Behind every sports club lies a great deal of essential work that doesn’t take place on the field – but is vital to success. A thriving club needs sound financial management and efficient processes. Especially for volunteer-run clubs, which are undergoing significant change, financial efficiency is becoming increasingly critical.
In this blog, Rantalainen – a partner of the Finnish Olympic Committee and Suomisport – presents three key reasons why sports clubs should evaluate and improve their financial management.
At the end, you’ll find practical tips on how to start addressing these challenges.
Three reasons to streamline financial management in club operations
- Finances affect everything
Only a financially sound club can grow and attract new members. Especially clubs structured as associations are accountable to their members and must comply with laws such as the Associations Act and Accounting Act. Solid financial management is the foundation for club operations and continuity.
- Volunteering must be easy
People’s free time is more limited and in higher demand than ever. Clear and transparent financial management helps attract and retain volunteers – they need to trust that the club will still be there next season. A volunteer board is liable if the club acts unlawfully, carelessly or causes financial damage. Good financial practices and documentation – like implementing a financial policy – ensure that everyone understands how the club’s finances are managed.
- The digital shift is here to stay
Digitalisation offers new opportunities to streamline operations and save both time and money. When a club’s financial management is modern, the turnover of volunteers won’t disrupt continuity – knowledge and data are preserved. New volunteers can easily pick up where others left off. Only digitally handled operations allow for real data collection – and with that, automation and AI use in the future. Many club volunteers already use tools like Procountor or Netvisor at work – so why not in club life too?
Tip: make use of Rantalainen’s financial review
Rantalainen offers sports clubs a free financial management review, analysing the current financial status and identifying potential areas for improvement. The review takes just one hour and gives club leaders valuable insights for future planning.
The assessment looks at processes that consume unnecessary time or require manual work. Even if a club’s finances appear stable, the review may offer new perspectives for future development. The service is completely non-binding and doesn’t commit the club to anything.
Book a free review on Rantalainen’s website.
Download the club financial management guide from Rantalainen’s website.
Rantalainen is Finland’s largest accounting firm, operating in over 60 locations across Finland and Sweden. The company has strong expertise in financial management for sports clubs and is a long-standing partner of the Finnish Olympic Committee. Rantalainen serves as the financial partner for hundreds of sports clubs and national sports federations.