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The Episcopal Diocese of Montana
About Us
News & Events
Ministries
Camp Marshall
Episcopal Relief & Development
United Thank Offering
Congregational Development
Governing Bodies
General Convention Deputies
Resources
Safe Church
Season of Creation
Wardens & Vestry
Parish Administrators
Treasurers
Priests In Charge
Deacon Formation
Forms
Grants
Licensing & Ordination
Policies & Canons
Prayer Cycle Calendar
Supply Clergy
0
0
Donate
About Us
News & Events
Folder: Ministries
Back
Camp Marshall
Episcopal Relief & Development
United Thank Offering
Congregational Development
Governing Bodies
General Convention Deputies
Folder: Resources
Back
Safe Church
Season of Creation
Wardens & Vestry
Parish Administrators
Treasurers
Priests In Charge
Deacon Formation
Forms
Grants
Licensing & Ordination
Policies & Canons
Prayer Cycle Calendar
Supply Clergy
Donate
Audit Year:
Rector:
Treasurer:
Other:
Financial Records maintained by:
Location of Financial Records:
Location of audit:
Date of audit:
Audit Committee: (Please list names below)
Others present during the audit: (Please list names below)
Have you discussed the objectives and scope of the audit? *
Have you arranged the time schedule? *
Have you discussed reimbursement of expense? *
Do you know where you will meet to conduct the audit? *
Wil the required records be available for review? *
Are the treasurer, bookkeeper and anyone else involved with the finances available for questions? *
Has the engagement letter setting forth the agreements between the audit committee and vestry been signed? *
Is vestry approval of the budget noted in the minutes? *
Is it noted in the vestry minutes that they have seen financial statements (income statement and balance sheet) and compared actual income and expense to budget or discussed major discrepancies? *
Is it noted in the minutes that the vestry reviews the budget at least quarterly? *
Are quarterly reports for all other funds, including restricted and investment funds provided to the vestry? *
Has the vestry approved proprety purchase or disposal of equipment? *
Does the church have petty cash? *
Does the cash on hand + the amount of receipts = the amount of petty cash on the balance sheet? *
Have you examined paid checks for authorized signatures? See the internal controls questionnaire for authorized signatures. *
Have checks been compared to the disbursement journal/register for payes and amounts? *
Look at December 2023 bank statement for checks and then look at the January 2024 statement to see if they have cleared. If the checks have not cleared, ask about their policy for voiding or reissuing checks within 90 or 180 days. If no policy, note it and recommend they adopt a policy regarding voided and stale checks. *
Look at December statement from 2024 to see if there are outstanding checks. Look at the January 2025 statement to see if those checks have cleared. Have they cleared? *
Compare checks to check register for amounts and payees to test for accuracy. Are there discrepancies? *
Compare deposit slips and donor records with the bank deposits for the full year. Are there discrepancies? Sample at least one deposit per month. *
If there are transfers between accounts, have both sides of the transfer been accounted for? *
Are all checking accounts (including discretionary funds and Episcopal Church Women - ECW) in the name of the congregation using its Federal Employer Identification number? *
If there are checks written to "cash", is adequate documentation to support them? *
If there are debit card transactions, is adequate documentation to support them? *
Look at register for assessment payments. Are checks written to the diocese before the 10th of each month? *
If the church has a credit card, is it paid in full and on time each month? List the limit on each card and the cardholder(s) name(s) below: *
Do receipts noting the expenses accompany each credit card statement? There should be a receipt for each charge on the bill. Please list any discrepancies or issues in the notes and include in the audit findings letter. *
Review the cash counting sheets - do they match deposit slips for the week? Sample at least one per month. *
Look at a sample of discretionary fund checks. Are there checks written to vendors (without explanation) that could be for operating expenses? Review at least one check per month. If there is not a separate discretionary fund, note that in the findings and note how the funds are tracked. *
Do the records of total receipts per individual pledge agree with the amounts recorded on the deposits or the amounts on the donor records? *
Have the postings and arithmetic on individual pledge records been tested? *
If there is a separate gift system, have you reviewed the information? You can check this by looking at ACH deposits into the bank account or reviewing PayPal donations or others as identified by the congregation. *
Have you reviewed records on gifts, such as bequests, which are contingent on future events? *
Have you reviewed information on wills, life insurance policies, life, income, endowment and annuity gifts gifted to the church? *
Review a sample of the letters to donors. Do they have the language required by the IRS regarding contributions over $250 that states that it is - "the contemporaneous acknowledgement required by the Internal Revenue Code and that in accordance with Section 170(F) (8) (B) any goods or services provided consist solely of intangible religious benefits"? *
Are the investment statements in the name of the church? *
Are investments income and dividends recorded? *
Does the market value from the investment statement match the market value listed on the financial statements for January and December? (Beginning and end of year) *
Can you see withdrawals from the investments? *
If there are withdrawals, verifythe money was transferred to another church account (checking, savings, or other investment). Can you see which account(s) funds were transferred into? *
Are all investment accounts included on the financial reports to the vestry *
Does the church have an Investment Policy Statement? *
Is the investment policy statement being followed? *
Have you seen a list of trust or endowment funds which includes their terms and the locations of investments as well as date of purchase and cost? *
Have you reviewed information about the deed of trust or agency agreement for each trust or endowment fund? *
Are terms of the trust or endowment being followed? *
Is there an inventory list of fixed assests showing date of purchase and cost? *
Review the inventory list. Does the list include the following items: *
Date acquired if known
*
Detailed Description
*
Replacement Value
*
Gifts that are restricted by the donor if applicable
Does the inventory list include the above items? If not, note it in the recommendations. *
Do you have a process for an annual review of the inventory? *
Walk through the church and look for some of the items on the list. Were you able to locate the items? *
Is an inventory list/record kept with the insurance file and another copy maintained either off site or in a fireproof safe? *
Are land and buildings listed on the financial statements? *
If the church has outstanding liens against the property or equipment have you reviewed the documentation? *
Have you seen personnel files? *
Have you seen a signed IRS form W4 and I9 Department of Justice Form for each employee (including clergy)? *
Have you seen a letter of agreement for both clergy and lay employees? *
Have you seen copies of new hire forms for each employee? (Or notation about when the reporting was made to the State of Montana for both lay and clergy). *
Does the letter of agreement or vestry resolution state that health insurance is provided? (to be in compliance with Diocesan Canon 16) *
If so, do you see bills for the health insurance on file
Has a housing resolution been included in the vestry minutes for each cleric employed by the congregation? *
Does the church provide a life insurance policy for the priest or lay staff? *
Does the church contribute to a health savings account for clergy or lay staff? *
Do the clergy or lay staff make pre-tax contributions to 403(b) plans? *
Have you seen a W2 form for all employees (both clergy and lay)? *
Are other income and withholding items included in Boz 12 on the W2 forms? Such as: imputed income, 403 (b) withholdings and health savings account contributions. *
Do the total wages on the W2 forms equal the totals on the quarterly 941 forms and W3 forms as well as the total expenses for salaries on the income statement? Imputed income does not appear on 941s or income statements but are added on to an individuals' income on W2s and W3s. *
Do the totals for withholding taxes on W3 form match the quarterly 941 forms? *
Are payroll tax returns (e.g. IRS 941) filed and deposits made on a timely basis? *
Look at state quarterly unemployment reports. Do salaries match totals on 941? (Minus clergy - they are excluded from state unemployment). Note: Churches are not require4d to pay Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA) for clergy or lay employees. *
Review annual worker's compensation reports. Are all employees listed? (Clergy are included on this report). *
Is a W9 form provided by every contractor or anyone who is paid for their services? *
If those who are issued a 1099 do not provide their own worker's compensation coverage, have they been added to the church's report or does the church have a copy of their Independent Contractor certificate that waives coverage? *
Are forms 1099 provided for all individuals who are not employees and for all entities paid $600 or more annually if they are not an S or C Corporation? *
Review pension expense on the income statement. It should equal 18% of the salary plus housing for a priest or 9% of salary for a lay person. Has the correct amount been paid for pension? *
If debt is noted in the Vestry minutes for the year being audited have the Bishop, Standing Committee, and Diocesan Council approved all debt? Debt includes Faber Fund loan from the diocese. If no new debt in audit year, mark N/A *
Have unpaid balances been reconciled with the balances reported by the creditor? *
Are all loan agreements and/or lease agreements in writing and properly safeguarded? *
Are periodic reviews conducted to determine compliance with deb/lease provisions? *
Are bills paid on time? (including loan or lease payments) *
Look at payments made in the January after the audit year. Do any of the payments appear that they should have been paid in December? *
If so, are they on the December statements as a liability? *
Are there any prepaid items listed in assets? *
Are any items showing as a prepaid item that should have been listed as an expense in the year being audited? *
Review insurance policies. Are they up to date? Policy info should be on file for the year being audited. *
Is the worker's compensation poster posted? *
Is the unemployment insurance poster posted? (if church has lay employees) *
Are the OSHA and minimum wage employment posters posted? (if church has lay employees). Posters can be obtained free of charge at local Job Service *
Does the assessment expense on the Income Statement equal the amount listed on the report from the diocese? *
Do the figures on the parochial report match the figures on the income statement? (Compare income and expenses for yar-end) *
Are there reserve funds set aside for building maintenance or major repairs listed on the Balance Sheet? *
Have you explained the vestry letter to the priest and treasurer and told them where to find it *
Please provide any additional information below:
Please list all names below of the audit committee.

Thank you!

CONTACT US


PHONE:(406) 442-2230
(800) 247-1391
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EMAIL
MAILING ADDRESS
P.O. Box 2020
Helena, Montana 59624
PHYSICAL ADDRESS
515 N. Park Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601

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