Treasurers > The Role > Who can be a treasurer?

Who can be a treasurer?

You don't have to be a qualified accountant to become a PCC treasurer. It's important that a potential treasurer has both the honesty and enthusiasm to want to do the job, but it would be helpful if you had some of the following skills and characteristics :

• You should be reasonably financially competent, and have the ability to maintain a basic accounts book.
• Have an understanding of the parish, its needs and challenges. 
• Have a basic understanding of how the parish fits into its wider Deanery, Diocesan and national church contexts.
• Willingness to attend PCC meetings, not only to deal with financial matters, but also in order to be aware of the PCC's plans.
• Be in harmony with the PCC, the parish priest and the wider church.
• Be able to explain financial issues clearly, both within the PCC and to the general church membership.
• Be able to maintain confidentiality, particularly with respect to matters that relate to individual church members; e.g. their personal giving. 
• Meet the wider requirements of the Charity Commissioners for all trustees: i.e. you should be over 18 years of age and not disqualified by bankruptcy or by convictions for financial wrong doing.

You may or may not have been a treasurer of an organisation before. For smaller churches, it in many respects is not dissimilar from keeping good control of household finances; whilst for the largest parishes greater understanding of some accountancy practice will need to be acquired. Most dioceses offer some training to new treasurers, and a good handover from the previous treasurer will cover much of what you will need to know.