Accountant (Potong Pasir) - Church - #1170199

Role Overview

The Accountant is responsible for the day-to-day accounting operations and financial reporting of the Diocese and its related entities. This includes maintaining and reviewing full sets of accounts, consolidating financial information, supporting annual budgeting and audit activities, and ensuring that financial records and reports are accurate and properly maintained.

Reporting to the Finance Manager, the Accountant will act as the Finance Manager’s deputy by providing technical guidance to the finance team, reviewing the work of other finance staff and supporting the effective operation of the finance function.

The finance team consists of four employees: the Finance Manager, Accountant, Finance Executive and a part-time finance employee.

Responsibilities

1. Accounts and Financial Reporting

• Maintain and review the full sets of accounts of the Diocese and its related entities.

• Ensure that accounting records, supporting documents and reconciliations are accurate, complete and properly maintained.

• Review and consolidate the monthly accounts and reports prepared by the finance team, including:

  • Income and Expenditure Statements

  • Balance Sheets

  • Aged Trial Balances

  • Outstanding Loans Reports

  • Deanery bank account updates

• Review the individual accounts submitted by the churches and consolidate them at the Diocese level.

• Identify discrepancies, unusual transactions and matters requiring further investigation.

• Follow up with the relevant finance employees and escalate significant matters to the Finance Manager.

• Prepare financial reports, schedules and supporting information for the Finance Manager’s review and presentation to the Finance Board.

2. Team Support and Technical Guidance

• Review the accounting work completed by other finance employees.

• Provide guidance on accounting treatments, financial processes, documentation and reporting requirements.

• Assist the finance team in resolving day-to-day accounting and operational issues.

• Coach and support team members in strengthening their accounting, finance and administrative capabilities.

• Support the Finance Manager in overseeing the daily activities and priorities of the finance team.

• Identify opportunities to improve internal controls, financial processes and operational efficiency.

• Work with the Finance Manager and finance team to implement agreed process improvements.

• Support the planned transition from Sage to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

3. Annual Audit

• Prepare and review audit schedules, accounting records and supporting documents for the annual audit.

• Coordinate the timely provision of information and documents to the external auditors.

• Respond to routine audit queries and assist in resolving audit-related matters.

• Follow up with finance employees on outstanding audit schedules, documents and action items.

• Escalate significant accounting issues or matters requiring a management decision to the Finance Manager.

4. Annual Budget

• Coordinate the annual budget exercise and collect budget submissions from the relevant contributors.

• Review submissions for completeness, accuracy and reasonableness.

• Follow up with contributors on missing information, discrepancies and routine clarifications.

• Consolidate the budget submissions and prepare the relevant budget schedules.

• Identify significant variances, unusual items and matters requiring the Finance Manager’s attention.

• Support the Finance Manager in revising and preparing the proposed annual budget for management and Finance Board review.

• Assist in explaining budget information and responding to questions from Finance Board members.

5. Collective Investment Arrangement

• Administer the Diocese’s collective investment arrangement involving participating parishes and other stakeholders.

• Process monthly investment and withdrawal instructions accurately and promptly.

• Ensure that the relevant instructions, approvals and supporting documents are properly maintained.

• Prepare unitised reports based on the bank’s monthly statements.

• Prepare and issue individual investment reports to participating parties.

• Liaise with the bank, participating parishes and other stakeholders on operational matters.

• Refer exceptional, complex or policy-related matters to the Finance Manager.

6. Charity Reporting and Parish Support

• Coordinate the preparation and annual submission of the Diocese’s financial statements and annual report through the Charity Portal.

• Monitor and follow up on the parishes’ annual Charity Portal submissions.

• Review parish submissions for completeness and identify information requiring clarification.

• Provide practical guidance to parishes on Charity Portal submission requirements.

• Respond to routine enquiries from parishes regarding charity reporting.

• Refer unusual or complex reporting matters to the Finance Manager.

7. Finance Enquiries and Stakeholder Support

• Respond to routine finance-related enquiries from parishes, banks, auditors and other stakeholders.

• Gather the necessary information and supporting documents for more complex enquiries.

• Prepare draft responses to complex enquiries for the Finance Manager’s review.

• Follow through on finance-related matters assigned by the Finance Manager.

• Work effectively with pastors, church representatives, volunteers, auditors, banks, regulators and other stakeholders.

• Ensure that requested information and supporting documents are provided accurately and promptly.

8. Parish Quota Waiver Applications

• Coordinate and process annual parish quota waiver applications in accordance with the approved guidelines.

• Review applications and supporting documents for completeness.

• Follow up with parishes where additional information or clarification is required.

• Refer difficult, exceptional or policy-related cases to the Finance Manager.

9. Finance Board and Honorary Treasurer’s Meetings

• Prepare financial reports, presentation materials and supporting papers for the bi-monthly Finance Board meetings.

• Prepare the relevant finance materials for the annual Honorary Treasurer’s meeting.

• Collate and review meeting documents before submission.

• Attend meetings where required to present or explain financial information and respond to questions.

• Review and vet meeting minutes prepared by the finance team before submitting them to the Finance Manager.

• Follow up on finance-related action items arising from the meetings.

10. Tax and GST Matters

• Prepare schedules, financial information and supporting documents required for tax and GST matters.

• Carry out follow-up actions and implement agreed changes relating to tax and GST matters affecting the Diocese and its parishes.

• Coordinate with the relevant finance employees and stakeholders to obtain the required information.

• Refer complex technical or policy matters to the Finance Manager or relevant professional advisers.

Requirements

• Degree in Accountancy or a recognised professional accounting qualification.

• Candidates with a related degree and strong relevant accounting experience may also be considered.

• At least four to five years of relevant accounting and finance experience.

• Hands-on experience managing full sets of accounts, financial reporting, annual audits and budgeting.

• Experience reviewing financial information and consolidating accounts from multiple entities or reporting units.

• Experience providing technical guidance, coaching or support to finance team members.

• Strong understanding of accounting principles, financial controls and reporting requirements.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and accounting systems.

• Experience with Sage or Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central would be advantageous.

• Experience supporting an accounting-system implementation or migration would be beneficial.

• Experience in the charity, non-profit or church sector and familiarity with Singapore charity reporting requirements would be advantageous but is not essential.

Key Competencies

• Strong technical accounting and financial reporting capabilities.

• Analytical and attentive to discrepancies and unusual financial items.

• Able to review the work of others and provide practical technical guidance.

• Able to communicate and explain financial matters clearly to finance and non-finance stakeholders.

• Confident in preparing reports and responding to questions during management or board meetings.

• Strong spoken and written English.

• Organised and able to manage multiple deadlines, including audit, budget and regulatory reporting timelines.

• Professional and comfortable working with senior office-holders, pastors, volunteers, auditors, banks, regulators and other stakeholders.

• Able to work independently while escalating significant or complex matters appropriately.

• Comfortable working in a Christian and church-based environment and respectful of the Diocese’s mission and values.

Working Arrangements

• Working days: Monday to Friday

• Working hours: 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

• Work arrangement: Fully office-based

Additional

Finance Board meetings are generally held once every two months, from approximately 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

Employees are also expected to attend the Synod/AGM sessions held twice a year, normally in May and November. These sessions are generally held on Friday evenings from approximately 7.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. and on Saturday mornings from approximately 8.30 a.m. until lunchtime. Approved time off in lieu will be provided for attendance outside normal working hours.

EA Personnel Name: Jackie Ng

EA Personnel No: R22109024

EA License No: 95C5411

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