- - - Rejoice in the Lord always ... again I say Rejoice !!! - - -

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                              TO:  Interested Ministry Officials                                                                                                   FROM: Jim Bramer, Retired Auditor-CPA
                                                                                                                                                                                             FILE:  0086-01/all

                              RE:  Photo and Video Financial Reports                                                                                     Originated:  October 1994                                     

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        When you consider Ministry Finance Reporting, Click here as to some "vital signs" information as you pursue the following fundamental objectives and the essential financial information that you as a decision-maker  MUST have.   Click Here   and go to some Photo and Video sample reports as produced via the QuickBooks software. 

OBJECTIVE #1

        "Point in Time information:  Timely answer questions that have to do with PHOTO or "Point in Time information --- like a photograph, or a snapshot" - in accounting terms we usually call this a Balance Sheet.  See below.

• How much Cash/Bank Balance is on deposit;
• How much belongs to the INTERNAL DISCRETIONARY FUNDs or EXTERNALLY DESIGNATED FUNDs  at this time.
• In some cases, what Non-Cash Resources do we have,
• Plus what Unpaid Obligations (or Bills) do we have - whether due now or in installments?

OBJECTIVE #2

      "Period of Time : You MUST be able to timely answer questions having to do with VIDEO, or reporting of activity during a "Period of Time --- like a Video or Movie":  the usual accounting terms for this report is Profit and Loss (P&L) or Income Statement.

• What has happened since the first of the fiscal year to the current point in time,
• What did each Fund start with and what type of Revenues, Expenditures and transfers among Funds caused the balance in each Fund to increase or decrease?

OBJECTIVE #3

Where are you in relationship to where you planned to be?

•    You need to timely answer Actual to Budget questions that have to do with Video activity within the INTERNAL DISCRETIONARY FUNDS (or the General Purpose or Operations Fund). 
•   Or how does the actual activity, since the first of the fiscal year, compare to what was planned/projected (yea,  Budgeted) for this period of time? Often by appropriate Department of the Ministry.
•   This process is not that important for Special Purpose Monies, since you can only spend the available fund balance.

OBJECTIVE #4

What is the perspective of this Photo and Video financial data?

   >>> How does this information compare to meaningful Ministry Finance data. 
   >>> As a decision maker, you need to view the 'Big Picture' and follow financial trends.  Click here and here  for a view of such matters in a church setting.
   >>> We often refer to such reports as "Big Pix" reports or "KITS", or "Key Item Trend Statement".
   >>> Another name for this type of reporting is "Executive Summary".

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    The bulk of this Publication originated in October 1994 and was  . UPTD: May 03, 2008

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        (1) An Online Document, or WRIT (Writing), may be applicable to all Ministries, or it may be designed for just groups like: Evangelical Church, School, Missionary Agency or Organization, Christian Camp / Conference, or other named group.
        (2) WRIT formats include the perspective of  Jim@bcidot.org   via IOMs (Inter-Office Memos) to the Ministry Finance Team (MFTeam); THRDs, a hypothetical Online conversation with members of the MFTeam; GLEANINGS, or Scripture within context of the MFTeam; FWIW; A periodic editorial (For What it is Worth); TRUISM, or believed Ministry Finance principles; and FAQ, response to Frequently Asked Questions

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