Annual financial audits help safeguard church assets and provide sound financial stewardship across the diocese.
Annual reporting
The primary purpose of an audit is to assure that financial statements are fairly stated. Any person overseeing church money or investments needs an audit to protect both the church’s assets and themselves against suspicion of mishandling those assets.
Every congregation is required to conduct an annual audit and submit it to the Diocese by September 1 each year. Submissions must include a certificate or report of the audit and the audited financials, including the year-end balance sheet and profit and loss statements.
The following workbooks provide guidance and templates for an agreed-upon procedures review by an audit committee or outside auditor.
Audit workbooks
Submit your completed audit
Use the secure form below to submit the completed audit and supporting documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What needs to be submitted, and when?
All parishes, mission congregations, and institutions of the diocese are required to conduct an annual financial audit and submit it by September 1. Audit submissions must include a certificate or report of the audit and audited financials, including the year-end balance sheet and profit and loss statements.
Is an independent CPA or accounting firm required?
All audits require an Audit Committee. Good practice is to use an independent external auditor when a congregation is in transition or meets the following criteria:
| Annual church revenue | Audit requirement |
|---|---|
| Greater than $2 million | External independent audit annually |
| Between $1 and $2 million | External independent audit every third year, with agreed-upon procedures and committee review/audit in intervening years |
| Between $500,000 and $1 million | External independent audit every fourth year, with agreed-upon procedures and committee review/audit in intervening years |
| Under $500,000 | Agreed-upon procedures and committee review/audit annually |
Additional guidance
Finance and Convention contacts
Director of Finance & CFO
The Rev. Susan Stanton
213.482.2040, ext. 233
sstanton@ladiocese.org
Controller
Ms. Martha Macias
213.482.2040, ext. 268
mmacias@ladiocese.org
Assistant to the CFO
Ms. Julie Kelly
213.482.2040, ext. 227
jkelly@ladiocese.org
Convention Coordinator
Ms. Samantha Wylie
213.482.2040, ext. 253
swylie@ladiocese.org