Department of Finance

Department for Finance

Mandate

The task of the department shall be to assist the Conference in its business transactions and in the administration of its finances. The Department shall exercise its functions through the Accounts Office of the Conference and a Financial Management Committee.

The Department shall make recommendations to the Administrative Board concerning the annual budget and financial reports of the General Secretariat, the Departments and the Offices

The Department’s Financial Management Committee shall consist of the Episcopal Chairperson or his delegate, the Secretary General and Associate(s), the Financial Manager appointed by the chairperson and at least two of the Department’s consultants.

The day-to-day financial management of the Conference shall be entrusted to the Financial Manager, the Accounts Office and the Secretary General.

Function

The Department shall:

• Assist the Conference in all matters involving finance
• Establish and enforce financial policies, reporting and accounting policies for the Conference
• Draw up an annual financial statement and budgets for the Conference
• Examine and recommend to the Board the budgets of Departments and dependent bodies
• Examine and make recommendations concerning bookkeeping and financial reports of the Conference, General Secretariat, the Departments, Offices, Seminaries and all other dependent bodies
• Examine the financial report of the Bishops’ Lenten Appeal National Director, the allocations of funds received, and the operations and capital budget for the ensuing year, prior to their presentation to the Plenary Session in August
• List all funds made available by the Conference or to the Conference from other resources, and make recommendations to the Administrative Board concerning their distribution according to the terms of their allocation
• Prevent the unauthorised use of funds and investigate any fraud or misappropriation of funds
• Approve the expenditure of delegates, including clergy, religious and laity, who represent the Conference at important local or overseas conferences and congresses
• Revise from time to time the levies paid by the dioceses to the Conference and make suitable recommendations to the Administrative Board
• Endeavour to raise funds through investigating sources of income, and make proposals regarding these
• Examine and approve all funding proposals and applications made on behalf of the Conference or any of its dependent bodies
•  Review regularly the investments of the Conference, and make appropriate recommendations to the Administrative Board
• Endeavour to build up a reserve fund to provide capital for the Conference
• Advise the Conference before decisions are taken, on all matters concerning movable and immovable property

Membership

The Finance Department shall consist of the following:

• An Episcopal Chairperson, an Episcopal Vice-Chairperson and a third Episcopal member
• The Secretary General and Associate(s)
• The Financial Manager
• The Accountant
• Three or four consultants

Meetings

• The Department shall meet at least four times per annum
• The Management Committee shall meet monthly

Contact Details:

Department for Finance

Keith Glass

Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference

Address:
129 Main Street, Waterkloof – Pretoria
P.O. Box 941
Pretoria 0001
South Africa

Tel: +27 12 323 6458
Fax: +27 12 326 6218
E-Mail: kglass@sacbc.org.za