Role of the Treasurer
Treasurers play a vital role within the Parochial Church Council (PCC) and we appreciate your willingness to support your local parish in this practical capacity. The Finance Team at the Diocese is here to support all Parish Treasurers; if you have any questions or need any information please contact the Parish Support Officer, Lizzy Anderson .
Please find below some documents that both Treasurers and non Treasurers may find useful which describe what a Treasurer needs to do, and when.
For more information about what is involved in being a PCC treasurer, please click on the link Role of a PCC Treasurer and use the Treasurer Tasks breakdown and calendar to plan your time.
If you are a new treasurer, you can use go through our Handover Checklist for PCC Treasurers with the outgoing treasurer to ensure that you are registered on all the necessary systems and accounts to enable you to carry out your new role. The Keep or bin document lists how long paperwork should be retained for your records.
Keeping Records
It is up to PCC Treasurers, along with the PCC, to decide the best system for maintaining accounting records for their parish. Which is most appropriate will depend upon the size and complexity of the parish. There are many commercial accounting packages available some of which are designed specifically for charities and even churches, although many of the smaller parishes find that an excel spreadsheet is sufficient, and there are still some parishes maintaining paper records.
The Exeter Cashbook is an Excel spreadsheet that has been created to record PCC receipts and payments, and which produces a Receipts and Payments Statement for the year as well as the Return of Parish Finance. Many thanks to the Gloucester Diocese Board of Finance who developed this tool and allow us to use it.
- Exeter Cashbook FAQs
- Cashbook 2025
- Cashbook Manual
- Cash Handling Procedures
- Template Banking Sheet
- Budget Template
For smaller parishes there is also simple excel template available – please ask if you would like a copy.
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Other websites with useful information and guidance include:
- Parish resources: a comprehensive website maintained by the Stewardship & Resources team of the Church of England with lots of information for treasurers as well as links to other useful sites.
- Parish returns website: this is where you enter your Return of Parish Finance
- HMRC gift aid
- Cornerstone: search this site for specific grants for churches in Devon
