CAVA Chartered Accountants Voluntary Advice

Since Chartered Accountants Voluntary Service (CAVA) was founded by the Chartered Accountants Leinster Society in 2007, members across the Republic of Ireland have been giving back to their local community by volunteering for CAVA.

What is CAVA?

CAVA is a key initiative of Chartered Accountants Ireland, aimed at supporting business people in the local community. Working together with the Citizens Information Service (CIS) and Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), our members (as volunteers) provide advice to local people who cannot afford the services of an accountant.

Typical clients are small businesses, tradespeople, taxi drivers, farmers, and landlords. The advice sessions often centre on taxation, cash flow and restructuring.

For further information, please visit our Volunteer FAQs page.

About CAVA volunteers 

CAVA’s volunteers come from a range of backgrounds, including major accountancy practices and law firms, smaller regional practices, and retired members.

Volunteers give practical advice in a face-to-face consultation clinic, where they work with the business owner to address their immediate problems and find a way to move forward.

Cooperation with other agencies is sometimes part of the arrangement, such as the Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC), the Citizens Information Board and MABS, Revenue, and Social Welfare.

CAVA Clinics are run in conjunction with and facilitated by CIS and MABS in particular regions around the country.

CAVA Clinics operate on specific evenings during the month with consultations usually arranged for an hour in length.

There is still a great demand for volunteers and CAVA would not function without the support of members. Any members interested in finding out more information should look at the Volunteer FAQ or please email fiona.collins@charteredaccountants.ie for more information.

About Citizens Information Services (CIS) and Money Advice and Budget Service (MABS)

CAVA Clinics are run in conjunction with and facilitated by CIS and MABS in particular regions around the country.

CAVA Clinics operate on specific evenings during the month with consultations usually arranged for an hour in length.

The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body which supports the provision of information, advice, and advocacy on a broad range of public and social services.

Citizens Information Services (CIS)

The Citizens Information Board provides the Citizens Information website and supports the voluntary network of Citizens Information Centres and phone centres.

There are approximately 260 Citizens Information offices around the country.

Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS)

The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is the State’s money advice service, guiding people through dealing with problem debt.

MABS runs a national helpline and operates from over 60 offices nationwide.

CAVA and COVID-19

The impact of COVID-19 on businesses means that this service is in demand now more than ever. During these unprecedented times we are reaching out to members to expand the volunteer database. We are also looking at technology options to facilitate virtual meetings that would have traditionally taken place in person to ensure continuation of services to those in need.