Our Services

Finance Office Staffing and Support Services

BMT has developed a unique capability to provide on-site support with day-to-day operations and to perform the high-level financial functions for religious institutes desiring such assistance. After a thorough study of Financial Office operations, BMT will use its trained personnel to perform certain aspects of the technical and/or financial management functions. Care is taken to ensure the policy decisions are made exclusively by the institute. BMT provides:

• On-site technical support with day-to-day operations
• Data Entry
• Bank reconciliations
• Investment and payroll journal entries
• High-level financial advisory functions
• Planning
• Budgeting
• Financial Planning
• Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Controller and Business Manager Services
• Preparation and explanation of financial statements
• Completion of NRRO applications
• Finance office consolidation precipitated by the joining of two or more religious institutes
• Ministry reviews, including educational institutions, long-term health facilities, retreat centers, residences and day care centers

Financial Management and Accounting

BMT provides skilled, specialized financial consulting and management services. In order to effectively serve religious institutes in a dynamic economic and cultural environment, BMT continually evolves new and innovative solutions. Our specialized services include but are not limited to:

• Institute financial evaluations
• Development of financial systems
• Budgeting and accounting on the institute and the local community level
• Legal compliance
• Insurance
• Management issues
• General administration
• Preparation and analysis of financial statements
• Taxes and tax form preparation

Government Benefit Eligibility Management

BMT provides various services to achieve the appropriate level of participation in employer and government benefit programs. Our assistance may include some or all of the following:

• Explanation of government programs and ethical issues regarding benefit participation
• Evaluation of institute participation in available government programs
• Oversight of institute's benefit coordinator
• Management of the enrollment of members into various benefit programs
• Management of medical bill processing
• Telephone support services and semi annual newsletter

Human Resource Management

BMT has extensive experience in the management of Human Resources. BMT has worked with many religious institutes to create positive policies relating to lay staff and personnel issues. They include:

• Organizational and staffing studies
• Development of personnel policies and employee handbooks
• Evaluation and implementation of benefit programs
• Wage studies and implementation strategies

Information Systems Solutions

BMT utilizes personal computers to facilitate religious institute finance operations. Our assistance may include some or all of the following:

• Evaluating finance office computer hardware and software applications
• Determining requirements for computer hardware and software applications
• Installing and supporting hardware and software
• Arranging Internet access
• Providing on-site training
• Providing an introduction to new computer technologies

Insurance Reviews

BMT provides a variety of strategies to cope with escalating insurance costs:

• Review of current insurance coverages including property, auto, liability, medical and worker's compensation programs to determine adequacy and coordination of coverages and costs
• Preparation of insurance specifications
• Assistance in soliciting insurance brokers
• Management of medical self-insurance program

BMT has extensive hands-on experience in managing all aspects of a low-cost collaborative medical self-insurance program which operates on a multi-state basis and involves over 2,000 members and employees of larger religious institutes.

Investment Advisory Services

BMT offers assistance through diverse asset management programs covering a variety of time horizons:

• Development of financial and social responsible investing objectives, investment guidelines policies and asset allocation models
• Short/Intermediate term advisory services to enable effective and safe management of working capital
• Assistance in selecting a highly competent Portfolio Manager for long-term investment commitments such as continuing care and ministry funds
• Post selection support in the form of computer programs which objectively monitor the institute's portfolio performance in relation to its objectives
• Quarterly portfolio performance reports that evaluate and compare each portfolio's performance to economic and market standards; comparison to peer group
• Coordination of portfolio manager meetings
• Review of programs expenses and comparison to industry standards

Long Term Financial Planning

Without appropriate financial planning, we are at the mercy of events and constantly find ourselves reacting rather than anticipating. BMT uses a variety of creative planning models based on historical information, the recognition of change factors and financial trends to help religious institutes understand, project and plan their future:

• Human Resources
• Financial forecasting
• Institutional forecasts
• Budget and short-term financial planning
• Long range financial forecasting

Property Planning Services

BMT offers diverse services relating to property utilization and management, including but not limited to:

• Evaluation of existing operation services
• Renovation strategies
• Recycling facilities for alternative uses
• Aquisition and disposition strategies
• Assisting with federal and state licensure procedures for infirmary operation
• Cost-effective acquisition of properties for residential and ministerial purposes

Reconfiguration Services

BMT has provided planning assistance to religious institutions by developing pre-reconfiguration information templates and post reconfiguration services.

Pre-Reconfiguration Planning

Development of pre-reconfiguration information templates including but not limited to:

• Accounting
• Banking
• Budgeting
• Development
• Employees
• Finance Office Staff
• Health Care
• Insurance
• Investment
• Legal Documents
• Ministry Contracts/Obligations
• Real Estate

Each template is reviewed and a summary report is prepared highlighting similarities and differences as well as strengths and weaknesses.

Post-Reconfiguration Planning

To the extent required BMT develops central systems to achieve financial consolidation. BMT will develop methods to assist in the selection of "best of class vendors". BMT will provide guidance regarding finance office staff requirements.

The professional staff of BMT authored the following articles or chapters in the NATRI Handbook. These articles are very useful during all phases of re-configuration.

Finance and the Reconfiguration of Religious Institutes
By: Clare Lorenzatti

The Role of the Treasurer
By: Clare Lorenzatti

The Organization of a Finance Office
By: Linda Orrick, SNJM