Description
ACCOUNTABILITY:
The Bishop of Manchester is the visible principal and foundation of unity in the particular diocese entrusted to him. In a unique and visible way, he makes Christ’s mission present and enduring as Shepherd of the Christian Community. In order to fulfill his mission, the Bishop employs suitable, chosen collaborators (clerics, religious, or lay people). He shares with them the apostolic mission and entrusts various responsibilities to them.
Each position employed in the Diocesan Administration helps to extend the ministry of the Bishop in particular ways as outlined in the position description. All employees of the Diocesan Administration assist the Bishop of Manchester in serving the parishes, schools and institutions of the Catholic Church in New Hampshire.
The Finance Officer position is an ecclesiastical office mandated by the universal law of the Church in the Code of Canon Law of the Latin Roman Catholic Church, canon 494. This position is accountable to the Bishop of Manchester.
RESPONSIBILITES:
This is a senior executive staff position responsible for the overall financial operations of the Diocese of Manchester and for fostering the diocesan mission as a professional, honest, and prudent temporal resource in accordance with the Code of Canon Law. Responsibilities include managing the temporal resources of the Diocese of Manchester, including the management and supervision of financial functions as well investments, insurance, risk management, real estate, internal audit, parish and school bookkeeping services, Diocesan facilities, and cemetery operations.
As a cabinet secretary, this position will play a key role to assist the Bishop in developing pastoral and administrative priorities for the Diocese as well as strategies for achieving them.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
- Responsible for overseeing design and operation of overall financial control policies and procedures.
- Analyze internal and external financial and economic trends and their likely impact on future operations and develop strategies to address as needed.
- Lead all financial planning and reporting activities including:
- Oversight of the budget process from inception to review and approval by the Bishop.
- Evaluating actual vs budget variances and work with responsible parties to remedy any disparities and close gaps in budget performance.
- Preparing monthly financial performance reports and present results.
- Review all contracts, and other legal documents for financial implications, prior to execution.
- Oversee all Diocesan investments in conjunction with the Investment Policy of the Diocese.
- Oversee and coordinate with the Controller the preparation of the financial statements and overall financial reporting for the Diocese.
- Monitor parish and school financial conditions and compliance with Diocesan finance policies.
- Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of Diocesan and parish accounting procedures and implement appropriate changes as identified.
- Review with the Director of Human Resources the provisions of the Diocesan lay retirement, health and dental benefits including acceptable self-insurance risk limits and the policies and procedures.
- Reviews with the Director of Human Resources the provisions of the retirement benefit plan for the clergy of the Diocese.
- Primary point of contact for the Diocesan Finance Council and its various sub-committees.
- Ensures compliance with the canonical rules required for business transactions.
- Complete projects or assignments as directed by and in support of the Bishop of Manchester.
Requirements
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS REQUIRED:
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in a business-related field: finance, accounting, economics. Master’s degree in business administration and/or Certified Public Accountant strongly preferred.
- Knowledge and training in accounting/financial matters, general business and personnel management with regard to not-for-profit institutions preferred.
Experience:
- 10+ years of professional experience with multiple responsibilities in leadership positions in accounting or finance.
- Administrative and/or board leadership in a not-for-profit environment, preferably the Catholic Church, to include working with consultative bodies, supervision, accounting, investing, borrowing, business law, real estate, risk management, and insurance.
- Knowledge of the Catholic Church, its administrative structures, functions, and institutions, and business-related government regulations.
- Knowledge of canon law relative to the administration of temporal good preferred.
Skills:
- Proficient in the use of personal computers including word processing, spreadsheet, database and Internet programs (requirement details are found in a separate document and are under the direction of the Director of Information Services).
- Must have advanced knowledge of budgeting principles and practices, accounting principles, investment and financial reporting methodologies; experience in strategic planning is desired.
- Must have strong organizational, administrative, interpersonal, and leadership skills and the ability to work in a senior management position.
- Able to communicate well both orally and in writing, including public speaking skills; multi-lingual ability helpful.
- Must be able to maintain confidentiality.
- Must have a high degree of flexibility, the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, and a high level of independent thought and initiative.
- Able to use office equipment such as: computers, calculators, copiers, fax machines, etc.
- Must be able to travel throughout the State of New Hampshire.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. General office - clean, well-lit, environmentally comfortable
2. Minimal exposure to chemicals related to copier equipment and general office solvents
3. Lifting and carrying objects up to ten pounds frequently required; lifting and carrying objects weighing between eleven and fifty pounds occasionally required
4. Occasionally required to reach at shoulder level; reaching below shoulder level frequently required
5. Frequent hand manipulation is required in operating equipment; occasional hand manipulation is required in grasping and/or handling materials and objects and/or handling controls
6. Other physical activity (twisting, bending, squatting, crawling, kneeling, climbing) occasionally required
7. Position requires working at desk approximately two-thirds of the work day; balance of time divided between standing and walking
8. Able to be present in the office for the majority of the time. Remote work opportunities will occasionally be available.
Due to the nature of this position as an ecclesiastical office, it is required that the incumbent be a practicing Roman Catholic who is active in a parish, is “absolutely distinguished for honesty” in accord with canon 494 of the Code of Canon Law of the Latin Roman Catholic Church and complies with the Diocese of Manchester Code of Ministerial Conduct.
