Financial Management for

Anglican Diocese of Sydney

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You will find information about the accounting package exclusive to Anglican Diocese of Sydney.

Benkorp & the Anglican Diocese of Sydney

Introducing the Sydney Anglican Parish Accounting System (SAPAS)

Benkorp works with the Sydney Diocesan Secretariat finance team to develop and maintain the church accounting package specifically for the Anglican Diocese of Sydney.   The SAPAS Package has been used by many Parishes since it was first implemented in 1999.

Local churches have their own financial responsibilities as well as compliance with government and taxation requirements and reporting to the SDS Office.

Benkorp has significant experience and understanding of the requirements of church accounting. This experience is now applied to this project to help raise the standard of financial management for all Anglican Parishes in the Sydney Diocese.

We understand how demanding the responsibilities are in a local Parish and especially for volunteers and staff.

There is a solution for your Parish with some options for setup, training and ongoing support.

The SAPAS package is being used by many Parishes in this Diocese and there are more Parishes inquiring to take advantage of the benefits available. 

Reasons for looking at SAPAS now
• SAPAS is not being used already or you are not sure if you are using the standard SAPAS
• There is a new treasurer who wants to learn how to use the package
• It is time to implement some improvements for the local Parish finances.

What is SAPAS : Anglican Diocese of Sydney Accounting System Package?

It is the package specifically designed for use in all Parishes and churches in the Sydney Diocese.
SAPAS is built on the Xero accounting platform and designed to last for the long term.  It will provide you with full bookkeeping functionality as well as streamline your reporting, internal and external.
The SAPAS package is available now and has several options in the Package.

Read more in Service Descriptions and then follow the links to place your order for setup and training.

 

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Why use SAPAS ?

The Package enables your Parish to: 

  • maintain compliance for ATO and ACNC 
  • facilitate easy transfer for a new Treasurer 
  • access to experienced support for your treasurer and finance team 
  • use best practice of Xero for parish accounting 
  • use SDS standards for accounting

SAPAS has been developed and is maintained jointly by the Sydney Diocesan Secretariat (SDS) and Benkorp Management Services Pty Ltd (Benkorp).  

Benkorp is a Xero Gold Partner with extensive experience in church accounting. They have been assisting parishes handle their accounting and financial reporting requirements for over 20 years.

 The SAPAS Package includes  

  • the SDS standard chart of accounts and use of tracking categories 
  • reports suitable for reporting to SDS  
  • specialised training customised for the Sydney Diocese requirements and procedures
  • easy to use packages for new starters, whether transitioning from another accounting system (such as MYOB) or spreadsheets 
  • access to support for users including treasurers, bookkeepers and admin people, whether volunteers or staff 

 

Find out how to get started using this new package

Benkorp will set up a new fresh accounting system for your Parish and include features specifically for your local circumstances. 

There are several services being offered including the setup, training and ongoing support

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Do you need help with your bookkeeping and accounting?

Are you having any difficulty keeping up-to-date with the accounts or reporting?
Is your treasurer too busy to do all the bookkeeping, and needs help with reporting or the BAS?

Benkorp is available to provide all or part of your bookkeeping and accounting functions – regularly or during staff/volunteer absences.
READ MORE 

Do you want more assistance or training than is included in the standard package?

  • Are the accounts up-to-date and audit completed for the AGM?
  • Have all the BASs been submitted?
  • Are the expense claims for ministers and stafff being processed easily?  Are you using credit cards to simplify these processes?
  • Are your Parish’s annual financial reports ?

As part of this setup you could take the opportunity to catchup, be Xero trained and be well prepared for the future. 

From our Anglican Diocese of Sydney Customers

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“Our church has been working with Benkorp for over 10 years, in varying capacities. They have provided services from complete accounting & bookkeeping, to software and support, to advising and installing new products, to simply doing annual ‘roll-overs’ of our accounting software.
What has been particularly helpful is the way they are integrated with the accounting function of the Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney. Benkorp’s SAPAS System of accounts is like a ‘one-stop’ shop – it meets all Diocesan, ACNC and our own financial information needs.
They are sensitive to the needs of churches, particularly smaller churches, and this has been a real blessing.
I happily recommend the team at Benkorp.”
Craig Segaert

St Nicolas Anglican Maroubra

“During the past 5 months Benkorp assisted in the installation of the Xero Accounting Software.  I have found Benkorp to be both courteous and professional, possessing a wide knowledge of the product.
My initial contact with Benkorp was generated through the Sydney Anglican Diocese and I would have no hesitation in recommending Benkorp to any client needing the services of a very professional accounting services organisation.”
Alan Newing

All Saints Anglican Figtree

“Our church finances were a mess. No one could understand the reports. The staff were not being paid properly.  Liabilities weren’t being recorded properly. We didn’t know if we were insolvent or not.  The only real indicator of how we were going was looking at the bank account – and it wasn’t looking good.   It was taking 20 staff days a month just to record our transactions….Benkorp had worked with not-for-profit organisations for decades and have much experience with Anglican churches and our particular peculiarities.  They spent time with us understanding our particular issues and procedures, and working with us to create a solution that works for us.
Now our staff are paid.  We know what our liabilities are.  The reports reflect the financial reality.  We can understand our accounts and know exactly what is happening….Benkorp set up the new system, helped us set up new financial procedures – and then trained our staff.  It couldn’t be simpler. Managing our finances used to take 20 days a month – now it took 4.  Stress across the organisation dropped considerably – and the church office almost became a place people would want to work!
If you haven’t gotten Benkorp to set you up – you’re not only wasting time and money, but stopping people from doing ministry.  Let the experts work out the money stuff.  Let the church serve.”Mike Doyle

 

Minister at Berala Anglican Church
Ex Campus Bible Study

“Benkorp helped us setup and use Xero – a big improvement to our church’s financial management”Jonathon Squire

Harrington Park Anglican

“Since having Benkorp process our accounts, we know that everything is done the way the diocese wants it done and at the end of the year, the audit has been very smooth.
We were not skeptical before using Benkorp as they had been very useful to our parish with sorting out our accounts and BAS details before we contracted their services permanently.
What settled the decision for us was that Benkorp is closely aligned with the Sydney Diocese Accounting process and provides a continuing service when the parish wardens are elected on an annual basis”

Edwina Waddy

St Peters Anglican Church – Cremorne

Xero set up service

A. BASIC XERO SET–UP FOR LOCAL CHURCHES
  • use the Church Standard Chart of Accounts
  • basic Tracking Category set up for separate reporting, such as departments, ministries, properties, activities, events, missions
  • assistance to set up automatic bank feeds (or export-import for non-compliant banks)

Basic setup fee: $595 (excl GST)

Basic setup fee, including 3 hours Training - recommended: $1000 (excl GST)

B. BASIC-PLUS XERO FOR LOCAL CHURCHES
  • BASIC XERO SET UP (as above) +
  • opening balances entered, mapped from your previous chart of accounts
  • Setup the Sales Invoice with a basic church relevant format

BasicPLUS setup fee: $745 (excl GST)

BasicPLUS setup fee, including 3 hours Training - recommended: $1200 (excl GST)

    C/D. MIGRATE EXISTING MYOB DATAFILE TO XERO
    • migrate up to 2 years transactions from 1 x MYOB to Xero (depending on the last “rollover” date)
    • make necessary adjustments to complete Xero Setup
    • See Essential details here: Migrate from MYOB to Xero FAQs
    • Note: A datafile Migration may not be the best approach for all churches with existing MYOB data files especially as the data coming over from MYOB is not good and/or the datafile needs a clean up! This will be determined in discussion with Benkorp on a case-by-case basis.

    C. Base fee - $695 + GST  - Migrate existing PC-MYOB file to Xero
        Base fee with included 3 hours of training- $1150 + GST  - Migrate existing PC-MYOB file to Xero plus 3 hours of training

    D. Accelerated Fee - $795 + GST - Migrate existing MYOB file when ANY of the following occur or are required:

    • the MYOB file to be migrate/Converted is an MYOB AccountEdge file
    • there are more than 100 jobs/Categories
    • the file size is between 350MB-800MB
    • the file has been previously migrated/converted to Xero before using Jetconvert conversion services
    • when there are more than 50 employees on the payroll
    • more history is required
    • when there are some File Verification Errors
    • additional customer, supplier & stock information is required
    • higher priority service required

    This Migration/Conversion is not possible when:

    • the file is over 800MB.
    • has complicated inventory eg negative inventory or Multi-Currency/locations
    • Files with negative inventory
    • Is an MYOB Essentials File
    • Includes WET/WEG taxes
    • Includes some unusual Tax Rates
    • there are more that 500 Jobs/Categories
    • the MYOB file is corrupted
    • the MYOB file version is too old
    • There are multiple deposits applied against an order
    • there maybe other unforeseen reasons
    E. CONVERT EXISTING XERO DATAFILE TO CHURCH STANDARD
    • convert your current church Xero system to the Church Standard Chart of Accounts
    • includes conversation with your liaison person to confirm mapping (max 45 mins)
    • make adjustments to existing accounts eg Journals if required
    • review and correct Advanced and Organisation Settings as necessary

    Convert one existing Xero file to Church standard setup $ 395.00 exGST

    Notes:

    • When there are complications in the Chart of Accounts, Tracking Categories and Opening balances, we will review and discuss with you - examples, COA very many accounts, >100 jobs.
    • If any of these matters arise, and additional services are necessary, we will discuss with you and obtain your agreement before we begin.
    • Additional fees, of $150 per hour, may apply and will be discussed with you before commencing .

    Additional fees if:

    – there are more than 100 jobs/Categories
    – the file is greater than 350MB

    • it is necessary to re-make or re-run a migration, because of technical issues with your MYOB datafile, may require an additional fee as per arrangements with the conversion service, JetConvert.
    • the datafile file has been previously been migrated to Xero using the Jetconvert conversion services. This is because the migration process may impinge on the MYOB datafile
    • Additional fees may apply and will be discussed with you before commencing
    PAYROLL SETUP SERVICE

    There are special services for Payroll setup

    This is for a church who prepares the payroll locally. 2 services available:

    1. Payroll Basic setup includes:

    The basic payroll facility and settings, includes payroll categories, calendar/s, super funds

    Fee for Payroll Basic setup $200 (excl GST)

    2. Payroll Full setup includes:

    *using the Benkorp payroll information forms

    Detailed payroll setup of individual employees, within the Basic setup settings, includes:
    - basic employee details
    - wages, deductions, leave, benefits
    - superannuation
    - payroll special benefits, such as salary sacrifice, NCB, 
    - carried forward balances

    Fee for each Standard employee without benefits: $75 per employee (excl GST)
    Fee for each Benefits employee with MEA, MEF, NCB or PBI salary sacrifice: $150 per employee (excl GST)

    REPORT CREATION

    Creation of non-standard report.

    $100 per hour. Minimum 1 hour.

    Descriptions of the

    Bookkeeping and

    Accounting for Churches

    Ongoing Bookkeeping and Accounting

    The pain in DIY bookkeeping

    Bookkeeping and the work associated with it is often a chore for people around a church who feel bogged down week after week with paperwork,

    • BAS and compliance requirements for the ATO,
    • regular (monthly) finance reports,
    • payments to be made
    • customer invoices to be raised 

    This is the service that can free-up your volunteers and staff so that they can get on with the ministry and mission of your church

     

    The Benkorp bookkeeping service

    Using a bookkeeping service will alleviate the pressures on a local Church to find and retain their own bookkeeper, accountant and/or treasurer – whether that person is staff or volunteer.

    Our church clients find this very helpful because it is becoming increasingly difficult for churches to find members who have the time, capacity or expertise to maintain the bookkeeping and accounting.

    This is an increasingly complex area of church life and people don’t need to be stressed with these pressures.

    Members of the congregation want to enjoy church life and express their faith in serving people and the community.

     

    Up-to-date accounts and compliance

    Current and accurate accounts allows the church to

    • stay up-to-date with all the compliance updates such as ATO and ACNC,
    • make payments on time,
    • ensure that users of church facilities are invoiced for their usage and
    • monitor income offerings and donations,
    • prepare reports for local committees and the denominational head o

     

    Find out more now

    Simply contact the Benkorp Team to discuss your situation and requirements.

    Our team is ready to help you and your church so that your needs for proper financial management are well served.

     

    Fees for ongoing bookkeeping

    Based on your Requirements Questionnaire, Benkorp prepares a presentation for your church. After discussion and agreement with you a fee is agreed

    The fee is an annual fee for all services provided by Benkorp and then invoiced to the church monthly

     

    There are 2 Service Plan options:

    • Full Service - Benkorp maintains all the bookkeeping, finance compliance requirements and prepare regular reporting for the council/board
    • Shared Service - your church and Benkorp share the bookkeeping and accounting following an agreed schedule with clear processes

     

    Make life easier for the current  treasurer and the next treasurer

    Often the role is quite onerous and avoided by members of the church.

    Therefore, by implementing a plan for ongoing services the church management will make it much easier for your church to attract a treasurer. Using specialised outsourced services relieves that pressure and need for a treasurer to have bookkeeping, accounting and financial expertise. They can fulfil their role by liaising with this outsourcing service provided by Benkorp.

     

    Consider one of the 2 plans and discuss with us how your church could take advantage of the service

     

    1. FULL SERVICE BOOKKEEPING AND ACCOUNTING

    A complete online service provided by Benkorp, using the Xero Accounting system, including:

    • Income – offerings, donations, rentals and hires
    • Bill (supplier invoices) processing and payments
    • Bank entries
    • Bank reconciliations
    • Payroll processing and related requirements with employee portal
    • Superannuation
    • Month-end reconciliations
    • Reporting - local councils, boards, committees external obligations
    • ATO including BAS
    • Worker’s Compensation form completion
    • Liaise with, and prepare for, your financial year-end audit/assurance
    • Annual review meetings with your treasurer/team and more

    Book a Discovery Session with one of the Benkorp Team 

     

    1. JOINT/SHARED SERVICE BOOKKEEPING AND ACCOUNTING

    The local church is responsible for some of the basic administrative and bookkeeping functions using the Xero UCAP system.

    • This is a great way to save money if you have a savvy admin person on staff or volunteering.
    • Benkorp will complete the remaining financial management functions as agreed, and Benkorp provides the training and support to enable a team effort.

    Book a Discovery Session with one of the Benkorp Team 

     

    1. SPECIAL SERVICE ACCOUNTING

    At your request for Benkorp to work through accounting issues and troubleshooting.

    Relates to “technical” accounting and bookkeeping issues rather than simply Xero procedures. These maybe too difficult or complicated for your staff or volunteers to resolve without assistance.

    May include matters such as:

    • resolving reconciliation issues,
    • extended investigation and highlighting of problems with transactions,
    • matters arising from an assurance review, ongoing review or audit

    Clients with another form of Benkorp Agreement, fees $135 per hour

    Clients without another Benkorp Agreement, ie ad hoc, fees $150 per hour

    Note: if your church is not yet using Xero, this is the best opportunity to start.

    Simply complete an Order Form for a Standard Package

     

    Note: All prices Exclude GST

    Privacy and Contractual Policies

    All services provided by Benkorp are covered by our Terms and Conditions LINK

    Our liability is limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. Further information on the scheme is available from the Professional Standards Councils’: https://www.psc.gov.au/