Benefits of Outsourced Church Accounting – Expertise and Experience

If you have landed on this page, you are likely wondering why you should outsource church accounting.

One of the primary benefits of outsourcing with ChurchShield is that we are able to provide an accountant with more expertise and experience at a lower price point than an in-house accountant. When you consider the total cost of an employee (salary, benefits, overhead, etc.), our full-service accounting is typically more cost effective than a church employing an in-house accountant.

It is important to note that all our primary contacts are degreed accountants (not bookkeepers) who specialize in church accounting. Further, working with a third party gives our clients the assurance that their financial records are being reviewed by an independent party, adding a layer of transparency and accountability.

Continuity of Knowledge

At ChurchShield, we utilize a team approach within our accounting service, ensuring that more than one of our staff members is familiar with your accounting system. If a church has an in-house employee leave employment, the church has to replace the knowledge that is lost and is left to train the next accountant; whereas, one of the benefits of outsourced church accounting is that it lifts this burden off of the church. Further, because of our team approach, the loss of an accountant at ChurchShield does not equate to the loss of the knowledge of your accounting system.

Best Practices for Churches

Our work with churches over the past 20 years has allowed us to develop a significant knowledge base of best practices for the administrative side of churches. When clients are looking for advice in a particular area, our accountants can draw upon this knowledge to determine what the best course of action is for the church in light of current regulations, desired outcomes, and church-specific culture.

We often get requests from clients to connect with similar churches to discuss the addition of a new venture (coffee shop, daycare, etc.) and when permissible (and with permission), we are able to connect our clients so they can share their experiences.

Cross Department Communication

Among the benefits of using outsourced church accounting is that ChurchShield offers a wide array of services, including accounting, payroll, HR, insurance, tax preparation, compliance consulting, and a retirement plan, all designed to assist churches in fulfilling their missions.

When clients are engaged with more than one of our departments, they often find it beneficial that our staff are able walk down the hall to collaborate with one another. Therefore, engaging with ChurchShield allows a client to tap into the cumulative knowledge of 45-plus professionals who have dedicated themselves to working with churches in a variety of administrative capacities.

FAQs About Outsourcing Church Accounting

How do your fees work?

We use a fixed monthly retainer approach for accounting clients. This retainer is based on a variety of transactional volumes and reporting requirements. Typically, our services are less costly than hiring an employee to fulfill the same accounting functions.

What reports are available?

We take pride in collaborating with our clients to design and produce reports that best communicate to the client’s leadership the financial status of the church.   Therefore, we offer a variety of reports such as cash management reports, payables reports, weekly dashboard reports, monthly departmental reports, standard financial statements, as well as a variety of custom reports. 

What are key benefits of outsourced church accounting with ChurchShield?

By choosing ChurchShield to manage your church accounting, you’ll benefit from the following:

• Experience – Our team of accountants here at ChurchShield have over 100 years of combined experience in the industry. All of our staff accountants are degreed accountants that specialize in church accounting.
• Best practices – We have been working in church administrative services for over 20 years, and with this experience we are able to draw upon our knowledge to determine the ideal processes for each organization we work with. To accomplish this, we consider the current regulations, desired outcomes, and specific church culture. 
• Expertise with churches – We offer a variety of services for churches including accounting, payroll, HR, insurance, tax preparation, compliance consulting, and a retirement plan. When you engage with us, you’ll have over 45 individuals from our team dedicated to serving your church. Our team collaborates regularly to achieve the best services for our clients.

Who will be handling my accounting data and records?

With our team approach, there is always more than one individual familiar with your account. This ensures that you can get in touch with someone on your accounting team, even if the primary contact isn’t available.

How can I access my data and documents?

We store all of your data and documents using Google Drive’s Enterprise products. One of the benefits of outsourced church accounting from ChurchShield is that you’ll have online access to your data anywhere, from any device, all around the clock.

Reap the Benefits of Outsourced Church Accounting Today

At ChurchShield, our services are tailored to meet your needs and budget. We are here to handle your payroll, compliance, and accounting so that you can be free to minister. Discover why outsourcing church accounting is the smart choice for your organization by contacting us today.