TRUSTEES' REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2024
50
Independent auditor's report to
the trustees of the RSPCA
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of The Royal Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (the 'parent charity') and
its subsidiaries (the 'group') for the year ended 31 December 2024,
which comprise the consolidated and charity Statement of
Financial Activities, the consolidated and charity balance sheets,
the consolidated cash flow statement, and notes to the financial
statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial
reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation
is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards,
including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable
in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally
Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
• give a true and fair view of the state of the group's and charity's
affairs as at 31 December 2024 and of their incoming resources
and application of resources for the year then ended
• have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom
Generally Accepted Accounting Practice
• have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of
the Charities Act 2011.
Basis for opinion
We have been appointed as auditors under section 151 of the
Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with regulations
made under section 154 of that Act.
We conducted our audit in accordance with International
Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law.
Our responsibilities under those standards are further described
in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial
statements section of our report. We are independent of the group
and parent charity in accordance with the ethical requirements
that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the
UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard and we have fulfilled
our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these
requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have
obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for
our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that
the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the
preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified
any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that,
individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the
group's or parent charity's ability to continue as a going concern
for a period of at least 12 months from when the financial
statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with
respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections
of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in
the annual Trustees' report and accounts other than the financial
statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are
responsible for the other information contained within the
Trustees' report and accounts. Our opinion on the financial
statements does not cover the other information and we do
not express any form of assurance or conclusion thereon.
Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in
doing so, consider whether the other information is materially
inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge
obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be
materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies
or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine
whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial
statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed,
we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other
information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Matters on which we are required to report
by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters
where the Charities Act 2011 requires us to report to you if,
in our opinion:
• the information given in the financial statements is
inconsistent in any material respect with the Trustees' report
and accounts
• sufficient accounting records have not been kept by the
parent charity
• the parent charity financial statements are not in agreement
with the accounting records and returns
• we have not received all the information and explanations we
require for our audit.
Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the RSPCA Board of Trustees' statement
of responsibilities set out on page 33, the trustees are responsible
for the preparation of the financial statements and for being
satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal
control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the
preparation of financial statements that are free from material
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible
for assessing the group's and parent charity's ability to continue
as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to
going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting
unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the group or parent
charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative
but to do so.