Background
The PCC Cofton Hackett and Barnt Green is a registered charity that covers the Church of England parish of St Andrew’s Barnt Green & St Michael’s Cofton Hackett. It is located in the county of Worcestershire just South of Birmingham and is in the diocese of Birmingham.
We are a lively joint Parish with two Churches and a Parish Centre. The Parish Centre sits behind St Andrew’s Church in Barnt Green and houses the Parish Office, provides a space for use by the parish as well as serving the community of Barnt Green. The Parish is supported by a Vicar and 4 readers and in addition, the PCC has 13 members including 4 Church Wardens, a Treasurer and a Safeguarding Officer. We also employ a Parish Administrator.
Purpose
The key purpose of the Finance Officer is to support the Treasurer and the Parochial Church Council (PCC) in discharging its financial management responsibilities:
- Keeping accounting records, which must be sufficient to show and explain all the PCC’s transactions including Church and Parish Centre transactions.
- Ensuring that the finances of the parish are under the PCC’s control.
- Preparing annual accounts (financial statements) and the financial aspect of the Trustees’ Annual Report which shall be presented to the Annual Parochial Meeting in accordance with the Church Representation Rules and Charity Commission guidance.
The role-holder must have a strong blend of professional and administrative qualities, particularly the ability to work constructively and communicate clearly with a wide range of stakeholders, including the vicar, churchwardens, treasurer, parish administrator and other volunteers.
Responsibilities
- Work with the Parish Administrator to ensure received income is recorded and banked in accordance with procedures
- Make payments for all items of expenditure in accordance with procedures. Includes ensuring that all invoices and expense claims have the correct level of authorisation, setting up payments in on-line banking and notifying authorisers that payments are awaiting approval. In exceptional circumstances, it may be necessary to write a cheque which will require two signatures.
- Maintain the sales ledger (for Hiring of the Parish Centre and Church Buildings) and support the Parish Administrator to fulfill the credit control function.
- Record all financial transactions in the Data Developments accounting system, myfundaccounting.
- Reconcile monthly bank statements.
- Monitor the PCC’s finances throughout the year and alert the Treasurer if any difficulties are likely.
- Prepare financial reports for the Treasurer to present at the PCC. These should be shown against the budget and for the same period the previous year
- Work with the Treasurer to prepare financial statements for submission to the independent examiner, approval by the PCC and submission to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, ensuring that they comply with current Charity Commission requirements.
- Work with the Treasurer to prepare and submit annual yearly budgets to assist the PCC to plan and fulfil its objectives for the coming year.
- Produce reports as requested by the Treasurer to aid in tasks such as preparation of quarterly fee return to the diocese, the annual diocesan financial return and VAT reclaim.
- Work with the Treasurer & PCC to meet all its financial obligations.
- Be accountable to the Treasurer.
Person Specification
- AAT qualified or equivalent experience.
- Highly organised, focused and self-motivated.
- Ability to prioritise and meet deadlines.
- Robust understanding of the importance of controls, however able to add value by improving processes and implementing new systems.
- Methodical approach with attention to detail to ensure accuracy of postings.
- Ability to talk about finance matters to non-financial people.
- Experience of accounts within a business or charity environment.
- Be in harmony with the PCC, the incumbent and the wider church.
- Experience of using finance systems, IT literate with good Excel skills.
- Someone who is understanding of the Christian faith and can grasp the view that money is a tool for mission and ministry.
- Experience of dealing with charities and fund accounting (desirable).
- Experience of using the Data Developments myfundaccounting or Finance Co-ordinator (desirable)
Terms & Conditions
- Hours of work: 6 per week. We are willing to have conversations around flexible working. Attendance at occasional evening finance meetings (normally on Zoom) will be required.
- Hourly Rate - £13.00
- Holidays: 20 days holiday plus 8 days Bank Holidays pro-rata
- Employer: PCC of Cofton Hackett & Barnt Green and line managed by the Treasurer
Closing date for applications: 08/07/24
Interviews to be held during the week commencing 15/07/24
For an application form, please email: Nicola at office@chandbgparish.org.uk