How To Become a Church Treasurer: Step-by-Step Guide

Church treasurers are responsible for the financial management of their church. This includes maintaining accurate financial records, preparing budgets, making financial reports and overseeing the disbursement of funds. Church treasurers typically have a background in accounting or finance. In this article, we discuss the duties of a church treasurer and the steps you can take to become one.

What Does a Church Treasurer Do?

The treasurer of a church is responsible for the financial management and oversight of the church’s budget. This includes preparing financial reports, tracking spending, making sure bills are paid on time and deposits are made in a timely manner, as well as overseeing the development and implementation of the church’s financial policies. The treasurer may also be responsible for managing the investments of the church and its endowment fund.

The duties of the church treasurer may include:

• Preparing and presenting monthly financial reports to the church board
• Tracking all income and expenses of the church
• Making sure all bills are paid on time
• Depositing all church income in a timely manner
• Overseeing the development and implementation of the church’s financial policies
• Managing the investments of the church
• Managing the church’s endowment fund
• Working with the church accountant to prepare the annual budget
• Advising the church board on financial matters

Church Treasurer Salary and Job Outlook

The average salary for a church treasurer is $76,412.61 per year. This figure can vary based on the size of the church, its location, and the treasurer’s experience.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects job prospects for church treasurers to grow much faster than average over the next decade. This is due to the increasing number of churches and religious organizations in the United States. As the population continues to grow, so does the demand for religious services. Many churches and religious organizations will need to hire additional staff, including church treasurers, to keep up with the demand.

How to Become a Church Treasurer

Here are several steps you should take to become a church treasurer.

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration or a related field

A bachelor’s degree is the minimum education requirement for church treasurer positions. Some employers may prefer candidates with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification, but these are not always necessary.

During your undergraduate studies, you should take courses in business administration, accounting and mathematics to prepare you for this role. Courses in economics, finance and computer applications can also be beneficial.

2. Become a certified public accountant (CPA)

To work as a church treasurer, you will need to become a certified public accountant (CPA). To earn this certification, you will need to complete a minimum of 150 hours of college-level accounting courses and pass the CPA exam. The exact requirements for earning the CPA vary by state.

The CPA exam is made up of four parts that test your knowledge in auditing, taxation, management and business law. You must pass all four parts within a certain period of time or you will have to start over again from the beginning.

3. Gain experience working in accounting and bookkeeping

After earning your CPA, you can begin applying for entry-level accounting and bookkeeping positions. These roles provide you with the opportunity to gain experience working in an office environment and using financial software programs. You may also have the chance to work directly with a company’s finances if you find a position as an assistant accountant or bookkeeper.

Working as an accountant or bookkeeper is important because it allows you to develop skills that are necessary for church treasurer duties. For example, you will likely use Microsoft Excel on a regular basis when managing a church budget. Additionally, gaining experience working in accounting and bookkeeping positions helps you build relationships with other professionals in the field. This can be helpful when searching for a church treasurer job.

4. Develop strong interpersonal skills

Church treasurers interact with a variety of people, including church board members, pastors and other staff. Strong interpersonal skills help church treasurers communicate effectively and resolve any issues that arise. They also need to be able to build relationships with donors and volunteers so they can encourage them to contribute financially or volunteer their time.

5. Be able to work independently

Church treasurers often work independently, so it’s important that you have the self-discipline to complete tasks without supervision. You may also need to make financial decisions on your own and be comfortable with this level of responsibility.

You should feel confident in your ability to make sound financial decisions based on the knowledge you have about church finances. If you’re working for a large church, you may even need to develop a budget and manage its implementation.

6. Have good time management skills

Church treasurers often have tight deadlines to meet. They may need to submit financial reports to church boards or other governing bodies on a regular basis, and these reports must be accurate and complete. Treasurers also need to keep track of the church’s finances and make sure that all bills are paid on time.

Having good time management skills can help church treasurers stay organized and ensure they don’t miss any important deadlines. Time management skills also come in handy when working with others. For example, if you’re working with a church board, it’s helpful to let them know upfront how long it will take for you to compile their requested information.

7. Stay up to date on changes in tax laws and regulations

Church treasurers must be knowledgeable about tax laws and regulations. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the federal agency responsible for enforcing tax law, which means church treasurers need to stay up to date on any changes in these regulations. For example, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 made several changes to how churches are taxed. To ensure your church follows all IRS guidelines, it’s a good idea to have an accountant review your financial statements each year.