Western Australian Standard Chart of Accounts

The Standard Chart of Accounts (SCOA) makes financial data consistent across community organisations.

The Standard Chart of Accounts consists of a set of accounts that can be set up in most accounting software systems, and provides a data dictionary for guidance on how to process transactions and decide which transactions go to which accounts. The Standard Chart of Accounts makes financial data consistent across community organisations, and adoption of the chart is voluntary.

The SCOA was developed by the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (ACPNS), Queensland University of Technology (QUT) through extensive consultation with the non-profit community sector, government and other interested parties.

At Matrix we encourage non-government agencies to consider adopting the SCOA where it is better than their current situation.

The results of an independent review of the implementation, have been published, showing that 87 percent of NFPs were satisfied with the tools provided and a further 80 percent found the implementation easy.

Pro Bono Australia’s article provides a compelling overview of the review, and the full report can be located by clicking on the article linked here.

Western Australian Standard Chart of Accounts


Adoption of the National Standard Chart of Accounts (SCOA) was agreed to by the Council of Australian Government (COAG) in April 2010.

The SCOA provides a common approach to the capture of accounting information by Not-for-Profit (NFP) organisations, enabling government departments and other funding bodies to talk the same accounting language as NFP organisations and their advisors.

It also provides for minor variations in account categories for use in each jurisdiction to ensure consistency with jurisdictional fundraising and gaming legislation.

From 1 July 2011, State Government departments, agencies and authorities are expected to make use of the National SCOA in new funding agreements by using it as a common accounting reference to communicate with the sector about the reporting of financial information.

Implementation of the National SCOA will not be mandatory for NFP organisations, and organisations can continue to use their existing chart of accounts.

To assist NFP organisations, and Western Australian government departments and agencies to make use of the National SCOA, the following information and support is provided:

• A fact sheet with useful information about the SCOA.
• An Implementation Manual that will act as a guide for NFP organisations and funding departments and agencies
• A Recommended Guide to the Grouping of Accounts for Reporting and Acquittals and the SCOA Data Dictionary
• A SCOA Help Desk (provided by Matrix on Board) will operate until January 2013. The Help Desk can be contacted via email scoa@mob.com.au or telephone 1800 628 749.

For further details please visit the Department of Treasury website.