“What I really enjoy is that feeling that you’re doing something that benefits others and helps other people… people think sometimes it takes an awful lot of time, but invest that time and give something back because you will get an awful lot back yourself.”
Carolyn McGloughlin, Treasurer, St Peter’s, Bury
The role of parish treasurer is highly trusted, respected and requires a certain level of commitment. As treasurer it is your role to oversee the financial matters of our church, working in collaboration with your Incumbent and Parochial Church Council. The parish treasurer is there to steward money for Christ’s purposes and so will have an eye for the financial affairs of the church and a desire to support the mission of the parish in the local community.
Skills and characteristics
Appointing a treasurer is a significant step for both the PCC and the individual, and it should be properly thought through. The treasurer does not need to be an accountant – it’s important that a potential treasurer has both the honesty and enthusiasm to want to do the job, and some of the following skills and characteristics would be helpful:
- Reasonable financial competence, and the ability to maintain basic accounts.
- Have an understanding of the parish, its needs and challenges.
- Willingness to attend PCC meetings, not only to deal with financial matters but also to be aware of the PCC’s plans.
- Be in harmony with the PCC, the parish priest and the wider church.
- Be able to explain financial issues clearly, both within the PCC and to the general church membership.
- Be able to maintain confidentiality, particularly concerning matters that relate to individual church members; e.g. their personal giving.
- Meet the wider requirements of the Charity Commissioners for all trustees: i.e. not disqualified by bankruptcy or by convictions for financial wrongdoing.
- Although PCC members can be 16 or over, the bank is likely to require someone who is 18 or over. Since the role carries significant responsibility the PCC may also feel that it is appropriate to have someone aged over 18.
The majority of parish treasurers are volunteers, although it is perfectly acceptable to have a paid treasurer. Paid treasurers cannot be a member of the PCC though, as charity trustees are not usually allowed to be paid by the charity.
Key tasks
The size and scope of the treasurer’s job will depend on the size and complexity of the parish. But the key tasks for treasurers can be summarised as:
- Ensure received income is recorded and banked
- Pay and record all items of expenditure
- Carry out the financial decisions made by the PCC. The responsibility for both raising and spending money to meet the PCC’s responsibilities lies with the PCC. The Treasurer implements their decisions.
- Record all financial transactions carried out on behalf of the PCC and ensure they are properly authorised.
- Maintain, and set-up if needed, a book-keeping and records system
- Ensure proper processes are followed for the management of cash (specifically, two people who are not related to each other should count and record the figures shortly after any service or event, more details are explained here)
- Draft an annual budget to assist the PCC in planning how it will fulfill its objectives for the coming year.
- Monitor the PCC’s finances throughout the year, and advise the PCC as to the position against budget.
- Provide general financial information to the PCC
- Work with the PCC to meet all its financial obligations, especially Parish Share, clergy expenses and insuring the church buildings against fire, theft and public liability.
- Prepare the annual financial statements for approval by the PCC and submission to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, ensuring that they comply with current Charity Commission requirements. Send a copy to the Diocese, and complete the national financial information return.
Resources
Manchester Diocese is a member of the Association of Church Accountants and Treasurers (ACAT) which allows all parishes within the diocese to access lots of excellent resources and guidance specific to the successful running of church finances. Please email finance@manchester.anglican.org to request your login details.
Parish Resources – provided by the Church of England’s National Stewardship and Resources team and offering over 400 pages of resources to support all aspects of stewardship, finance, administration and management in the local church. In particular, see:
- Treasurers guide: Introduction to Financial Management
- The New Treasurer's Handbook
- Guidance on registering with the Charity Commission
- FAQs
- Pensions auto-enrolment guidance for parishes
- PCC Accountability
There is also specific information relating to finance procedures in our diocese on our own Parish Finance page. These resources are particularly useful:
- Budgeting
- Parochial fees for baptisms, marriages, funerals and burials
- Choosing a bank account, fees and reserves
- Running a giving campaign
- Details of grants available from the diocese and other grant providers
- Understanding parish share
- Giving and fundraising resources
- Digital giving
- The Parochial Church Council
The National Church and the dioceses set up the Parish Buying Service to help parishes 'buy smarter'. The Parish Buying team use the bulk buying power of the Church to negotiate competitive prices and contracts with approved suppliers, across a range of different products. Please visit the Parish Buying website to register and gain access to national deals and buying guides on a range of major spends.
Information from the Church of England about clergy pay and expenses
To recover VAT on repairs, maintenance and alterations to listed places of worship, follow the guidelines of the Listed Places of Worship grant scheme.
Detailed advice on annual accounts may be found in the book “PCC accountability, the Charities Act and the PCC”. Hard copies of the book may also be purchased from Church House Publishing.
Training