ANGLICANCHURCH IN AMERICA

Guidelines for Duties and Responsibilities

PARISH TREASURER

1. General

The Treasurer is the financial officer of the parish and is either elected by the Vestry or by the parish according to the by-laws of the parish. The treasurer reports to the Vestry and is a member of the parish’s Executive Committee if provided for under the parish’s by-laws.

Treasurers should have an understanding of financial procedures and processes and they are responsible for keeping the Vestry and parish advised of the financial condition of the parish on a regular basis. The treasurer also manages parish accounts, may manage investments and has check signing authority. They are often bonded by the parish.

In larger parishes, duties and responsibilities may be divided between a treasurer and a financial secretary. When such is the case, the financial secretary is normally responsible for income such as offerings and investments and the treasurer for expenses and accounting. In many parishes a professional accountant or bookkeeper is employed and the treasurer is responsible for managing such personnel.

2. Duties

In general, the duties of the treasurer include but are not limited to:

  1. Implement the financial policies as established by the parish and the Vestry.
  2. Establish a counting system for offerings and recruit and train counters.
  3. Check counting reports frequently for accuracy.
  4. Manage deposits of offerings and other income.
  5. Manage processing of parish bills, expenses, and disbursements.
  6. Arrange for the accounting and payment of federal, state, and municipal taxes and fees as applicable.
  7. Manage cash flow and payment check processing.
  8. Manage and maintain the parish’s financial records.
  9. Manage the preparation of financial reports and confirm accuracy.
  10. Provide regular reports to the Vestry and the parish as required by the Vestry.

10. Manage the reconciliation of deposits and payments monthly.

11. Provide for annual expense budgets, income forecasts and regular budget tracking and reporting.

12. Arrange for the conducting of regular and independent audits as may be deemed necessary by the Vestry.

13. Be a member of any committees that have financial responsibilities for the parish.

14. Work with committees and guilds to provide budgets and maintain accounting systems.

15. Manage, provide for or supervise a parish bookkeeping system or personnel which shall:

a)Utilize a standard budgetary accounting system.

b)Record counting sheets by category.

c)Record deposits and income by source.

d)Record approved expenses and record under budget lines.

e)Prepare and record expense checks and payments.

f)Prepare monthly income and expense reports.

g)Reconcile accounts and maintain bank records.

h)Prepare parish financial reports for annual and other parish meetings as directed.

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