Accounting Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY

The Accounting Specialist at Cherry Hills Community Church supports the accurate, timely, and confidential processing of donor contributions, accounts payable, financial reconciliations, journal entries, deposits, and reporting. This role serves donors, vendors, ministry staff, and the Finance team by maintaining reliable records, following established internal controls, and ensuring financial activity is recorded according to donor intent and approved accounting practices. Success in this position supports faithful stewardship, accurate financial reporting, timely payments, strong donor relationships, and dependable ministry operations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Process and maintain accurate records for all contribution types, including cash, checks, credit cards, stock gifts, and other approved donations. 
• Preserve donor intent by recording designated contributions accurately and escalating unclear, inconsistent, or unsupported gift instructions to Finance leadership. 
• Verify that contributions, expenses, deposits, credit card activity, and other transactions are assigned to the correct fund, general ledger account, department, ministry, and bank account. 
• Process accounts payable requests in accordance with CHCC policies, approval requirements, internal controls, and established accounting procedures. 
• Review invoices, expense activity, and credit card transactions for accurate coding, required documentation, and appropriate approval, 
• Reconcile contribution, registration, vendor, credit card, deposit, and payment activity to the general ledger and supporting records. 
• Prepare and record weekly income deposits, midweek journal entries, monthly close entries, and other assigned accounting transactions. 
• Monitor outstanding approvals, receipts, coding, and documentation, and follow up promptly with staff to support timely payment and accurate reporting. 
• Coordinate the approval, signing, distribution, and mailing of checks and other authorized payments while maintaining required separation of duties. 
• Maintain accurate vendor records and resolve routine vendor payment discrepancies, account questions, and reconciliation issues in coordination with Finance leadership. 
• Prepare weekly, monthly, year-end, and requested financial reports, contribution summaries, supporting schedules, and related financial data or analysis. 
• Coordinate the timely preparation and distribution of donor acknowledgments, quarterly giving statements, and annual giving statements. 
• Respond to donor inquiries regarding contribution records with accuracy, discretion, and appropriate coordination with Finance leadership. 
• Prepare audit documentation, assist with external auditor requests, and support staff training and onboarding related to coding, accounts payable, documentation, and financial workflows.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• No direct supervisory responsibility.

SPIRITUAL EXPECTATIONS

• Approach the handling of donor gifts, church funds, and financial records as a responsibility of biblical stewardship. 
• Honor donor intent and support the appropriate use of church resources with integrity, accountability, and care. 
• Demonstrate discretion and pastoral sensitivity when financial information involves donors, congregants, ministry participants, or individuals receiving church assistance. 
• Recognize that accurate financial administration supports ministry effectiveness, organizational trust, and CHCC’s witness to the congregation and community.
• Affirm and support CHCC’s Statement of Faith and mission.
• Pursue personal spiritual growth through regular time in Scripture, prayer, and engagement in the life of the church.
• Reflect the Fruit of the Spirit in character, conduct, and relationships.
• Love and serve others within the church and broader community with humility and care.
• Foster Christ-centered relationships with staff, volunteers, and congregants.
• Lead by example in prayer, mentorship, and servant-hearted leadership.
• Uphold a servant-leader mindset consistent with a Christ-honoring workplace culture.
• Live out CHCC’s six staff values—exalt, praise, unity, empathy, effort, and accountability—through a spirit of humility, a commitment to excellence, and a heart to serve both God and others.

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or three to five years of relevant experience in accounting, bookkeeping, accounts payable, contribution processing, financial administration, or a closely related field.
• Working knowledge of general ledger accounting, including debits and credits, account coding, reconciliations, deposits, and journal entries.
• Experience processing detailed financial transactions with a high degree of accuracy and adherence to established approval procedures and internal controls.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including the ability to organize, compare, reconcile, and report financial data.
• What is Experience maintaining confidential financial, donor, customer, or organizational records.

Preferred

• Experience in nonprofit, church, fund, or contribution accounting.
• Experience supporting monthly close procedures, audit preparation, contribution statements, vendor management, or accounts payable operations.

QUALIFICATIONS and COMPETENCIES

• Demonstrated ability to perform detailed data entry, account coding, contribution processing, reconciliations, and financial record maintenance with a high degree of accuracy. 
• Ability to understand and apply donor designations, fund restrictions, general ledger structures, and established coding guidance. 
• Ability to recognize discrepancies, investigate supporting information, and escalate exceptions before transactions are finalized. 
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage recurring weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual deadlines. 
• Ability to follow established approval processes and internal controls while taking initiative to move assigned workflows forward. 
• Ability to distinguish between transaction preparation responsibilities and final approval authority. 
• Ability to collaborate closely with the Controller, Finance Director, ministry staff, donors, vendors, and external auditors. 
• Proficiency with accounting, contribution management, expense management, banking, and financial reporting systems, with the ability to learn organization-specific platforms. 
• Demonstrated discretion in handling confidential donor, banking, vendor, employee, and ministry information. 
• Ability to maintain accuracy and sound judgment during high-volume contribution periods, monthly close, year-end processing, and competing deadlines.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams); able to utilize standard tools for documentation, communication, and task coordination.
• Demonstrate proficiency with common office technologies, including email, printers/copiers, shared drives, and organizational software platforms; able to troubleshoot basic issues and learn new tools quickly.
• Capable of managing multiple tasks and working under pressure.
• Available for evenings, weekends, or holidays as required.
• Must pass a CHCC background check.