Increase Clarity
Where are we and where are we headed?
Develop Strategy
How are we going to get there?
Improve Efficiency
What are the tools and systems we need?
Would you let someone teach your child to swim if they've never entered a pool?
Then stop receiving guidance from accounting firms who have never led a ministry. You deserve the guidance and support from people who really understand your mission and will help you move it forward. Our team of former executive pastors, church and public accountants provide best-in-class support, unmatched by any CPA firm or local accountant in the country.
Our process is simple
Treating your church as if it's our own congregation is one of the ways we're different. We'd never want someone to collect payment from us before we've even talked. How would we know if we are the best fit? How do we know if we can create a real return on the investment you make in us without knowing what's currently being done?
That's why we start with a conversation, not a credit card. That's how business should be done. That's real stewardship.
Once we understand your objectives and the challenges you and your church face, we begin execution with three key areas in mind:
- Clarity
- Strategy
- Efficiency
We establish benchmarks, key performance indicators (KPI's), and work with you to establish and maintain the financial health and stewardship your church deserves.
Since the day you first started envisioning the impact you'd make, it's what's kept you going when things get hard. It's time to see those become a reality by getting time (and financial resources) back so you can focus more on ministry.
"Jeff has helped us in more than I can count. Not only has he helped refine our procedures & delivered what we need on time, he bas brought a heightened perspective of a coach & given us permission to make a few moves with confidence."
Kevin Lloyd
Executive Pastor - Lifepoint Church
Why we got started.
I served as an elder and then as an executive pastor for a number of years. I quickly learned that I couldn't do it all. I needed people in their respected fields that I could trust; however, I quickly found most service-based companies, including accountants and CFOs, just forced churches into their mold without ever considering our unique needs or a different approach.
That's why we started Church Central Office: to give executive pastors end-to-end church accounting and guidance from someone who's been there. We want to strengthen your financial position, while giving you one less thing to worry about. Let's schedule a call and help you get back to focusing on ministry.
Let's talk
Why Us?
There are some brilliant CPAs and CPA firms out there. In fact, I have one that I lean on quite frequently, especially around our family's income and even business tax. But my CPA will also be the first to tell you that leading a church (and the associated finances) are very different than personal finance, tax, and business and non-profit accounting.
I"ve had the privilege to sit in the seat of elder and executive pastor. I've also sat in the seat of a business owner. These two are very different things requiring two very different approaches.
Let us help guide you because we've been there. We are the experts in church accounting because this is what we do all day, every day.
We've met some great church accountants out there.They know church's culture and can do their job with their eyes closed. The challenge becomes when they've been doing that job for a few years and don't have access to a pool of other perspectives to see if there are better ways to approach the church's finances and accounting practices.
We have the unique opportunity to work with numerous churches that no in-house accountant ever could in their career. This exposes us to so many different types of systems, tools, and creative approaches that working with a singular church ever could. We'll be the first to tell you that while we'd love to take credit, many of the approaches we use came directly from the brilliant minds within our network of churches.
Again, there are some amazing in-house accountants out there. It's just impossible for them to get exposure and insight into so many churches' accounting departments. They simply can't know what they can't see.
Most churches with annual budgets of (or approaching) $1m - $10m, have at least one full-time bookkeeper or accountant. Then there's payroll tax, workers comp, insurance, and benefits to be factored into the equation.
When you work with Church Central Office, you get an entire accounting department led by a church-specific CFO..all for less than a full-time executive assistant. No payroll tax. No benefits. No retirement.
Cost savings mean more resources for ministry.
For many churches, finances are the numbers that have to be crunched to stay compliant and to generate statements to go to the board each month.
But what if they could be more? Financial statements as mentioned above are just data points unless there is context. It's our job at Church Central Office to turn data into understandable information that can be used to make decisions. Maybe that's giving you context of what similar churches are doing. Maybe it's providing suggestions on how to best protect your cash reserves. Maybe it's as simple as seeing trends and how to leverage them.
For us, usable financial information isn't just for leaders but for your individual ministries as well. When we serve as your accounting department, your ministries receive weekly updates to how their ministry is doing according to what is budgeted. It gives every leader and ministry overseer more clarity, more frequently, and thus, less worry for you.
"The amount of resources that they can provide is unbelievable."
Mike Thompson
Executive Pastor - Lake Bowen Baptist Church
Board Ready Financial Reports
MAKE YOUR DATA MAKE SENSE
Recommended for churches with an existing accountant that desire
board-ready, visually appealing, easy-to-understand monthly and annual reports.
Starting at $250 / month
(one site/campus)
Monthly Visual Analytics
Annual Financial Review/Report
Turn complex financial data into intuitive charts and graphs that illuminate your church's financial health
Focus on the metrics that matter most to your ministry—from tithes and offerings to program expenses
Beautiful reports customized with your Quickbooks data, your church logo and images
Reports uploaded 1x monthly to Google Drive
Get more details for multi-site churches & additional benefits
Outsourced Accounting Dept.
DONE-FOR-YOU ACCOUNTING
Recommended for churches looking to replace their existing accountant or bookkeeper and get the support and guidance of a church-specific CFO.
Starting at $3,000 / month
Monthly Accounting
Weekly Bookkeeping
Monthly Reconciliations
Payroll
Weekly Accounts Payable
Remote CFO: former church CFO, accountant, or executive pastor.
Leadership Reports: visual representation of where you vs where you want to be.
Monthly meetings: ensuring remote doesn't mean uninformed.
Weekly staff reporting: Details of budget vs actual at the ministry level.
Remote CFO
THE FINANCIAL GUIDANCE & SUPPORT YOUR CHURCH DESERVES
Recommended for churches looking to keep their existing accounting staff but want to better leverage their resources.
Starting at $2,500 / month
We partner directly with the executive pastor (XP) to ensure you have the clarity, strategy, and guidance to maximize your impact, while reducing your overall costs and the number of hats you wear as an XP.
Financial Systems Audit
Financial Systems Implementation & Training
Financial Best Practices
Monthly Financial Review
Monthly Finance Call w/ CFO to help you move from where you are to where you want to be.
"Jeff and his team operate like true partners, making you feel as though they are in the trenches with you."
Nick Crawford
Executive Pastor
Our process is simple
Treating your church as if it's our own congregation is one of the ways we're different. We'd never want someone to collect payment from us before we've even talked. How would we know if we are the best fit? How do we know if we can create a real return on the investment you make in us without knowing what's currently being done?
That's why we start with a conversation, not a credit card. That's how business should be done. That's real stewardship.
Once we understand your objectives and the challenges you and your church face, we begin execution with three key areas in mind:
- Clarity
- Strategy
- Efficiency
We establish benchmarks, key performance indicators (KPI's), and work with you to establish and maintain the financial health and stewardship your church deserves.
Since the day you first started envisioning the impact you'd make, it's what's kept you going when things get hard. It's time to see those become a reality by getting time (and financial resources) back so you can focus more on ministry.