sign the balance sheet

This query is : Resolved

Querist : Anonymous

Querist : Anonymous (Querist)

06 March 2010 I was treasure of rwa society registereed 1860 in meerut,for financial year 2007-08. Auditor was appointed by registratar of society in 2008-09 but audit was completed in march 2010. MY question is
a. can legally I sign as treasurer of scoeity in 2010.
b. Auditor has written a letter present body that president, gen. secy., and treasurer of 2007-08 will sigh the balance sheet. My view is that it will be sign by present body not old body

M Prabhakar Menon

M Prabhakar Menon (Expert)
Follow

07 March 2010 The persons who sign the financial statements are affirming that they accept responsibility for all that is stated or not stated (hidden) in that statement.If u accept that go ahead.

Querist : Anonymous

Querist : Anonymous (Querist)

09 March 2010 who will sign i.e ex.office bearer of 2007-08, or present office bearer of 2009-10

Aashok Kumar Sharma online

Aashok Kumar Sharma online

(Expert)
Follow

25 July 2025 In your case, where the audit of the financial year 2007–08 was completed in March 2010, and you're asking who should legally sign the balance sheet—here’s a clear legal and practical perspective:

✅ Legal & Practical Position:
a. Can you legally sign as Treasurer in 2010 (for FY 2007–08)?
Yes, you can legally sign the balance sheet in 2010 if you were the Treasurer during the financial year 2007–08, and the audit is for that year.

Signing a balance sheet is not about who holds office at the time of signing, but who held responsibility during the financial year being audited.

You're not signing as a current office bearer in 2010, but as the responsible Treasurer for FY 2007–08.

b. Who should sign: Ex-office bearers (2007–08) or current ones (2009–10)?
According to accounting and legal norms for societies, the ex-office bearers (2007–08)—i.e., the President, Secretary, and Treasurer who were in office during the audited year—should sign the audited balance sheet for FY 2007–08.

This is consistent with:

Audit accountability: They managed funds and decisions during that year.

The auditor's letter specifically asking for signatures from that period reinforces this.

📝 Therefore, your view that the present body should sign is incorrect—they are not in a position to take responsibility for a past year's financials.

Conclusion:
✅ You (as Treasurer of 2007–08) should sign the balance sheet, even in 2010.

✅ Ex-office bearers of 2007–08 should sign, not the current office bearers of 2009–10.

⚖️ This is both a legal and ethical requirement to ensure accountability.

You need to be the querist or approved CAclub expert to take part in this query .
Click here to login now