Several months ago, Julie Knudsen announced her decision to step down as treasurer when her Vestry term ends, at the end of the year. Julie has generously provided accounting expertise for many years: she is a CPA and in her “day job” serves as Executive Director of Finance and Administration for the California-Nevada Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. In other words, she’s not someone who will be easy to replace!
With Julie’s help, the Budget and Finance Committee explored several options, including possibly sharing staff with another parish or engaging a local accounting firm, without success. A webinar presented by the Episcopal Parish Network introduced us to the possibility of “managed” (that is, outsourced) accounting and to Chazin and Company, an accounting firm based in the Washington D.C. area, devoted exclusively to providing accounting services for non-profit organizations, including a number of Episcopal churches.
Following a thorough check of references, the Vestry approved engaging Chazin. There will be an initial “on-boarding” process, during which a new bill payment system (bills.com) will likely be implemented and our current accounts with QuickBooks and Realm will be reviewed. Chazin bills by the hour, which creates a powerful incentive for St. Martin’s to manage as much record-keeping as possible in house and to be as efficient as possible. Chazin will make sure we are following best practices of accounting, and will help define the roles played by staff members Gabe Avila and Janet Lane, and by lay leadership. The initial contract with Chazin is for one year and will be reviewed by the Vestry at the end of that year.
Over the years we have asked a lot from Julie: she has been extraordinarily generous with her time and her expertise. She is leaving her current role with our systems and finances in good shape. Hiring Chazin reflects the Vestry’s commitment to manage the parish’s resources wisely, and to provide crucial expertise that is not otherwise available, either from the staff or from volunteers. Our interactions with them thus far have been very professional, with helpful discussions and timely responses.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to the members of the Budget and Finance Committee: Jessie Ann Owens, Julie Knudsen, Chris Reynolds, Neil Willits, or our rector Pamela. And if you have expertise in this area, please consider joining the Committee at the new year. We meet monthly to review financial statements and make recommendations to the Vestry about investment strategies, long-term budget allocations, and more.