Vaksdal Church Parish Council Uses Aider for Payroll and Accounting: Surprised That Not All Parish Councils Are Part of This Solution

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Even church parish councils depend on sound finances. For Bjart-Magnus Ndogo Rosvold, Church Warden in Vaksdal, it’s about creating space for more church activities. With modern financial systems—and strong support from Aider—he now has an overview that helps him make better decisions.


Janitor, CFO—and Everything In Between


The role of Church Warden in a small municipality like Vaksdal is diverse. On a daily basis, Rosvold handles everything from phone calls and changing light bulbs to more complex tasks such as financial management. In short: he is janitor, CFO—and everything in between.


– Sometimes people even come to me seeking spiritual guidance. But there’s no doubt that finance takes up much of my workday. That’s the way it is in the church: we are about faith, mission, and social work, but ultimately, everything we do—or want to do—comes down to finances,” says Rosvold.


After more than 20 years of strong organic growth, Atenti’s CEO and founder, Erik Torp Johannessen, has felt that something is changing. The company has grown to be large enough to be slightly too small.


“Initially, we were not looking to sell, but we notice that regulatory demands are consuming an increasing portion of our capacity. Changes in regulations require us to split resources more, and we have to dedicate resources to managing projects that are much larger than those just five years ago. These are resources we could—and would prefer to—use to help our clients,” Johannessen explains, adding:


“Of course, it was also important for us to find a partner we enjoy working with. Aider shares our values, and we know and respect each other. In the end, there really wasn’t any other option.”


 

A Management Tool

That’s why it is important for Rosvold, who is trained as a business economist, to always have control over what they can actually afford. The churches need water and electricity, employees need to be paid, and confirmation students need meals. Since parish councils manage public funds, they are also subject to sound municipal accounting practices.


“For me, it’s difficult to decide what we can do in 2024 before I know we have the funds to carry it out. But with Aider, we have that overview. We have easy access to updated figures, which makes it simple for me to answer questions about what we can prioritize.”


Accounting is no longer something they glance at in the rearview mirror—it has become a management tool. According to Lars Patterson, head of the parish council, it is something they use actively in daily operations.


“An accounting system with real-time data helps you make informed decisions. In addition, there is, of course, a learning effect from historical data through good reporting. It helps us set precise budgets,” says Patterson, adding:


“I was surprised that not all parish councils are part of the Church’s shared solution with Aider. Here we get the right accounting at the right time, well-presented by competent people. Accounting has gone from being a burden to a tool we deeply respect.”

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Skilled People Who Know the Church


In addition, both Rosvold and Patterson appreciate that Aider provides a dedicated, permanent contact. Even—perhaps especially—because the accounting flows more smoothly than ever, the personal engagement is important, particularly when it comes from an advisor who understands your day-to-day reality.


“We have a dedicated person who has primary responsibility for our accounting. When we send an email or make a call, we always receive helpful answers. With Aider, you notice that you are speaking with people who truly understand the church and the church landscape. Their knowledge of what a Church Warden’s daily work looks like undoubtedly contributes to the excellent service,” say Rosvold and Patterson in unison, adding:


 


“Aider has found a unique balance: they are a large, broad competence hub, while also having specialized expertise in church accounting.”


 


More Data, Smarter Decisions


Rosvold now looks forward to continued system development, which he believes has already come a long way over the past two to three years.


“Accounting systems have only improved, and Aider is far ahead in terms of expertise in this area. Looking ahead, we anticipate that even larger volumes of data will allow us to compare costs across individual parish councils, for example per church and per cemetery.”


This will provide the foundation for even better financial analyses and smarter decisions. Combined with ever less manual bookkeeping, it will ultimately lead to what is most important for Rosvold:


—Creating space for more life in the local churches.


 

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