Senior Bookkeeper - Parish Accounting

About the Role

Seton Collaborative provides shared business services - including full-charge bookkeeping - to parishes across the Diocese of Bridgeport. We’re hiring a part-time Senior Bookkeeper to take on our most complex parish assignments, review the work of other bookkeepers on the team, and mentor staff working toward diocesan certification.

This is a senior, hands-on role for an experienced full-charge bookkeeper who enjoys both doing the work and raising the standard of the work around them. You’ll be the person others come to when a transaction doesn’t look right, when a new parish comes on board with messy records, or when a pastor needs the monthly numbers explained clearly.

This position requires regular travel between our Shelton office and assigned parish sites throughout Fairfield County. Candidates must be willing and able to work on-site at both.

What You’ll Do

• Carry full-charge bookkeeping responsibility for our most complex parish assignments - multi-entity parishes, parishes with schools or cemeteries, and parishes in financial transition
• Review journal entries, reconciliations, and monthly closes prepared by junior and certified bookkeeping staff for accuracy and policy compliance
• Serve as the first escalation point for complex accounting questions, unusual transactions, and parish financial issues
• Mentor and train bookkeeping staff progressing toward the DCA and DBM credentials, and help deliver the diocesan bookkeeper training curriculum
• Lead financial onboarding for new parish clients: assess existing records, clean them up, and transition them to standardized practices
• Develop and maintain standardized bookkeeping procedures, close calendars, and documentation used across the service
• Prepare monthly financial reports and present results to pastors and parish finance councils
• Support budget preparation, forecasting, and financial analysis for assigned parishes
• Support periodic reviews and audits with organized records and timely responses
• Ensure compliance with diocesan financial policies, non-profit accounting standards, and internal controls
• Maintain confidentiality and discretion in all areas of responsibility

What You Bring

Required

• Seven to ten years of bookkeeping experience, including full-charge responsibility, complex or multi-entity engagements, and review or mentoring of other bookkeeping staff
• Associate degree in accounting or business administration
• Diocesan Business Manager (DBM) credential with at least two years of post-credential experience - or the experience and willingness to earn the credential within a transition window established by the Director of Financial Services
• Strong command of QuickBooks and consolidated financial reporting tools
• Strong working knowledge of non-profit and fund accounting
• Demonstrated ability to train, review, and develop junior staff
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including comfort presenting financial results to pastors and finance councils
• Sound judgment in identifying and escalating financial irregularities or control issues
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel to client parish sites and our Shelton office
• Understanding of and full support for the mission of the Diocese of Bridgeport

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business administration
• Experience with parish management and payroll systems
• Active member of a parish or faith community in good standing with the Church

Position Details

• Job Type: Part-time
• Pay: $35 - $50 per hour
• Schedule: Part-time hours, weekdays; specific schedule arranged with the Director of Financial Services
• Reports To: Director of Financial Services
• Location: 1 Waterview Drive, Shelton, CT, plus assigned parish sites throughout Fairfield County
• Work Location: In person, with regular travel between office and parish sites
• FLSA Status: Non-exempt