Do you have written policies on how staff and volunteers can use your organization's gift/credit/debit cards?
If so, do you have your card users sign a statement acknowledging their agreement to adhere to the terms of that written gift/debit/credit card policy? Do you enforce those policies?
Just handing over one of the church's "cards" without some policies in place is a bad idea. That includes "gift cards" too. While I think using "gift cards" is a good way to handle having staff and especially volunteers pick up supplies for the church... I have seen too many churches "mishandle" how to account for those
cards.
See this article on church embezzlement that includes some guidelines on setting up and enforcing gift, credit, and debit card usage AND accounting for gift and credit cards in your accounting software...
(link to Combo Package in the middle of each page)
Do You Have a "Usable" Accounting System?
This is the time of year that many churches and nonprofits realize they need a "better" accounting system.
I don't care if you purchased or are paying a monthly fee for the best nonprofit/church software money can buy...if you have staff or volunteers that can't use it ...or dread getting into it...it is NOT the best for you!
See this revised article on choosing the best software for your particular church or nonprofit organization...
There are TONS of videos available on the web for using QuickBooks BUT not very many "accurate" videos on using QB for churches...especially with QBO! See more on using QuickBooks for Churches and Nonprofits!
The secret to making QuickBooks work efficiently and "easier" for churches is setting up the desktop or online version properly to track designated funds. (Despite what you hear on the web...you can use QBO to track funds and Lisa can show you how!)
The price of the 3 course bundle ...which is what I recommend you purchase ...is comparable to a 3 day training session, BUT unlike a seminar in which you forget half of what you were taught after you get home...you get a lifetime access to your training courses. You can watch them on your tablet or phone while working in your QuickBooks at a time that
is convenient to you.
Even if you already know quite a bit about QuickBook, you will find the "Advanced Topics" and "Common Mistakes" courses very valuable as they cover topics you don't see every day and may need a quick refresher on =) the other day I needed to watch her video on recording gift cards for benevolence and not only did it show me step by step how to do it...but there was a "gift card
log" attached to that course that I could use.
As a Free Church Accounting reader, you can use the discount code "FCA" for a 10 percent discount! See more details on the "Accountant Beside You" website...
See this site for some Church Credit Card Usage Policies & Procedures (P&Ps) and usage forms such as a Church Credit Card Purchase Approval, Credit Card Request, Credit Card User Log and Missing Receipt.
