Job Description

Please provide a short explanation of why you would like to be considered for this role at the top of your CV.

We are seeking a dedicated and organised Finance Officer to join our Support Services Team. As the Finance Officer, working closely with the PCC Treasurer and Finance Co-ordinators, you will play a pivotal role in overseeing the day-to-day management of the parish accounts and payroll. Our aim is for the Finance Officer to relieve the administrative burden, currently shouldered by individual parishes and to enable the role-specific tasks to be completed more efficiently and so free people up for mission and ministry.

You will be expected to provide operational excellence in line with best practices and agreed protocols, ensuring seamless financial support; promote a positive work culture that encourages growth and development.

If you possess strong organisational skills and exceptional attention to detail, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity. Join us in moving Parish of Warrington towards achieving financial excellence and contributing to our overall success.

This is a new role and as such may be subject to change as new initiatives emerge and develop over time.

Main Responsibilities:

Enter transactions into and have oversight of the financial records for each Church / Worshipping Community using the accounting package My Fund Accounting Online (MFAO)

Make payments to suppliers in a timely manner ensuring that all payment requests are correctly authorized against approved budgets

Prepare and record sales, invoices, fees for each Church / Worshipping Community using the accounting package MFAO

Complete monthly bank reconciliations

Prepare monthly management reports from MFAO, to be reviewed by each Church / Worshipping Community

Support Church / Worshipping Communities to prepare an annual budget to be approved by the PCC if support is needed. Liaise to collate budgets/align formats

Run payroll for the parish including HMRC and pensions.

Provide support to the Gift Aid Secretary as required

Advise and support Finance Coordinators in good practices and implementation of agreed standards

Implement financial decisions made by the PCC as agreed with the PCC Treasurer, ensuring that appropriate financial systems and controls are used

Prepare annual financial statements using MFAO for approval of the PCC

Liaise with the /auditor as required e.g. for evidence

Submit Annual Financial Statements to the Charity Commission, and other regulatory bodies within required timescales

Undergo training as appropriate, especially in the use of bespoke software packages

Be responsible for overseeing the maintenance of effective (electronic and paper) filing systems for all your designated areas of work

General

Take responsibility for your own health and safety

Comply with Diocesan safeguarding policy

Undertake any safeguarding training as required

Comply with UK data protection laws

Who we are looking for:

We are looking for somebody who will bring the relevant skills, experience and confidence to shape and fulfill the responsibilities of the role. It's essential that the person is sympathetic to the Christian faith and able to support the ministry and mission of the parish.

We need someone who thrives when working in a team, who is a self-starter and able to prioritize and manage their own workload. You will work alongside local church leaders, Fit for Mission diocesan team and others in Support Services.

In terms of personal qualities, you will be someone who:

has strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail

can maintain confidentiality

is able to work autonomously and within a team

can be pragmatic and enjoys finding practical solutions

has excellent communication skills

will deliver on expected outcomes

has excellent time management skills

If this sounds like you, we encourage you to apply for this exciting new opportunity, to shape and strengthen our parish, and developing excellence and contributing to our overall success.

What we can offer you

a flexible working arrangement

paid holiday allocation

appropriate training

scope to be involved in shaping the Support Services Team and supporting churches into new ways of working

opportunity to contribute to fulfilling the Parish vision to Renew the Church, Love Warrington and Grow the Kingdom, in Jesus' name.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate that they meet the following criteria which are either essential or desirable requirements for the job unless otherwise specified.

Each of the following criteria will be assessed via application form and interview

Essential criteria

Qualifications

Minimum of 5 GCSE (or equivalent) passes with good passes in English language and mathematics or relevant experience

Experience

Competent bookkeeper qualified by experience

Experience of financial processes and procedures

Experience of preparing financial records e.g. for a small to medium sized organization

Knowledge and skills

Experienced in using accounting and payroll packages

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Ability to handle a range of diverse tasks and prioritise according to demands

Excellent organisation skills with an ability to work to deadlines

Experience and confidence in using Microsoft 365 packages, particularly SharePoint, Excel (or similar)

Willingness to learn new software to fit the role (My Fund Accounting Online, Church Database etc)

Personal qualities

Flexible work approach

Ability to deal with a wide range of people, to quickly build rapport and act with patience, sensitivity and tact

Approachable and dependable

Ability to use own initiative

Positive and supportive member of a team

Work related circumstances

To have an understanding of, and be in sympathy with, the Church of England

To be supportive of the mission and ministry of Parish of Warrington

Desirable criteria

Bookkeeping/accounting e.g. AAT qualification

Experience of working within a charity context

Preparing charity accounts and an understanding of the charity SORP

Experience of using My Fund Accounting Online

Some knowledge of the Church of England structures

Change of employer note: Under the Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment rights (TUPE) guidelines, the postholders employment will move from Christ Church, Padgate to the Parish of Warrington.

This post will be recruited in line with the Parish Safer Recruitment process.

Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: 14.60 per hour

Expected hours: 20 per week

Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 01/08/2025
Reference ID: Finance Officer
Expected start date: 15/09/2025