Postgraduate accounting and finance students at The University of Manchester are helping Manchester charities with practical financial work through a placement programme that links classroom learning with real organisational needs. The Social Responsibility Placement Programme, launched in summer 2025, has grown from two participating charities in its first year to five in its second.
Key facts
- The programme is led by Dr Nooch Kuasirikun, Associate Professor at Alliance Manchester Business School.
- It connects postgraduate accounting students with registered charities in Manchester.
- Students volunteer around one day a week for four to six weeks between late June and July.
- The work has included organising financial information, analysing expenditure and donations, improving reporting and building financial management tools.
- The next programme is due in June and July 2027, and charities can contact the organisers to discuss tasks.
What does this mean for accounting students?
For accounting and finance students, the placements offer a chance to apply technical skills in a setting where financial decisions affect community services. Students have used Excel automation and data processing, worked independently, and seen their work adopted by charities after the placement ended.
The programme also exposes participants to the pressures of voluntary-sector finance, where charities must balance financial sustainability with their social mission. That practical experience can strengthen students’ understanding of reporting, risk and resource constraints beyond the classroom.
How are the charities using the students’ work?
Participating charities have used student placements for tasks that can be time-consuming for small organisations with limited staff. One group organised a year’s worth of expenditure and four years of donation records to support a Gift Aid claim. Another developed a tool meant to save staff time, improve reporting and help identify financial risks earlier.
The charities involved said students were professional, reliable and able to respond to organisational needs while working independently. The placements are intended to keep expanding, with organisers hoping to involve more Manchester charities and students in future years.
When is the next round and who can take part?
The next placement programme is due to take place in June and July 2027. Charities interested in participating can contact Kirsty.Hutchison@manchester.ac.uk and/or nooch.kuasirikun@manchester.ac.uk to discuss possible accounting tasks for students.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the placement programme for?
It is for postgraduate accounting students at The University of Manchester, who are placed with registered charities in Manchester to help with real financial tasks.
What kind of work do the students do?
Students help organise financial information, analyse expenditure and donations, improve reporting and develop tools that support financial management.
