Good financial management is essential for running a successful ministry. If you don’t have solid bookkeeping, everything else your church does will suffer, whether directly or indirectly.
Inaccurate financial records can lead to an assortment of problems. Failing to properly handle and track the funds given by your congregation can result in simple issues like mild overspending or something detrimental like financial misconduct.
Numerous obstacles exist when it comes to ensuring finances are managed properly, but those obstacles can be overcome when you utilize a tool like Realm®, which was designed to help your church succeed.
Obstacle #1: You aren’t using accounting software.
Even though we’ve been solidly living in the digital age for years now, there are many who are still reluctant to turn to technology, especially when it comes to finances.
But if you’ve had a physical ledger for decades or are using spreadsheets to keep up with your accounting needs, you’re setting yourself up for problems.
What happens if the physical copy of your financial records is damaged or destroyed? Or what if the person who’s been managing your money leaves on bad terms and decides to delete your financial spreadsheet on the way out?
If you don’t have a cloud-based tool, you’re stuck when something happens.
How Realm can help:
Realm Accounting is always accessible. Whether your administrator needs to process payroll while on a mission trip or your financial review committee needs to check the budget from their meeting, Realm Accounting is available to them.
You don’t have to worry about losing your records in a natural disaster because they all live in the cloud. You don’t have to stress if someone leaves unexpectedly or because of negative circumstances, because your financial data is protected.
Having a software solution designed to support ministry means that Realm is ready for you, no matter what your church needs.
Obstacle #2: You’re relying on manual bookkeeping.
The idea that if you want it done right, you should do it yourself rarely has positive results, especially in ministry.
If you’re taking the reins on your bookkeeping and insisting on tracking your church’s income and expenses without the help of accounting software, you’re adding work for yourself with every contribution and transaction.
By manually adding every line item, you’re leaving room for mistakes and taking valuable time away from other ministry tasks.
How Realm can help:
Realm Accounting integrates with Contributions, Payroll, and Giving.
Linking your accounting software with your tools for online giving, payroll processing, and managing congregant contributions means you don’t have to spend precious hours making sure every number matches.
Your financial records will automatically update in your accounting system as money both comes in and goes out.
Whether you just processed your staff payroll or collected the weekly tithes, you can trust that the numbers you see in Realm Accounting are always right.
Obstacle #3: Too many people have access to your financial records.
When there are too many cooks in the kitchen, it ends in confusion. Too many voices sharing differing ideas, pushing their plans, and fighting for control of situations impact their ability to make a dish successfully.
Giving too many people access to your financial records functions much the same. Not only will you struggle to ensure the accuracy of your data with so many hands manipulating it, but you’ll also find it difficult to prevent misconduct.
If you allow people who don’t genuinely need access to your financial data to see and influence the information, you’re making it easier for someone to abuse the access.
Just because someone is on staff or is a key leader in your body of deacons or elders doesn’t mean they should have access to your church’s accounting system.
How Realm can help:
Realm allows you to give your staff and volunteers access to exactly what they need to see.
You don’t have to worry about accidentally leaving room for misconduct or dealing with inaccurate data because too many people are contributing to the system. Each person can only see and edit what they are responsible for managing.
For those who need to see reports or budgets but don’t need other permissions, you can export statements or share specific information without allowing the ability to alter the data, protecting your financial information from inaccuracy, both deliberate and unintentional.
Obstacle #4: You don’t have or don’t stick to a budget.
If your ministry doesn’t have a budget for the year, it’s setting itself up for financial problems.
It will take time and effort, but creating a budget based on how much money you anticipate will come through your doors and how you plan to spend each dollar will save you time and headaches later on.
The same is true for sticking with the budget you create. You don’t want to discover that there isn’t enough money left to pay the bills in December or that you could’ve participated in that mission opportunity earlier in the year that you thought you couldn’t afford.
Being a good steward of your church’s finances requires good planning, so making and sticking with a budget is essential.
How Realm can help:
Realm makes it easy to create and manage your budget throughout the year.
You can build your budget within the software or import an existing file. Realm also allows you to export your budget for revisions or updates.
You’ll see in a single place how your giving compares to what you anticipated and how that number matches up with your planned spending.
It’s easy to stick to a budget when your income and expenses automatically update as you go because all of your financial systems are integrated to provide a seamless stewardship solution.
Conclusion
You have the ability to set your ministry up for success.
No matter the obstacles, Realm can help you move past each one.
With the right tool, you can effectively manage your church’s finances and be a good steward of God’s resources.
ACS Technologies
ACS Technologies sets a new standard in church technology, offering a holistic suite of solutions that streamline administrative tasks and empower your staff to excel in their roles and your church to excel in your community.
In the ever-evolving landscape of church engagement and management, ACS Technologies rises above the rest. Our comprehensive church solutions, bespoke digital offerings, streamlined communication tools, comprehensive ministry consulting, and training make us the trusted choice for over fifty thousand churches. Experience the ACS Technologies advantage and elevate your church’s online presence, connectivity, and generosity today. Join us in redefining church technology for the digital age, where your ministry’s success becomes our shared mission.
