Parish Auditor

Description

The Opportunity

Reporting directly to the CFO, the Parish Auditor evaluates parish financial records, accounting practices, internal controls, and compliance using objective professional judgment. The role manages the full review lifecycle from self-assessment and risk-based audit validation, through reporting, corrective action, follow-up, and escalation. The Parish Auditor exists to protect Church assets and strengthen financial stewardship across the Diocese.

What You'll Do

• Plan and conduct risk-based financial and internal-control reviews of parishes.
• Manage parish self-assessments and independently validate significant representations through audit testing and documentation.
• Evaluate accounting practices, financial records, internal controls, and compliance with diocesan policies and procedures.
• Develop well-supported findings and practical recommendations, and present audit reports to Pastors and diocesan leadership.
• Establish and track corrective-action plans and deadlines; verify remediation before closing findings and escalate unresolved deficiencies to the CFO.
• Serve as a trusted resource to Pastors, parish financial personnel, and Finance Councils on accounting and internal controls.
• Identify recurring issues and continuously strengthen diocesan audit practices, policies, training, and tools using applicable USCCB guidance, DFMC leading practices, and professional audit and internal-control practices.

Requirements

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or a closely related field.
• At least five years of progressively responsible accounting and audit experience; more extensive experience preferred.
• Significant hands-on audit experience, including internal-control evaluation, transaction testing, audit documentation, findings, and formal reporting.
• Strong accounting, analytical, risk-assessment, written communication, interpersonal, and professional judgment skills, including maturity in handling sensitive or disputed financial matters.
• CPA, CIA, CFE, or similar professional certification preferred.
• Experience with a Catholic diocese, parish, church, nonprofit, or other decentralized organization preferred;
• Practicing Catholic preferred. All candidates must understand, respect, and support the mission and values of the Catholic Church and the Diocese of Nashville.
• Ability to travel regularly to parish locations throughout the Diocese.

Why This Role Matters

This is more than a transaction-testing role. The Parish Auditor helps ensure parish resources are protected, required controls are working, and identified deficiencies are resolved. It is an opportunity to apply strong accounting and audit expertise in direct support of the Church's mission and long-term stewardship in the Diocese of Nashville.