundraising activities, and sales related to their mission.
Accounting practices within NPOs are governed by specific accounting standards designed to ensure transparency and accountability to stakeholders, including donors, beneficiaries, volunteers, employees, and the broader community. Compliance with these standards is not only a legal and ethical requirement but also enhances public trust and organizational reputation, facilitating sustained funding and long-term program sustainability.
Professionals in accounting within NPOs play a critical role beyond financial reporting, requiring a deep understanding of complex accounting standards tailored for nonprofits. This involves not only technical accounting and financial skills but also ethical awareness and the ability to communicate financial information clearly to stakeholders.
This study compares accounting knowledge among graduates from economics, finance, and accounting programs in Spain and Colombia who work or have worked in nonprofit entities. The research aims to explore how differences in educational, regulatory, and cultural contexts influence accounting practices in NPOs, offering practical insights to enhance professional training and accounting practices in both countries.
Downloads
References
Chóez, C G P., & Llanos, F D C. (2018, January 1). Análisis de NIIF 9 - Instrumentos Financieros desde una perspectiva industrial. Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, 13(25), 6-19. https://doi.org/10.18800/contabilidad.201801.001
Choto, P., Iwu, C G., & Tengeh, R K. (2020, April 17). NON-PROFIT ORGANISATIONS AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA: A LITERATURE ANALYSIS. , 8(2), 689-600. https://doi.org/10.18510/hssr.2020.8267
Daher, L., & Saout, E L. (2013, February 1). Microfinance and Financial Performance. Wiley, 22(1-2), 31-45. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsc.1920
Hirsch, J. (2003, April 1). The State's New Clothes: NGOs and the Internationalization of States. Routledge, 15(2), 237-262. https://doi.org/10.1080/0893569032000151224
Lequericaonandia, M B V., & Sánchez, S R. (2018, July 31). ¿Proporciona la normativa contable española para organizaciones no gubernamentales el marco conceptual idóneo para la presentación de información económico financiera transparente? Similitudes y diferencias con la normativa internacional aplicada por las. AECOOP Escuela de Estudios Cooperativos, 128, 212-247. https://doi.org/10.5209/reve.60736
Martínez, N., & Ramírez, R C. (2014, January 1). Nuevos agentes en la gestión ambiental: El caso de las organizaciones de la sociedad civil en Ensenada. Instituto Salvatierra, 15(29), 85-123. https://doi.org/10.21670/ref.2014.29.a03
Otero, E A C., & Cruz, C A U D L. (2019, January 2). Gerencia financiera; una alternativa para las pymes en el siglo XXI. , 2(1), 7-23. https://doi.org/10.32012/26195399/rel21201950
Palomino-Gonzales, J. (2020, January 28). Gestión del financiamiento y desarrollo de la micro y pequeña empresa manufacturera en el departamento de Huánuco. , 6(1), 17-30. https://doi.org/10.46794/gacien.6.1.719
R, M H R., R, A M D., & Penaglia, F. (2012, August 1). Management and Leadership in Social Entrepreneurship: The case of Chilean Nonprofit Sector. , 11(32), 141-165. https://doi.org/10.4067/s0718-65682012000200009
Rashid, N., Asfthanorhan, A., Johari, R J., Hamid, N A., Yazid, A S., Salleh, F., Abdullah, B B., Ismail, A H., & Rasit, Z A. (2018, December 3). Ethics and Financial Reporting Assurance. , 8(11). https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v8-i11/5176
Rincón-Novoa, J L., Berrío, S P R., & García-Peña, B. (2021, September 3). Accountability, marketing relacional y grupos de interés en el transporte aéreo colombiano. Universidad de Antioquia, 215-251. https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.rc.n79a09
Romero, F T. (2016, May 1). Información de los recursos intangibles ocultos: ¿memorias de sostenibilidad o informe anual?. Elsevier BV, 22(2), 101-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iedee.2015.06.001
Sisa, F G P., Penna, R B., & López, D A M. (2021, October 10). El sistema financiero y su incidencia en el clima organizacional de las empresas públicas y privadas del Ecuador. , 2(3), 77-93. https://doi.org/10.35290/re.v2n3.2021.460
Toro, N S D. (2021, October 1). Revista Colombiana De Contabilidad - ASFACOP. Globalización y Anglicismos en la Contabilidad: Un Estudio Comparativo entre Colombia y España., 11(22), 1-15. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.56241/asf.v11n22.290
Vargas, F T., & Lazo, E S. (2019, August 31). Deducibilidad de intereses provenientes de préstamos relacionados con el apalancamiento para el pago de dividendos. Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, 249-259. https://doi.org/10.18800/themis.201902.016
Copyright (c) 2025 Néstor Soler del Toro
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The Colombian Journal of Accounting is open access and does not charge for the delivery of the articles, the editorial process and the publication. It can be consulted freely, without the requirement of registration, subscription or payment. The authors of the articles are creditors of all the authors' rights and retain the publication rights without restrictions. The author and third parties are allowed to read, download, copy, reproduce, distribute, communicate and create from the article, as long as the credit is attributed to the author(s), the initial publication is recognized in the Colombian Journal of Accounting and for non-commercial purposes. This journal provides free access to its content under the principle of making research available to the public free of charge, which fosters a greater exchange of global knowledge.
All the papers is licenced by Creative Commons Reconocimiento-NoComercial-CompartirIgual 4.0.
