Are you an experienced treasurer or qualified accountant with experience working with charities? Can you volunteer one day a month to help the Finance Manager monitor, advise and deliver on the charity’s financial health and control with their responsibilities and objectives?
The role will largely oversee the finance function within the charity, reviewing our annual financial statements and statutory requirements and overseeing management accounts with the Board of Directors. As a member of the Governing Board, the Treasurer will play a key role in identifying and monitoring opportunities and risks for the charity, using its resources to effectively achieve its mission and outcomes. The Treasurer would sit on the Officers’ Group, which met regularly between full Council meetings.
Purpose
Church Action on Poverty is a medium-sized national registered charity and company with an annual turnover of £747,009 (2023-24 annual accounts) limited to provision. Poverty robs people of their dignity, freedom and hope, their power over their own lives. We believe that our vision – to end poverty in the UK – can become a reality.
As a member of the board of trustees (Board of Directors), the general role of the Treasurer is to provide an overview of the organization’s affairs, ensure its financial stability and ensure that appropriate financial records and procedures are maintained.
Main duties
- Oversee all financial aspects of the charity on behalf of the Board of Directors to ensure its short and long term viability.
- Advising the Board of Directors on strategic financial oversight.
- To assist the Chairman, other honorary officers, the Chief Executive and the Finance Manager in ensuring that the Board fulfills its duties and responsibilities in the financial management of the charity.
- Ensure that the charity uses its financial, human and other resources effectively to deliver its mission and outcomes.
Duties and tasks to perform basic duties
In collaboration with the Chief Executive Officer and Finance Manager:
- To ensure that the charity operates within the framework of existing legislation, the Charity Commission, the charity’s articles of association, company legislation, professional bodies and the financial rules set out by the Board of Directors.
- Review financial controls and ensure they are regularly monitored and reviewed by the Officers Team.
- Provide oversight to the Finance Manager by compiling year-end financial statements and accounts.
- Support the CEO and Finance Manager in the ongoing financial management of the charity and attend at least bi-monthly Officers Group meetings.
- To report quarterly to the Board on the financial results and condition of the charity and to identify and bring to the attention of the board any financial risks facing the charity.
- Ensure that the charity’s financial resources are sufficient to meet the charity’s current and future needs, advise the board on the reserves policy and ensure that this policy is regularly reviewed and monitored and that surplus funds are invested with prudent market returns.
- To monitor the accounting of restricted funds and to ensure that financial funds received for specific purposes are separately recorded and spent for the given purposes.
In cooperation with the Chairman, CEO and CFO:
- To ensure that the Board fulfills its duties and responsibilities for the proper financial management of the charity.
- Ensure that the charity’s income and assets are used for the purposes set out in its governing document and for no other purpose, and that they are fully equitable among those who are qualified to benefit.
- Advise the Board of Directors on financial implications and operational risks arising from Board decisions, particularly strategic and policy decisions of the board.
- Work with the Chief Executive Officer and Finance Manager to ensure that financial information is both accurate and presented in a manner that facilitates good financial management.
Conditions
Destination: The Treasurer will be appointed by the Board of Directors and also elected by the Annual General Meeting as a trustee/director for a term of three years and may be re-appointed for one additional term.
Award: The role of Treasurer carries no financial remuneration, although travel and other reasonable expenses may be required.
Location: Church Action on Poverty’s office is in Salford, Greater Manchester, but the Treasurer can live anywhere in the UK.
Time Commitment: Four board meetings per year: two Saturday mornings online and two days in Manchester (one Saturday and one weekday). In addition, the Officers Group has at least five online meetings. Regular meetings of the Treasurer with the Finance Manager are also expected. Total time commitment in the region one day per month.
If you would like to apply for this role or request an informal chat, please contact one of our team:
