The Parish Finance CommitteeParish administration follows both Canon Law and English law of the land. Under English law, the Parish is part of the Diocese of East Anglia, which is governed by a group of Trustees. Some years ago, those Trustees registered the Diocese as a legal charity. Parishes are part of that charity but not charities themselves.Both sets of laws ensure that there is proper financial management and accountability of the Parish. English law concentrates on the Diocese but not directly on the Parish. It is Canon law that establishes the Parish Priest as the responsible manager of the parish and requires him to appoint a Finance Committee, not to make financial decisions but to advise him on those decisions. It also provides that a Treasurer and a separate chairperson must be appointed, with supporting members to complete the committee. Other clergy of the parish are also able to attend meetings.The Parish Priest is responsible for seeing that full and accurate accounts are kept of the Parish’s income and expenditure and that these follow the form that the Diocese requires. Copies of those accounts are sent to the Diocese at the end of June and December each year. This enables the Diocese to oversee how the parish is managing, and with similar accounts from every parish, to compile accounts for the Diocese as a whole. Like all charities, the Diocese submits the full accounts and other documents to the national Charities Commission and arranges for an independent audit of the accounts.Over the year, the Parish Finance Committee deals with a consideration of the accounts as they are to be reported to the Diocese, details of income and expenditure, and the amounts held in bank accounts and in parish funds that the Diocese holds. As well as ensuring the parish has sufficient cash to meet its needs, it is also responsible for routine care and maintenance of buildings and other material assets. Individual items of expenditure of over £5,000 also require approval from the Diocese. The Parish Gift Aid Officer reports to the Committee and will therefore usually be a member. All this work takes five or so meetings spread across the year.