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Test your back ups
Ensure that your computer systems have access and password security. Different levels of password security may need to be set up for different parts of programmes. For example, you would not want everyone who could input receipts and payments into your accounting records to have access to the bank reconciliation option or the payroll for security reasons. Such security measures also prevent people accessing data and corrupting or destroying it
Ensure you have adequate maintenance cover for both your computer hardware and your computer software
Ensure that your computer equipment is adequately insured and that you have the ability to obtain replacement equipment and programmes very quickly if disaster should befall
Ensure you have guidelines to ensure employees, members of your congregation etc. Cannot load/download programmes, or external data, onto your computer systems without checking the disks for viruses rst
Overseas issues
We still hear of individuals who are “taken in” by letters or emails from people informing you that you have won some money or that they are holding money that is destined for you – perhaps from a legacy – but they need funds from you rst so that they can nance the various legal costs. Most such correspondence is asking for your bank details or requesting
a cheque from you. Never, ever give your bank details to someone via an email – your bank will never ask you to con rm your banking details in this way nor would an organisation such as HMRC
When you transfer monies abroad you are under a duty to ensure that
the funds are applied for purposes consistent with the objectives set out in your charity’s governing document. Thus you should always receive some form of receipt acknowledging receipt of the monies and a brief report con rming how the funds will be or have been utilised. This is just as important when you are sending monies to your generalate to as when you are sending monies to missions in countries such as Zimbabwe, Sudan, etc. Failure to do this may lead to HMRC imposing a tax charge on you
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