Treasurers > Getting Started

Getting Started

When settling into the role of treasurer, there are three areas you will need to explore first :

Record keeping and cash management - ensuring that you are keeping the right records, and that the church is following good procedures for handling money, especially cash.

Different Types of Funds -  whilst the basics of being a treasurer are not that different from good management of household accounts, one key difference is that there are different types of "funds" that charities can hold, and each of these has different restrictions on how the money can be used.

Accounting for Different Types of Funds - Once you've understood the differences between different types of funds, and are clear what funds your PCC is operating, you will need to make sure that your record keeping makes a clear reference as to which funds income is being added to, or expenditure being spent from.

Once you have the basics underway, you might want to look ahead at the Annual Report and Accounts that you will need to produce at the end of the year.  Understanding what is required early on in the year will help you make sure that you are following helpful practices as you go through the year.

For written reference, you should have a copy of the latest edition of "The Charities Act and the PCC", and many treasurers find the handbook produced by the Association of Church Accountants and Treasurers to be a useful reference.