Parish Finance and Support Officer

Parish Finance & Support Officer (part time) Job Purpose

Parish Share and the work with our parishes to administer it is a crucial part of our whole diocesan budget and finances. Our “Transforming Church, Transforming Lives” vision will bring several years of change, as is the preparation for and implementation of the new Parish Share system from 2019. The focus of Goal 10 on streamlining processes and sharing expertise to release fresh energy for mission is a key way in which the Parish Support Team can help our parishes.

The Parish Finance & Support Officer, supporting the Deputy Diocesan Secretary, will have a pro-active focus on Parish Share, Parochial Fees and Statistics for Mission, and support parish-related administration, including parochial reorganisations and clergy moves.

Accountability

• Accountable to the Deputy Diocesan Secretary.

To be a professional partner and support to:

• Parish treasurers, incumbents and finance teams, as well as other diocesan teams

Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for the collection of Parish Share and Parochial Fees ensuring robust monitoring and forecasting of collection rates such that the Parish Share and Parochial Fee income remains in line with the diocesan budget.
• Address all issues and changes relating to Parish Share and parochial fees in a timely way, responding to enquiries and requests for information, ensuring these are provided and documented appropriately.
• Attend meetings with parishes in relation to Parish Share issues.
• With the respective archdeacon, Deputy Diocesan Secretary and other relevant officers, provide proactive support in establishing proposals and arrangements where investment (financial or resources) through Parish Share is required, including proposals for underpayments, additional requirements or the resolution of historic underpayment.
• Assist the finance team in the annual process of reviewing and implementing Parish Share calculations across the diocese, assisting with parish enquiries relating to Parish Share and its calculation, liaising with the finance team and the Deputy Diocesan Secretary in answering queries.
• Assist in the collation and analysis of parish financial information to support meetings.
• Ensure the rigorous tracking, reporting and repayment of loans to parishes and other loans approved by the Diocesan Board of Finance.
• Liaise with parishes and the national church over the annual collection of the Statistics for Mission, reminding and supporting Treasurers and other parish officers in the use of the National Online Data collection tool, ensuring all key data is checked, collated, analysed and reported, and in the submission of annual reports and accounts, thereby helping to ensure parishes meet their deadlines and obligations.
• Provide support and financial input to the planning and implementation of parochial re-organisations and to support decision making.
• Provide parishes with support on day-to-day financial matters and answer their administrative enquiries.
• Be the diocesan point of liaison for clergy removals, ensuring costs are in line with diocesan policy.
• Provide or obtain appropriate information and advice on legislation, both secular and ecclesiastical, to give reference support for parish governance processes.
• Develop a working knowledge of the Church Representation Rules and associated measures, providing responses to enquiries, advising parishes and diocesan officers of their requirements and implications.

Essential

Desirable

Qualifications

• Degree level or equivalent

Experience

• Can quickly establish credibility and respect and build strong working relationships with parishes and other departments
• Negotiating effective resolutions to complex situations involving multiple stakeholders
• Ability to deliver on time and to budget multiple activities concurrently

• Working in a charity environment
• Experience of working with volunteers

Knowledge

• Good working knowledge and understanding of the processes required to support effective governance
• Good knowledge of the Church of England

• Good knowledge of the Parish Share system and legalities of parochial fees
• Familiarity with the Church Representation Rules

Skills

• Good communication skills – both listening and able to get one’s message understood clearly through a range of styles, tools and techniques appropriate to the audience
• IT Skills: good knowledge of Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Good collaborative working style
• Highly numerate with strong financial acumen, reporting and explaining to others
• Structured, clear thinker with good analytical and organisation skills

• Determined approach to delivering solutions
• Strong financial management
• Appreciation of different personality and behavioural styles

Behaviours

• Able to work on own initiative and in a team
• Ability to form effective and good working relationships with a diverse range of people and organisations including colleagues, clergy, suppliers and the national church

• Flexibility – adapting and working effectively with a variety of individuals and situations

Personal

• Mature, professional approach
• Confident in handling sensitive information
• An ability to get on with people of all ages
• Sympathy with the aims and mission of the Church of England

• A living commitment to Jesus Christ
• A good working knowledge of the Church of England and its structures
• A passion to make a difference to the mission and ministry of the diocese
• An understanding of other Christian denominations and faiths