Do you trust the person(s) who is responsible for managing the financial records at your church. If the answer is “no”, you are not alone.
Of all the organizations who serve Christian leaders, MAG Bookkeeping is simply one of my favorites. You not only do you have to want to help pastors and church leaders, but you must have to competencies to do so.
The MAG team was kind enough to provide a guest post addressing the issue of church bookkeepers and accountability. Their thoughts will help you.
If your church has bookkeeping needs in 2015, there is no organization I recommend more than this organization led by Bryan Miles, his wife Shannon and Randy Ongie. Click HERE or on the image above to get more information.
_____________________________________________________________________
When you are relying on an outsourced team member – no matter who or where they are – to manage your books for you, it is imperative that both of you feel confident in the relationship and you’re both set up to succeed. Based on our relationships with churches all over the country, we’ve put together this quick list of tips for churches who are working with outsourced bookkeeping professionals. Check them out, then let us know what you’d add to this list:
1. Inspect what you expect. Take the time to inspect your financial statements so you know that your books are current. It’s important to know whether or not your bookkeeper is struggling to keep up with the day-to-day operations of your church, and if you’re missing key reports or statements that you need to make informed financial decisions.
2. Be mindful of your past experience. Not all church bookkeepers are trained accountants, and because of this errors tend to happen. Be aware of who was working your books in the past and let your current bookkeeper know how things have been managed up to this point.
3. Be aware that some bookkeepers are not payroll experts. There are different rules and laws regarding pastoral payroll, and it’s imperative that your bookkeeper is aware of this. If you find you’re over your head when it comes to church payroll issues, MAG Bookkeeping’s payroll service is here for you!
4. Over-communicate! Always be sure to communicate any needs, questions and concerns you may have with your bookkeeper and vice versa. Make sure that you have an open line of communication and be sure they feel comfortable coming to you when questions/problems arise. We’re constantly learning, as a virtual company, how important communication is to our day-to-day success, and we’re always asking ourselves, “Have we told everyone who needs to know about this issue what’s happening?” The same applies to you and your staff and your bookkeeper.
What else do you expect from your church bookkeeper?
What other ideas do you have for keeping your bookkeeper and other church staff accountable?
To subscribe to this site and get my latest FREE eBook 999 Leadership Quotes On Leadership: Wise Words And Timeless Truths From The 2014 ARC, Passion, Orange, and Leadercast Conferences (and others) click here or on the image to the left.