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ACAT training for Treasurers – Autumn 2024 ACAT Conference ACAT membership Data Developments Return of Parish Finance Preparing the Financial Statements
ACAT training for treasurers
ACAT sessions are not recorded so to fully benefit you will need to attended each live webinar. We will continue to advise you of the latest session through the e-bulletin - Durham Diocese News Round-Up.
The following sessions are available for Autumn 2024;
Being the Treasurer: The Basics - Training Day - FREE
Date: Saturday 26th October 2024
Time: Registration from 9.30am, course runs from 10am - 4pm
Venue: Cuthbert House, Diocese of Durham, DH1 1RY
Treasurers are invited to this foundation course covering the basics of church treasury. This “Basics” one day course is designed to equip new and old treasurers with the core knowledge needed to carry out their role. The course will look at charity law, finance processes, bookkeeping, budgeting, risk, gift aid and year-end reporting. Attending in person will give the opportunity to exchange experience with fellow delegates and discuss informally throughout the day. Refreshments and lunch breaks will be provided - When booking please do advise of any dietary requirements. Delegates will be sent pre-course materials by email in advance of the sessions with course slides circulated after the course. If you are unable to make the day course please refer to the online training schedule where the same course is available.
Being the Treasurer: The Basics (Virtual via zoom) – FREE - This is the same course content as the full day course but will be split across three evening sessions. It is highly recommended that participants attend all sessions.
Session 1: Charity Law, Finance Processes and Bookkeeping – Sat 16 Nov 2024 - 10am-12noon
Session 2: Budgeting, Risk and Gift Aid – Sat 23 Nov 2024 - 10am-12noon
Session 3: Year-End Reporting – Sat 30 Nov 2024 - 10am-12noon
Gift Aid Maximising the benefits and reducing the pitfalls (Virtual via Zoom) – Tue 3rd Dec 2024 – FREE - 10am – 1pm
This course will look at Gift Aid in detail and examine all the requirements that it imposes as well as identifying ways in which churches can maximise their use of it. We will cover legal requirements, paperwork, audit trail, Is it a gift?, Donor benefit, making a claim; and the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme (GASDS).
*** To book a place on any of the above FREE courses please contact Samantha.amsden@durham.anglican.org stating which courses you would like to attend. Places are limited ***
Additional ACAT courses and events this autumn include the following. Please note a charge may apply for these sessions, which should be charged to the PCC as ‘cost of governance’.
The Church Treasurer: Insights into the role and responsibilities: (Virtual via Zoom) - Tue 12 Nov 2024 – 7pm – 8pm - £10pp
This course is designed for church treasurers new to the job, trustees looking for a new treasurer and those who have been asked to take on the role of church treasurer - Don't miss this opportunity to gain information to make you more confident in taking on the role in your church.
Introduction to being a Church Trustee (PCC): Some things to think about – (Virtual via Zoom) - Tue 19 Nov 2024 – 7pm – 8pm - £10pp
This course provides insight for those considering joining a PCC, exploring the role's responsibilities, eligibility, and its biblical context.
To find out more and to book a place, please visit the ACAT website here.
The ACAT Annual Conference is held in October each year. The conference is ideal for anyone connected with the finances or management of a church, whether you are the Treasurer, Chair or a member of your PCC. The 2024 conference is 19th October in Cambridge. If you can’t attend in person, there is the option to access a livestream (via zoom) of the event. For more information please visit the ACAT booking page here
If you are new to the role of Treasurer or feel it helpful for other members of your PCC to understand your role, the Association of Church Accountants and Treasurers (ACAT) provide an introductory Guide for New Church Treasurers available here.
The Diocese of Durham provides block membership to ACAT for all parish treasurers. ACAT, the charity for Treasurers of Christian churches, provide members with advice, training and information on accounting, financial, legal and other related issues. Treasures will need a ‘block member’ code to access to log in the ACAT. Please contact Samantha.amsden@durham.anglican.org for your block member code.
Data Developments hold regular training webinars aimed at helping treasurers and Gift Aid Secretaries understand their role, the different types of fund, SORP, financial controls and Gift Aid. You can sign up to individual weeks or to all the sessions; the course is entirely free.
The course explains the requirements with practical examples and give useful hints and tips for both new and existing treasurers. Time is left at the end of each session for live Q&A.
If you are unable to join the webinars, please register anyway and you will receive recorded versions to view at your own convenience. The courses are regularly repeated, so don’t worry if you miss one. To view the latest schedule and register for a webinar visit the Data Developments Training Page here.
Accounting Software Training
Many parishes are using the Data Developments software (My Fund Accounting & Finance Co-ordinator) for both accounts and gift aid claims. There are training opportunities on the Data Developments website for £12 per module. Visit the Data Developments training pages to access. Scroll down the page to select the appropriate module for your software.
Here is a recorded training session on making an annual Return of Parish Finance (RPF) . The RPF is a summary report of each parish’s financial position and is used to monitor and inform national, diocese and denary plans. Each parish in the Church of England is required to complete this return via the Online Parish Returns System once the parish financial statements have been approved by the PCC.
Preparing the Financial Statements
We recently held a training session on Preparing the Financial Statements. We covered fund accounting, record keeping and the type of financial statements you need to prepare. We will also look at the approval process and annual returns. The presentation is below.