POSITION SPECIFICATION
Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer
The Pension Boards-United Church of Christ
475 Riverside Drive; New York, New York
The Situation
The assets of The Pensions Boards at the end of 2001 were about $2.4 billion.
Its annual operating budget of $l9 million is used to manage various benefit programs for
about 21,000 ministers and lay workers. The total staff is 92.
Besides annuity benefits, the Pension Boards also provides medical, dental, life and
disability benefit coverage for all church employees, as well as welfare benefits for
ordained clergy.
Attractions
There is a new Executive Vice President with a commitment and vision for program
growth. Third party consulting studies are underway including a workflow analysis as part
of reengineering report. Selected treasurer will have significant input in the redesign of
the accounting/cashiering functions. Clean 2001 audit and clean independent audit of
controls.
Critical Issues
Vacancies of key staff in the Accounting Department led to significant delays in the
budget preparation and audit for year 2001. Fund balances and monthly financial statements
for 2002 are significantly behind schedule.
The Position
Reports To: Executive vice president/CEO, in parallel with Chief Investment
Officer; Administrative Vice President; Director, Member Services; Director, Conference
Relations; Director Ministerial Assistance; Director, Human Resources; Director, Member
Communications; and Manager, Information Technology.
Major Responsibilities:
Supervise:
- Controller, who in turn supervises accounting function, through chief accountant:
investment accounting, dues accounting and general ledger accounting, including the
production of monthly financial statements. There are17 people in accounting. Ensures that
monthly financial statements and budget analyses are available within 15 days after
month-end.
- Assistant treasurer, who in turn supervises cashier and payroll functions, nine people:
annuity account coordinator/bank liaison; payroll manager; senior annuity accountant (2);
payroll accountant; annuity clerk (2); annuity accountant; and cash receipts/disbursements
processing. The cashiering function is responsible for recording deposits, updating
annuitant records, and payroll processing.
Manage:
- Produce monthly and year-end financial statements and coordinate annual audit. Ensure
that annual audit is completed by the March Board meeting and annual financial statements
ready for inclusion in the Annual Report in a timely manner.
- Manage annual expense budget and monthly monitoring of the budget.
- Produce annual projection of fixed income used to establish income-crediting rates.
Project fixed income earnings so that projected earnings can be determined immediately by
changing various assumptions.
- Interface with Investment Department in accounting for investments, settling investment
transactions, and administering online computer systems with two custodian banks.
- Coordinate and manage banking relationships, including custody, checking, payroll,
securities lending, cash management, monthly benefits and controlled disbursements
payments.
- Provide stewardship for legacies, including recording bequests received and reporting of
such to Trustees.
- Works collaboratively with United Church Foundation in providing general ledger and
investment accounting coordination to the Foundation.
- Work with the Financial Development Ministries Office of the United Church of Christ in
seeking direct and deferred gifts to the Pension Boards.
Qualifications
The Ideal Person Should Have:
- Masters degree in finance, business administration or a related field.
- Strong leadership skills: commitment to highest standards of ethical and professional
conduct.
- Fast learner skills of complex theories and issues.
- Supervisory experience, including management-level staff.
- Skill in budget formulation and management, and financial analysis.
- Significant experience with complex computerized financial systems.
- Excellent Communication and presentation skills.
- Knowledge of Not-for-Profit organization and fund accounting.
- Knowledge of complex consolidations.
The Ideal Person Should Be:
- Collaborative in management and working style; able to achieve goals using influence and
negotiation skills; able to establish strong working relationships with volunteers, peers,
subordinates and staff outside the hierarchical relationship.
- Experienced working with non-profit boards and trustees.
- Committed to actively promoting diversity in the workplace.
- Willing to learn the structure and policy of the United Church of Christ and work
collegially with staff of other UCC agencies, when necessary.
Candidates and sources, please communicate with:
Bob Sellery or Katie Wilson, Robert Sellery Associates, Ltd.
1050 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., 10th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20036.
Email: wilson@sellery.com,
sellery@sellery.com
FAX 202.333.1167
Telephone: 202.331.0090
All inquiries will be kept in strict confidence.
The Pension Boards, United Church of Christ is An Equal Opportunity Employer
R
OBERT SELLERY ASSOCIATES, LTD.
1050 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N.W. , 10TH FLOOR WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20036 202.331.0090
sellery@sellery.com
