Church Business Administrator

Church Business Administrator

Foundry United Methodist Church

http://www.foundryumc.org

Reports to:  Senior Pastor

The Church Business Administrator is a vital member of the staff of Foundry United Methodist Church, a large downtown Washington DC church whose diverse, ecumenical congregation and tradition of leadership in the community date to 1814. The Church Business Administrator shares Foundry’s core values, among them a belief in Christ and His teachings, the commandment to serve others and to act and speak for the powerless, a compelling desire for diversity and full inclusion of all God’s children in the life of the church, and the critical nature of curiosity and intellectual honesty as we discern God’s path for us.

The Church Business Administrator is responsible for planning, organizing and conducting the business functions of the church, including budgeting, contracting, financial management, physical plant operations and maintenance, grounds maintenance, property management and records administration. The Church Business Administrator is the primary staff liaison to the relevant committees of the church including the audit, facilities and operations, finance, mission possible (capital campaign), personnel and stewardship committees.  In carrying out these responsibilities, he or she supervises a subordinate staff and, as necessary, oversees contractor personnel.

Essential Functions

1. Manages an Operations Staff Team, establishing clear directions and priorities.  Orients, trains, develops, and monitors the performance of subordinate personnel, ensuring both the quality of the work, the meeting of established deadlines, and the provision of training and equipment necessary for full performance.
2. Maintains familiarity with relevant manuals and procedures, including Foundry’s finance and personnel manuals, the safe sanctuary policy, conference and denominational handbooks, procedures and other instructions.  Provides for the updating of Foundry’s finance and personnel manuals and procedures, initiating appropriate changes when required by changes in state, federal or church law or in response to changes initiated by the relevant Foundry committees.
3. Oversees Foundry’s financial operations, including but not limited to accounting operations, generation of financial statements, facilitating the annual audit process, meeting internal reporting requirements, conducting accounts reconciliation, and ensuring timely and accurate payroll processing.
4. Supports annual budget development and execution, including timely and accurate reporting to the Senior Pastor, relevant committees and, as appropriate, financial contributors.
5. In cooperation with the Facilities and Operations Committee, plans for the maintenance and improvement of Foundry Church facilities, ensuring that both functionally and esthetically Foundry’s physical plant fully supports the church’s mission and strategic vision. Utilizing subordinate and contractor personnel oversees the maintenance and upkeep of Foundry’s buildings and grounds; develops and follows a schedule for preventive maintenance and proposes budgets for anticipated expenditures.
6. Provides for the continuing safety and security of Foundry personnel, equipment, buildings and congregants.  Ensures accessibility of buildings, grounds and facilities to those with disabilities. With the Facilities and Operations Committee, develops contingent plans for emergencies that might threaten the safety and security of personnel, congregants, facilities and equipment.  Maintains liaison with first responders to ensure their familiarity with Foundry operations and facilities. 
7. Conducts or oversees the continuing assessment and improvement of technology to enable and enhance the ministries of the church, including IT, database systems, telephones, security, lighting and sound, office equipment, and live-streaming.  Responds urgently to system and equipment failures, ensuring prompt recovery of service.
8. Ensures the maintenance and security of records, including compliance with relevant records system requirements and records retention policies.  Meets, or ensures, the meeting of all reporting requirements of the Baltimore-Washington Conference and the United Methodist Church and applicable state and local governments.  Advises church staff and relevant committees of those requirements.
9. Facilitates human resource management, orienting new personnel in personnel policies and procedures, the provisions of the personnel manual, payroll procedures, and entitlement to benefits.  Maintains personnel records and provides for their security and limiting access to those with a need to know.  Provides information to the personnel committee for compensation planning, compliance with performance management, and currency of position descriptions. 
10. Attends and constructively participates in staff meetings, conveying relevant information and responding constructively and collaboratively to inquires or requests for assistance.  Meets with committees for whom the Church Business Administrator is the staff liaison, exchanging information, and acts within established priorities to requests for information or assistance.
11. Periodically reports the status of operations to the Senior Pastor; keeps the Senior Pastor immediately and fully apprised of developments that might require the Senior Pastor’s intervention or which might adversely affect the operations of the church.

 Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education and experience in business administration, finance, accounting, or personnel administration.
• Ten years experience preferred of progressively responsible experience in a church or non-profit supervising the operations of an organization with a multi-million dollar budget, including its accounting and database management systems.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing and in constructing succinct, timely and pertinent reports.
• Ability to work effectively, harmoniously and responsively with other staff members and congregants, including diverse groups of persons such as those found in an inclusive congregation.
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) as they apply to a non-profit organization.
• A working knowledge of state and federal laws related to the functions of this position.
• Ability to establish and maintain appropriate priorities and meet established deadlines.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and integrity.
• Ability to negotiate effectively, ethically and firmly on behalf of the church.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise initiative and, as needed, to create and innovate.
• Proficiency in the use of computers and a wide range of business applications and systems, especially church accounting systems and other systems tailored for church and non-profit organizations. 
• A commitment both to continuing personal development and self-care, and maintaining wholeness as a person.

Salary

$70,000 - $85,000

Application Instructions

Email resume and cover letter to employment@foundryumc.org.