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This section of the website is intended to provide guidance and support for all those working to make the best possible use of the resources entrusted to our care: our people, our buildings and money.
The Finance Office is responsible for the day-to-day financial dealings of the Diocese, from paying invoices and wages to supporting parishes with guidance on Gift Aid, Planned Giving, producing the annual Diocesan Accounts, and preparing the annual budget. Our Finance Team are here to help support you with queries or questions. You can contact them here:
E: finance@abdiocese.org.uk or T: 01293 651145
The parish priest must ensure that an effective Parish Finance Committee (PFC) is formed and that all relevant information is made available to its members.
While he is encouraged to delegate many financial and administrative matters relating to the parish to people with relevant expertise, it is his duty to keep himself fully informed of all material matters relating to the parish.
To see a more detailed description of the parish responsibilities, download the parish handbook below.
The following files include an expenses form, register of assets and PDF Handbook.
When is the monthly cut off for payroll and expenses?
All payroll and expenses forms must be received in Hove by the close of business on the 12th day of each month. Please email completed forms to payroll.
How do I claim for mileage and other expenses?
Complete the Mileage and Expenses form and ensure it is signed off by the parish priest or diocesan officer who is expecting to receive it. Expenses can be paid via payroll for staff. Please click here for the expenses form and scan a signed off copy of this form to payroll here. If you are not a member of staff but are claiming expenses from the Diocese submit the form to accounts@abdiocese.org.uk. Mileage can be claimed at 45p for the first 10,000 miles in each tax year; 25p per mile thereafter. Please keep a log of all mileage claimed, with the reason for your journey.
What level of spending by a parish requires notification to the Diocese?
Any expenditure over £7,500 must be notified to the Diocesan Finance Office. Approval will be sought via the subcommittee to the Diocesan Finance Committee or referred to a meeting of the Diocesan Finance Committee.
How do we change signatories on a parish bank account?
All new signatories have to sign up to a new bank mandate, email our team here if you would like a new signatory form.
Can we have online banking for our parish?
Yes, please email our Finance Office to be added to the next training session as this is progressively rolled out. A two-part authorisation is required, with the parish priest taking a key role in overseeing transactions.
Why do we have to use the diocesan solicitor for school and parish lettings?
In civil law the parish does not have individual status so the entity undertaking all contracts is the Arundel and Brighton Diocesan Trust. The land is vested in the Arundel and Brighton Diocesan Corporation so it is also a party to all transactions relating to land and buildings. Only the Bishop and Trustees of the Diocese can sign on behalf of the Trust and Corporation and they retain the diocesan solicitor DMH Stallard to support them in their responsibilities to oversee the diocesan estate. To work with the solicitors on a parish letting please email our Property Officer.
All diocesan parishes now process their accounts using AccountsIQ software. This is a cloudbased system and is standard across the whole Diocese, greatly aiding consolidation and the ability of the Finance team to support parishes remotely.
The Handbook information below will guide you through all aspects of using the system. Please email our Finance Office if you have any questions.
Our Diocese has made a conscious decision to follow Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Laudato Si and preserve the earth’s resources. Our energy utilities are procured at a national level through Inter-Diocesan Fuel Management Ltd (IFM), who represent a number of Catholic dioceses in the UK. IFM is the single largest purchaser of green gas, which is both renewable and largely carbon neutral. Our current gas contract is sourced entirely from this environmentally-friendly source.
Churchmarketplace exists to help parishes, schools and Catholic organisations negotiate competitive prices and make cost savings. Churchmarketplace is owned and operated on a not-for-profit basis by the Catholic Church, as represented by the Dioceses of England and Wales, and is endorsed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference. A range of suppliers are represented on the site, offering discounts and competitive pricing on products that are most needed by our Catholic Community. Products and services include mobiles, computer consumables (eg toner cartridges); health & safety equipment (eg fire extinguishers); stationery and school supplies; cleaning supplies; free catering procurement service; altar breads; gift aid envelopes; school money envelopes; clerical shirts; and water softeners. Churchmarketplace are constantly adding to the organisations listed, with all suppliers recommended by members of our community and committed to the mission and ethos of the Catholic Church. There are two membership options:
> Organisational Membership – open to Catholic parishes, schools, religious orders and organisations
> Personal Membership – open to employees of Catholic parishes, schools, religious orders and organisations who are already members of Churchmarketplace
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW) have uploaded a range of FAQs about Churchmarketplace here, you can register your parish by clicking on the button below.
The Diocesan Finance Committee (DFC) is a subcommittee of the Diocesan Trustees. The committee is advisory to the Trustees on financial governance and asset management and acts as the Trustees’ audit committee. The DFC meets eight times a year and is responsible for granting approval to parishes for expenditure over £7,500. You can find out more by visiting the Property Projects section of our website.
