The Church of England
Parish Adviser
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Join us in supporting thriving parishes across Sussex
The Diocese of Chichester is seeking an enthusiastic Parish Adviser to support the mission and ministry of our parishes, benefices and deaneries. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with strong financial, governance and relationship-building skills to work alongside clergy, lay leaders and diocesan colleagues to help churches flourish.
As Parish Adviser
You will provide advice, training and practical support to Parochial Church Councils (PCCs) on charity governance, finance, stewardship and best practice. You will play a key role in helping parishes navigate regulatory requirements, strengthen financial sustainability and make effective use of digital tools and systems.
This is a rewarding opportunity to contribute to the life and mission of local churches and contribute to building strong relationships with parishes across the Diocese. Please note that this role is offered on a two and a half year fixed term basis.
You Will
- Provide guidance and support to PCCs on charity governance, finance, accounting and stewardship.
- Advise parishes on accounting best practice, record-keeping, Gift Aid and financial compliance.
- Deliver training seminars, workshops and resources for PCC officers and parish volunteers.
- Support engagement with the Church of England's Cornerstone platform through training and subscription management.
- Work with Archdeacons and diocesan colleagues to encourage participation and generosity within the Parish Share system.
- Review parish finance and mission returns and help ensure compliance with charity reporting standards.
- Provide consultancy support to parish officers, particularly during clergy vacancies.
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About You
We are looking for someone with great communication skills who has a passion for mission and supporting PCCs and parishes. You will be able to combine technical knowledge with a supportive and collaborative approach.
You Will Have
- Experience of preparing accounts for small charities and/or churches.
- Practical knowledge of charity governance, including the Charities Act 2011 and Charity SORP.
- An understanding of parish finance within the Church of England.
- Experience delivering training, presentations or workshops.
- Experience of working with committees, volunteers or multiple stakeholder groups.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain financial and governance matters clearly to non-specialists.
- Strong organisational and administrative skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
- Confidence using Microsoft 365 applications and digital systems.
For full details of the job please see the job description and person specification.
What We Offer
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- A salary of £38,600 per annum
- Flexi-time and the opportunity to apply to use the DBF’s remote working policy to work from home for part of the week.
- 28 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays and two privilege days per year.
- Membership of the Church Worker’s Pension Scheme with a 15.1% employer contribution and an employee contribution between 0-6%.
- Employee Assistance Programme with access to GP appointments, counselling and financial and legal support.
- Free parking, and the ride to work scheme and development opportunities.
Our values
As an employer, and as a Church House team, our mutual values at work are to be Respectful, Professional, Flexible and Supportive.
Safeguarding
Chichester DBF is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders are expected to share this commitment and to comply with the relevant safeguarding policy. Our full safeguarding policy can be found here.
How To Apply
For further information and application details, please visit Pathways. For an informal conversation about the role, please contact the Parish Support Team Leader, Sarah Rogers (sarah.rogers@chichester.anglican.org).
Applications should be submitted by Pathways by 12th August 2026.
Interviews will be held at Church House, Hove on 3rd September 2026.
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