Private Colleges & Universities

Colleges and universities face stringent reporting requirements.  Without proper accounting, auditing and tax preparation, they can jeopardize their favorable tax status or limit funding opportunities.  VLS will ensure that you comply with governmental reporting requirements and minimize tax exposure.  Our commitment is to provide each entity with an efficient and non-obtrusive audit by bringing experienced professionals to the engagement to minimize the burden on management and staff.  VLS is able to provide an excellent fee and service combination.

Who Needs This Service?

VLS has worked with colleges and universities for more than 55 years and understands the unique financial issues educational organizations encounter - and the creativity needed to address their challenges and opportunities.

Benefits to Our Clients

With a wealth of experience and knowledgeable staff, VLS provides colleges, universities and higher education organizations with assistance in management, consulting, traditional accounting, auditing and taxes.

We can also assist our higher education clients in the following areas:

• Financial analysis, including performance measurement ratios
• Internal, interim financial reporting to administration and trustees
• Financial modeling for budgeting and strategic planning purposes
• Executive compensation studies
• Tuition pricing and competition studies
• Training of your accounting office staff
• Utilization of restricted resources, including endowment funds
• Development and management of endowment spending rates
• Proper accounting and financial reporting for restricted resources
• Federal Title IV student financial aid compliance
• Allocation of common costs to departments and functional areas
• Internal control assessments
• Improving utilization of technology in accounting and business processes
• IT system security issues
• Development of financial policies
• Defining governing board financial oversight responsibilities, including duties of an audit committee
• Monitoring of compliance with bond financial covenants
• Planned giving
• Tax compliance pertinent to exempt organizations
• Fraud investigations