Where charity begins - St Marks Church, Sheffield
www.stmarkssheffield.co.uk
When David Ryder became the honorary treasurer for St Marks Church in Sheffield he inherited a double entry bookkeeping system with hard copy ledgers, so he quickly replaced it with a computer-based alternative. A decade on, technology has advanced, and David wants to exploit this to provide the church with the most cost effective and efficient accounting system possible. So a year ago, he decided to replace the system and started exploring his options.
Because we're a charity, we pay a reduced rate...
Although the church has a lot in common with a many other small businesses, it also has some special needs. 'A number of people have access to the church accounts, including myself, the deputy-treasurer and the vicar,' explains David, and they need to do this from a variety of locations. St Marks' also needs an accounting application that accommodates the needs of the Charities Act. 'I did a Google search and Liberty came up during my first trawl,' he recalls, and although the there were other applications that specialised in church accounts, none of them offered online access.
David is a chartered accountant, employed by one of the world's biggest accounting firms, so he was aware of the possibilities of online accounting software. 'Because all of the accounting data relating to the church is stored on Liberty's server, I don't have to worry about making security backups or updating the software,' he explains, and because anyone with internet access and a browser can access the system, users don't have to restrict themselves to a specific location or PC.
There were other applications that specialised in church accounts, none of them offered online access...
'I like the flexibility,' he says, and it's a bargain too. 'As a not-for profit organisation, cost is a concern,' says David, but this has not been an issue with Liberty, as he adds: 'Because we're a charity, we pay a reduced rate.'
