Finance Secretary

Church Overview:

Bethel United Methodist Church, founded in 1797 and located in downtown Charleston, is a vibrant, inclusive, mission oriented community of over 800 members. The Church is hiring a Finance Secretary to serve in support of the Church’s greater mission.

Position Summary: 

Bethel United Methodist Church is seeking a detail-oriented and dedicated Finance Secretary to manage financial receipts, disbursements, recording and reporting in a timely, thorough, and confidential manner.  The Finance Secretary is a salaried, part-time, fiduciary position, answering directly to the Senior Pastor and accountable to the Staff Parish Relations Committee to ensure stewardship of church resources. 

Core Responsibilities:  The Finance Secretary will facilitate, maintain, and safeguard financial records of the church pursuant to the Church’s financial policies and procedures. In pursuit of this overall duty, the Finance Secretary holds broad responsibility for the following:

• Record contributions and revenue into the Church software (Realm and ACS), using appropriate account numbers.
• Enter invoices and process checks for payment in accordance with approved budget and policies.
• Prepare journal entries, including auto-drafts.
• Reconcile monthly bank statements.
• Review monthly financial statements and remit statements to Chair of Finance.
• Distribute quarterly and annual giving statements to donors.
• Assist in the preparation of the annual budget and strategic planning.
• Prepare required United Methodist Church year-end reports.
• Assist with the annual internal audit. 

Qualifications:

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related discipline and minimum 5 years of bookkeeping experience, preferably in a church setting.
• Proficiency with MSOffice programs and financial software. Knowledge of church software ACS and Realm preferred.
• Ability and commitment to keep detailed, accurate records and maintain confidentiality.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills.
• Understanding of church financial practices and IRS regulations.
• Background screening required.

Anticipated Hours: 10-15 hours / week, with seasonal fluctuations to meet calendar deadlines.