Podcast image for Family Church Network. Church for the rest of us.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

CFTROU 0079: The Business on Church Business: Pay for an External Audit

Our Family Church Business Administrator and CFO, Scott Crawford, joins us to talk about another important topic in the world of church business — external audits. These rigorous financial processes might seem out of place in the context of a church, however, on this episode we cover the many reasons that external audits are absolutely vital. They offer assurance to the leadership of your church and they help create a culture of accountability. We discuss the primary components of an external audit and where to begin the process. We also talk about the smaller steps you can take to gain greater control over the stewardship of finances, even before the external audit takes place.

Key Points:

  • Defining an external audit and the many reasons why it is a necessity.
  • The two primary components of an external audit.
  • The valuable support an external accountant can offer to lead pastors.
  • How external audits provide accountability to your accountability.
  • The reasons for resistance towards an external audit.
  • The process of selecting an accounting firm that’s a good fit for your church.
  • Viewing auditors as friends who help your team be better stewards of your church’s resources.
  • What internal controls are and the role they play in a comprehensive external audit.

As a pastor, I am 100% dependent on our team to give me the financial information that I have and an external audit makes sure of it. Click To TweetIt’s always a great thing that we can tell those who give to our church that we do an external audit every year. Click To Tweet

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

ECFA

Church Law & Tax

Scott Crawford on Twitter

Leslee Bennett on Twitter

Jimmy on Twitter

Get podcast updates delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe for free and never miss out on an episode of Church for the Rest of Us.

Subscribe via

Email

iTunes

Google Play

Stitcher

RSS

If you like us, rate us or leave a comment below.

Hopefully, this episode has given you principles, strategies, and ideas that you can implement right now with the resources you have. If so, can you let others know?

The best way to do that is to rate the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher and leave us a brief positive review!

This will help us place the podcast in front of more pastors and ministry leaders. It also lets us learn from you. Thank you for taking the time to get the word out about Church for the Rest of Us.