Bismarck Diocese Accounting Manager

Position title:  Accounting Manager
Status:  Exempt – Full-Time
Department: Finance
Reports to: Controller
Deadline: July 10, 2026
 
Job Summary
The Accounting Manager primarily assists the Controller with accounting for the Bismarck Diocese PJP, Diocese of Bismarck Trustee, Parish Expansion Fund, Priests’ Benefit Association, and the Catholic Foundation of Western North Dakota. They assist with many core accounting and financial functions within the Finance Department. Other major duties may include working with the Parish Services Department to provide accounting, payroll, and business guidance to the parishes, and working on both property and health insurance administration. This position is knowledgeable about and incorporates good internal controls and best business practices. Confidentiality is an essential requirement of the position due to the sensitivity of the Finance Department.
 
Essential Functions
Fiscal:

• Assists with preparation and analysis of financial reports and report data in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP)
• Leads all billings and receivables and maintains communication with internal and external customers on collections.
• Reconciles many statements of financial position accounts and ensures proper subsidiary ledger reconciliations.
• Coordinates timely and accurate year-end close with the Controller.
• May assist with managing annual audits with the external audit firm.
• Works with the Finance Officer and Diocesan department directors during the budgeting process to create their budget and assists with inputting the approved budget into the accounting software. 
• Leads communication of parish note transactions and monthly deposit statements to parishes.
• Completes many related payroll functions monthly and supports other staff as backup to ensure adequate coverage of duties.
• Assists with government filings quarterly and annually.
• Create and analyze reports on an as needed basis for Diocesan and parish needs and internal requests.
• Assists with performing tests and generating recommendations for efficiency on Diocesan fiscal procedures and internal controls.
• Knowledge of high-level departmental accounting tasks such as charitable gift annuities and investment reconciliations.
• Provide backup for critical staff including on payroll, entering deposits, and accounts payable.
• Periodic attendance of Board Meetings with participation as needed.
• Helps analyze insurance, employee benefits, and financial information during annual renewals and open enrollment periods.
• Provide backup and operational support in the property and liability insurance program.
• Works with auditors to maintain leasing and fixed asset schedules.
• Participates in oversight of Diocesan financial management policies.
• Maintains various financial dashboards for use in Board Meetings.
• Train new staff members on job functions and offer support with questions and onboarding.
• Monitors accounting standards changes and trends.
• Maintains awareness of U.S. GAAP best practices for financial operations and reporting while monitoring accounting standards changes and trends.
• Potentially represent the Diocese at related conferences to make industry contacts and learn new best practices.
• Supports Controller with any accounting software system transitions, updates, or assessments.
• Prepared to perform duties of the Controller in an absence. 

Parish Services:

• Serves as a resource and responds accurately to inquiries and explains policy or program as a secondary contact for pastors, parishes, and Diocesan staff in parish accounting and payroll.
• Aid and backup for accounting and general ledger functions for parishes processed by Parish Services. This includes, but is not limited to, the primary responsibilities of processing bills, entering deposits, journal entries, budget entry, and reconciling bank statements.
• Aid and backup for payroll for parishes. This includes, but is not limited to, the ongoing payroll functions, reconciliations, payroll taxes, year-end procedures, and ensuring compliance with all related Diocesan and governmental policies, 401(k) administration, and governmental filings.
• Ability to support parishes with day-to-day insurance questions and claims.
• Available for occasional travel to parishes to assist them if necessary.

Performs other special projects or duties at supervisor’s discretion. Some weekend and evening work may occasionally be required to meet required timelines.
 
Job Requirements and Qualifications
Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting required.
• 5-7 years’ progressive experience preferred in the areas of payroll, accounting, auditing, and not-for-profit accounting. Demonstrated desire to progress in the accounting field to broaden skills.

Knowledge, Training, or Skills:

• Be fully supportive of and have an overall knowledge and understanding of the Catholic Church’s teachings and to project a faith-filled presence required.
• Positive attitude and attentiveness to details.
• Must possess strong communication skills and ability to work independently while managing departmental deadlines and tasks as priorities and needs change.
• Experience required in Microsoft applications, particularly Excel, and/or ability to quickly learn and be an expert in Great Plains Dynamics, ParishSOFT, and other accounting and payroll software.
• Awareness of Diocesan policies and ability to respond to federal, state, and local laws.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills for written reports and conveying accounting principles and internal control policies to non-accountants.

Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with the experience of the candidate. A generous benefits package is included. All offers of employment are pending a clear background check and reference check. Contact Denise Jordan at [email protected] at the Bismarck Diocese for a job application then submit the following items to her:

Location: Applicant must be able to work from the Bismarck office full-time.
Deadline: July 10, 2026