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Money & Mission
Volume VI, Issue 7 - January 6, 2016
Editorial: The Gate of The Year
"And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: 'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.'
And he replied:
'Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.'
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And he led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East."
This is the opening stanza of a poem written by Minnie Louise Haskins in 1908. In 1939, the then-Princess Elizabeth gave it to her father, King George VI, and he quoted it in his Christmas broadcast to the British Empire that year.
While these words may have been considered appropriate for a war-time Christmas broadcast, they seem to be even more fitting for us in The Salvation Army at the start of a new year. As we think about the challenges that face us as we attempt to meet the needs of all those who will depend on us during 2016, may this poem inspire us, both in our work and our personal lives.
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It is heartening to start off the new year with good news, such as that reported by Lieut. Colonel Neil Watt in his article below.
The Salvation Army Receives Imagine Canada Accreditation
By Lieut. Colonel Neil Watt
The Salvation Army has received Imagine Canada accreditation! We are the first religious denomination to secure this – a significant achievement, particularly in light of the Army’s most diverse ministries.
In our October 15, 2014 issue, we wrote about what the accreditation process involved and why it was important to pursue it. With the introduction of a standards program by Imagine Canada in 2012, charities no longer just “sign on” to their Ethical Fundraising & Financial Accountability Code. It became a matter of living the code and demonstrating that the principles within the code were operational. The Governing Council agreed that the Army needed to meet Imagine Canada’s standards which represent best practices in fundraising and financial accountability.
The accreditation designation means meeting 73 standards across the five areas listed below. We have indicated in brackets which Army entity has primary responsibility for an area.
1. Board Leadership (Governing Council)
2. Financial Accountability & Transparency (Finance Department)
3. Fundraising (Public Relations & Development Department)
4. Staff Management (Employee Relations Department)
5. Volunteer Management (multiple)
The process involved substantial work over 2 ½ years. The accreditation, which will soon be announced by Imagine Canada, provides the Army with an accreditation for five years during which period there will be periodic compliance check-ins.
Going forward, the Finance Department will be reviewing our submission to Imagine Canada in order to develop strategies that will enable us to improve our practices wherever possible. This will also help us to be well prepared for the next accreditation process, in 2021.
It is timely that our accreditation parallels General Cox’s call to greater accountability and transparency within The Salvation Army internationally. In a recent meeting of South Asia leaders, he said:
“We all have to be accountable for the decisions we make and for the way in which we use the assets of the Army. We must never forget that we do not own the Army’s assets personally. We are but custodians of assets entrusted to The Salvation Army by God.”
We are pleased to be able to support the General’s call through Imagine Canada’s accreditation. It is a practical step that provides tangible evidence of our accountability. As we affix the accreditation seal to our website and publications, we trust it will be another reason for the public to continue to have confidence in The Salvation Army’s stewardship.
Key Finance Dates for 2016
January 9 TX1 forms due in THQ payroll.
January 13 Final divisional statements of resources issued to divisional commanders.
January 15 Target date for ministry unit budgets to be received by DHQ. Date may vary by division.
January 29 Target date to complete 2015 charitable receipts
February 12 All budgets to be received in the Finance Department.
February 26 Date for completion of Finance Department review of budgets and follow-up discussions with divisions and departments.
February 29 Deadline for issuance of T4's.
March 2 Presentation of budget proposals to the Territorial Finance Council.
March 7 Communication of budget decisions to THQ and DHQ stakeholders.
March 11 Communication of budget decisions to Ministry Units by DHQs.
April 15 General ledger closing for units with external audits.
April 18 Calculation and communication of March Management Support Assessment.
April 25 External audits commence.
May 1 Date for general ledger closing for units without external audits.
May 20 Deadline to submit final draft financial statements to THQ.
May 25 Completion of external audits and approval of ministry unit financial statements.
May 27 Ministry Unit audit adjustments posted.
June 17 Draft consolidated financial statements submitted to KPMG.
June 29 Consolidated financial statements approved by The Governing Council.
August 26 Fiscal strategy report issued to divisional commanders and department heads.
September 19 Detailed Budget Guidelines and targets issued to divisional commanders and department heads.
September 30 Date that T3010's must be submitted to CRA.
October 27 Preliminary divisional statements of resources, divisional ministry fund budget schedules and worksheets issued to divisional commanders.
October 27 THQ/DHQ/MU budget & payroll worksheets issued direct to each THQ department, DHQ and ministry unit.
October 27 DHQ supplementary budget guidelines with specific information related to the division issued to ministry units.
Who's Who
ALBERT CORNER was born in Vladivostok, Russia (the Eastern terminus of the Trans-Siberian Railway). After earning a Bachelor’s degree in International Economics at Vladivostok State University in 2004, he started his career in a local public accounting firm. He then joined the Vladivostok office of the international auditing firm Moore Stephens, and began studying for the ACCA designation (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK).
In 2008, Albert immigrated to Canada with his wife and daughter. He joined a small public accounting firm, where he completed his ACCA studies. In 2010, he received his ACCA designation, and after passing additional tests in Canadian Law and Taxes, he also obtained the CGA designation.
Albert joined The Salvation Army in December 2010 in the role of Financial Analyst. He subsequently moved to the positions of Senior General Accountant, Assistant Director of Accounting and currently is Accounts Receivable Manager. He now has three children and lives in Toronto.
Finance Department Offices
Toronto, ON M4H 1P4
(416) 425.2111 ext. 2237
116 - 276 Midpark Way SE
Calgary AB T2X 1J6
(403) 201.9223
884 - 167 Lombard Ave
Winnipeg MB R3B 0T6
(204) 975.0735
101 - 85 Thorburn Rd
St. John's NL A1B 3M2
(709) 579.3919
For more information...
For more information about the Finance Department, please visit http://salvationist.ca/departments/finance/
Money & Mission Editorial Team
Managing Editor:
Senior Editors:
Patricia Dunbar
Paul Goodyear
Design Editor & Production Manager:
Emilia Kangasjarvi
French Translator:
The Salvation Army Translation Department