Virtual Financial Services

Specialized for Churches

Let your focus stay fixed on what matters most: making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We'll handle the financial details, and ensure you have reliable financials for the future of your ministry.
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ONLINE SERVICE PROVIDERS

We work with a number of different online service providers to offer the best financial services for your church, and we are always learning about new tools to serve you better.

Meet the Owner

Rev. Thomas G. James

Owner & Founder

Rev. Thomas G. James is an ordained elder in the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. Over the past 20 years, he has served the church in many ways, including youth and campus ministry, worship leadership, mission ministry, and also served on staff with the Lewis Center for Church Leadership. Most recently, Rev. James served nine years as the Lead Pastor of a local United Methodist Church in Alexandria, VA.

After over two decades of serving on staff in the local church, Rev. James felt called to offer something new for the church – a financial firm that specializes in church finances. This new vision gave birth to Ekklesia Financial Services, which brings together three of Rev. James’ greatest passions: ministry, technology, and numbers.

Along with his background in the church, Rev. James is a member of the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers, through which he has received his Bookkeeping, Payroll, and Quickbooks Online Certification.

Are you ready to focus on what matters most?

Contact us! We are happy to answer all of your questions, and help provide reliable financial services to allow you to focus on the mission and ministry in your local church.

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LET'S GET STARTED!

What Services Are you considering?

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REMOTE FINANCIAL SERVICES

The services we offer are all remote - meaning, we are not offering in-person or on-site staff support. This is a big shift in fulfilling a financial staffing need for many churches. But rest assured, even without a person physically present in the office, we are fully connected and ready to support your financial management needs. 

Inevitably, there are some financial tasks that must be done in-person (i.e., phsycial deposits). We will work with you to set up policies and procedures for how your on-site staff or lay volunteers can handle the few in-person tasks that are required, and we will handle the back-end support and online reconciliation that follows. 

We care deeply about your ministry, and we know how valuable it is to trust your financials and to understand your income and expense reports. So, while we will provide most of our services through email communication, we can always set up a phone call or zoom call to answer questions. 

BILL PAY & REIMBURSEMENTS

We can handle all of your accounts payable needs, including bill pay, reimbursements, and credit card reconciliation. To facilitate paying your church's bills, we recommend using an online vendor to expedite the payment process. 

By using online payment processing, we are able to set up a process of approval and payment that fits the required accountability and transparency needs of your church's financial policy. We will work with your Finance Committee, approved check signers, and Treasurer in the check request, approval, and payment process. Where it fits your church leadership structure, Ekklesia Financial can serve as your church's Treasurer. 

GIVING RECORDS

There are many different Church Management Software (ChMS) systems out there to allow your church to maintain accurate records of congregational giving. Ekklesia Financial can work with your current system to make sure your online and in-person gifts are reconciled accurately with your bank, and ensure your congregation has accurate giving records.

If you are looking for a new ChMS option to provide better management for your congregational members, or if you're looking to integrate a new online giving system, Ekklesia Financial can offer support to transition your church into a new system.

As a non-profit, churches are required to ensure end of year tax statements are available to any person who gives over $250 in a calendar year. We will make sure those statements are accurate, and offer support for preparing those statements to be emailed or mailed. 

FINANCIAL REPORTING 

Perhaps the most important aspect of church finances is having reports you can trust. Your Leadership Teams and Finance Committees need to know that the numbers they see in their monthly reports provide an up-to-date and accurate account of your church's finances. Ekklesia Financial will provide your church a monthly update that offers both a quick financial snapshot, as well as providing a full list of account balances. 

Ekklesia Financial can also assist with your end of year financial reporting. If your denominational connection requires specific financial reports, we can help provide the numbers you need to make this work easy!

PAYROLL 

Ensuring your staff are paid accurately and on time is vital to a healthy ministry. But payroll responsibilities can be time-consuming and tedius. Ekklesia Financial will take care of all of the in-house payroll responsibilities, ensuring staff are paid, and ensuring all tax filings and payments, health benefits, and retirement benefits are accurately managed.

Ekklesia Financial works with external full-service payroll providers to run your church's payroll. If you don't already have an external payroll company, we will help you make this transition. Working with external payroll providers is the best way to ensure accurate tax filings, on-time W2 and 1099 mailings, and easy employee management. 

Church payroll is unique. There are specifics regarding unemployment, clergy housing allowances and reimbursable accounts, and denominational pension plans that require special attention and knowledge. Ekklesia Financial is ready to handle all of your church specific payroll needs!

CHURCH BOOKKEEPING

We offer a wide range of bookkeeping services, from monthly bank reconciliation, to paying your bills, to running payroll, to budget and contribution management. Ekklesia Financial specializes in these services for churches.

Church financials, church taxes, church payroll, and church financial policies are very different than other secular companies, and are even unique from other 501(c)3 non-profit organizations. We use the best practices and agreed upon procedures for all bookkeeping and accounting services, but we tailor them for the nuances of the church.