Number of high-paid staff among Jewish charities rises sharply in last few years

The number of higher-paid staff earning more than £60,000 a year has risen sharply among Jewish charities within the last few years.

Employees earning more than £100,000 a year in 20 of the leading Jewish charities rose to 36 from 22 four years earlier: while those earning from £60,000 to £100,000 increased by over 40 per cent from 67 to 95.

According to the Charity Commission, the unidentified highest earner among them enjoyed a package of over £200,000 at the United Synagogue, whose payroll covers the Chief Rabbi.

Although the commission’s website also listed the top paid official at the Community Security Trust as earning over £200,000, CST said this was incorrect: according to its 2019 accounts, the person earned between £170,000 and £179,000, up from £130,000 to £139,999 in 2015.

In the United Synagogue, six-figure earners rose from seven to 12 and those paid £60,000 up to £100,000 from 17 to 28 in four years.

In 2018, the highest paid US employee received £200,000 to £210,000 in 2018, which was lower than the £220,000 to £230,000 recorded four years earlier, although the JC understands there was a special one-off payment that year. Two other US staff are on £150,000-plus salaries.

At Jewish Care, the number of six-figure earners was down from four in 2015 to three in 2019, but those on £60,000 up to £100,000 up from ten to 20 — with the highest paid earning over £170,000, according to its latest accounts.

The JLC’s leading earner was also receiving £170,000 or more in 2018, while in 2019 the highest paid UJIA official earned £140,000.

In 16 of the 20 charities, the highest paid member was on a six-figure salary.

The Charity Commission has made it easier to find the information after revamping its online register last week, providing an overview page which includes data on the number of £60,000 plus earners.

Most Jewish charities previously listed those details but it was necessary to scroll through their accounts.

Although the overview for the Board of Deputies says it has no one earning £60,000 or more, the Board said this was wrong: its latest accounts for 2018 reveal one staff member on £110,000 to £120,000 and another on £60,000- plus.

CST said other details were wrong. According to its accounts, staff earning £60,000 up to £100,000 rose from ten to 12 in four years, while those earning more than £100,000 from one to two.

A spokesman for the commission told the JC, “The information on the charity overview page is drawn from information submitted to the commission by charities in their annual return. It appears there is a discrepancy between information this charity has submitted in its accounts and annual return.”

But the CST insisted the commission was in error.

The US’s overall payroll leapt from 660 employees in 2014 to 846 four years later, which partly reflects the acquisition of new communities and the development of kashrut, informal education and other services. The payroll includes part-time cheder teachers and youth camp workers.

Reform or Liberal synagogues are autonomous but the US is centralised, hence salaries of local rabbis and congregational staff are covered.