For a long time, church bookkeepers were confused with accountants. However, they have very different responsibilities. The church's financial records, including income and expense records, are maintained by bookkeepers. They keep track of all transactions and the amounts. They are also responsible for keeping track of all accounts. Accounting professionals, on the other side, do all the work of bookkeepers but also offer auditing, tax planning and financial planning, payroll processing and consulting services.
We can hold regular meetings to discuss your reporting needs. Additionally, you can access your bookkeeping online any time you wish to pull reports or review the books.
Yet, every church must handle finances. There are weekly tithes or offerings. There are also bills to pay, financial obligations to meet, and salaries to be made. It's difficult to keep track. Even if Excel isn't your thing and you don’t know what a debit is, accounting software programs for churches can help.
For classifying and paying a worker with an IRS 1099 that the IRS believes should have been considered an employee, churches can face severe penalties.
Atlanta Church Bookkeeping LLC can help to prevent fraud and lower financial risks that may impact your church or non-profit. Stories of misappropriation of funds by charities and other nonprofit 501c3 groups are common in the news. We will be watching closely to ensure that your organization is protected.
Our experts will make sure that all information is included and accounted. Let us handle the hassle so you can be focused on your mission.
Most of the labor and employment laws are applicable to churches as well as "for profit" organizations. These laws include guidelines on how to classify your workers as independent contractors or employees.
Here is a quick breakdown of some of the most common tasks you will need to accomplish when doing your church bookkeeping.
Enter Income And Expenses. ...
Track Contributions And Prepare Bank Deposits. ...
Pay Bills. ...
Journal Entries. ...
Complete A Bank Reconciliation.
Bookkeepers maintain the financial records of the church that includes income and expense records. They are supposed to keep records of the dates and amount of every transaction of the church.
All organizations should follow generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), using an accrual basis to record income and expenses when they are earned and incurred. However, many churches use a cash basis—recording income and expenses when they are received and paid—or a combination of both approaches.