Parish Accounting Manager
Diocese of Tucson • Tucson, Arizona • Full Time
Posted on Sat, May 16, 2026
Exemption Status: Exempt Department/Location: Fiscal Department, Parish Accounting / Bishop Kicanas Pastoral Center, Tucson Primary Function: Under the direction of the Controller and CFO, the Parish Accounting Manager serves as the operational leader of the Diocese’s centralized parish accounting function. This position is responsible for supervising parish accounting personnel, overseeing accounting operations for assigned parishes and schools, ensuring the timely completion of financial deadlines, and maintaining compliance with diocesan financial policies, procedures, and internal controls. The Parish Accounting Manager functions as both a supervisor and a hands-on accounting professional, directly managing a portfolio of parish and school accounting responsibilities while overseeing the broader accounting team’s workload, accuracy, consistency, and performance. This position supports the continued growth and expansion of centralized parish accounting services throughout the Diocese. The Employee shall be a minister of the Gospel and Catholic Teaching behaviorally while at work and in his/her personal life, “…Live in a manner worthy of the call you have received.” (Eph. 4:1) Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Recognize and support the unique Catholic Mission of the Diocese by speaking, acting, and instructing consistent with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. The employee may not espouse, in word or deed, any doctrine inconsistent with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.
- Give evidence of living Gospel values by being an active member of a faith community and being open to the importance of a personal faith journey; strive to model the teaching of Jesus by attitude and example.
- Ensure all financial and accounting records are maintained per USCCB guidelines.
- Conduct all activities with professionalism, integrity, confidentiality, and stewardship consistent with diocesan expectations.
- Supervise, coordinate, and support parish accounting staff within the centralized parish accounting function.
- Monitor and enforce all accounting and reporting deadlines, including month-end close, financial reporting, payroll processing, annual reporting, and compliance-related submissions.
- Review reconciliations, journal entries, financial statements, and supporting schedules for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with diocesan policies and accounting standards.
- Serve as the primary escalation point for accounting issues, discrepancies, procedural questions, and operational challenges.
- Assist the Controller and CFO with distribution of workload, staffing coordination, training initiatives, process improvement, and performance management activities.
- Promote consistency in accounting procedures, reporting practices, and internal control standards across assigned parishes and schools.
- Support the transition and integration of additional parishes into the centralized accounting structure.
- Maintain direct responsibility for full-cycle bookkeeping and accounting services for assigned parishes and schools.
- Record weekly collections, tuition, grants, donations, and other cash receipts.
- Process accounts payable and accounts receivable transactions, maintain vendor records, oversee billing activities, and prepare annual 1099 reporting.
- Oversee parish and school payroll processes, including employee time review, payroll validation, and posting payroll entries to the general ledger.
- Prepare and distribute monthly financial statements, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and related supporting schedules for parish leadership, finance councils, boards, and school administration.
- Prepare journal entries, reconcile bank and balance sheet accounts, and maintain accurate financial records.
- Lead and participate in month-end and fiscal year-end closing processes for assigned parishes and schools.
- Ensure all reconciliations, accruals, adjusting entries, and supporting documentation are completed accurately and timely.
- Coordinate year-end reporting requirements and assist with annual financial reviews, compilations, or audits.
- Assist parish and diocesan leadership with budget preparation, financial forecasting, and variance analysis.
- Compile historical financial information and prepare supporting schedules for budget development and planning purposes.
- Provide financial guidance and operational insight to parish leadership and diocesan management when requested.
- Ensure adherence to diocesan accounting policies, internal controls, and financial procedures.
- Prepare schedules, reconciliations, and supporting documentation requested for internal reviews, external audits, or regulatory compliance purposes.
- Maintain organized financial records and clear audit trails for all transactions.
- Recommend process improvements to strengthen internal controls, efficiency, accuracy, and consistency throughout parish accounting operations.
- Maintain financial records in compliance with applicable accounting standards, diocesan policy, and USCCB guidelines, especially regarding restricted and designated funds.
- Train, mentor, and assist parish accounting personnel regarding accounting procedures, systems, reporting requirements, and diocesan policies.
- Assist in onboarding and supporting new accounting staff and newly centralized parishes.
- Communicate effectively with pastors, parish administrators, school principals, diocesan departments, vendors, auditors, and other stakeholders.
- Participate in meetings, presentations, and special projects as assigned.
- Must have a working knowledge of and a strong commitment to the mission of the Diocese and Catholic Church; must be in full communion with the Catholic Church
- Excellent communications skills, verbal and written; excellent human relations and interpersonal skills.
- Exercise courtesy to fellow employees, parishioners, and the public.
- Must be a self-starter; well organized; perform multiple tasks simultaneously and work with a sense of urgency.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment; punctuality is always necessary; ability to travel locally as required; weekend and overtime work may be required.
- Proficiency in computer technology to include word-processing, spreadsheets and ten key calculators.
- Professional bearing; clean and neat personal appearance.
- Ability to pass the Diocese of Tucson Bookkeeping Test.
- Ability to successfully pass a background, criminal history, and credit history check.
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field preferred; equivalent professional experience may be considered.
- Minimum of five years of progressive accounting or bookkeeping experience required.
- Supervisory or team leadership experience is preferred.
- Experience in nonprofit, church, school, or faith-based accounting environments preferred.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, pivot tables, reconciliations, and financial analysis.
- Strong working knowledge of QuickBooks or similar accounting software platforms.
- Familiarity with payroll systems and payroll accounting practices.
- Proficiency with Adobe and electronic document management systems.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, verbal, and written communication skills.
- Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.
- Bi-lingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
- Practical knowledge of Catholic Church structure, parish operations, and diocesan administration preferred.
- Active participation in the faith community is preferred where appropriate.
- Ability and willingness to travel to parish, school, or diocesan locations as needed.
- Availability for occasional evening or weekend meetings and special projects.