This booklet has been primarily written for those who are considering taking up or have very recently been appointed to the role of church treasurer in their local United Reformed church. It focuses on the core responsibilities, and necessary skills and abilities of post holders – including basic accounting principles and an overview of the legal obligations of church treasurers – but does not aim to provide detailed information on financial planning, budgeting and the minutiae of producing a perfect set of church accounts. Some sources of further information are indicated and these will help you if you decide to take on the role.
Disclaimer: If you have been asked to take on the role of church treasurer because you’re an accountant familiar with charity accounting, then you’re unlikely to find information that’s new to you in this booklet. However, church accounts do have some peculiarities with which a business accountant may not be familiar – notably in the area known as fund accounting. And, for everyone else, we hope it’s worth the read!
