Download the Financial Secretary Job Description
Key Role – Financial Secretary
- Works closely with the treasurer and other financial officers in handling PTA funds
- Keeps a record of all PTA funds collected, deposited and disbursed
- Prepares monthly and annual financial reports
Getting Started
Preparation – To know more about your new position, review files and materials from last term that should include:
- Standardized ledger
- Receipt book
- Remittance forms to transfer money to council and district treasurers
- Check endorsement stamp, if available
- Monthly and Annual Financial Reports
It’s also worthwhile to talk to your predecessor to get advice and tips about your new role.
Schedule Meeting – Meet with the treasurer and financial reviewer to discuss how you can work effectively together. Check your unit bylaws to see who does what in handling PTA funds.
How Tos
As an elected officer, your main duties are to receive, record, deposit and report on monies collected by your unit. Here are some quick tips to get started:
Receiving Funds:
- Follow PTA financial procedures in handling funds
- Use Cash Verification Form, in California State PTA Toolkit, when counting funds
- Check amounts for accuracy and issue a numbered receipt for each financial transaction
Recording Funds:
- Record receipts in the ledger noting date of receipt, number of receipt issued, amount, from whom received and for what account (e.g. membership, fundraising)
- Note any refunds or disbursements and prepare authorizations for payment. Or, if this is the secretary’s job, provide him or her with the information needed to prepare them.
- Give the treasurer itemized bills, sales slips and invoices for payment by check
Depositing Funds:
- Ensure that money and checks are deposited immediately in a PTA account
- Give a duplicate deposit slip and remittance form that accounts for all money received to the treasurer. Or, if the treasurer handles deposits, give the funds collected to him or her for deposit and receive a numbered, dated receipt for your records.
Reporting Funds:
- Prepare monthly and annual financial reports of monies received, deposits made and authorizations for payment issued to give to the president, secretary and other financial officers
- Submit all records for financial review, when a financial officer is replaced and whenever a financial review is deemed necessary
Did you know? … PTA Board Members:
- Adhere to PTA financial procedures as outlined in Bylaws and State and National PTA guidelines
- Protect members’ privacy by utilizing member information for PTA work only
- Attend PTA sponsored workshops or trainings
- Maintain a current procedure book and files to pass on to a successor, in hard copy or electronic format
- Work together as a team to improve the lives of all children and their families
Other Useful Information
Resources:
California State PTA – www.capta.org
- PTA Leaders tab and more
- California State PTA Toolkit
- Running Your PTA Made Easy
- Insurance Guide – Also mailed annually to PTA presidents
Online Services:
- Officer Contact System – To enter officer and board member information and generate useful reports
- e-Bylaws – To revise and update PTA unit Bylaws
- Tax Filing Support Center – To help units meet Federal and State reporting requirements
- MyPTEZ – To handle PTA accounting needs and generate financial reports
- TOTEM – ELECTRONIC MEMBERSHIP SYSTEM – To join and renew membership and for PTAs to manage membership
National PTA – www.pta.org
- E-Learning Workshops
- One Voice Blog
