External Trustee | South Bank Students’ Union

Peridot Partners; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

An executive search consultancy is seeking an External Trustee for a London-based students' union. The ideal candidate will have experience in financial management, especially in charity finance. Key responsibilities include strategic oversight and ensuring the union's financial sustainability. This role requires a commitment to inclusivity and mentorship for student trustees while contributing to a transformative organization.

Benefits

Training for board members

Opportunity to mentor student trustees

Qualifications

• Experience in charity finance and developing long-term financial strategies.
• A solid understanding of HR principles.
• Ability to contribute to board discussions and policies.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight to ensure charitable objectives are achieved.
• Ensure financial health and compliance with charity law.
• Support and hold the Chief Executive accountable.

Skills

Financial management

HR principles

Strategic planning

Job description

External Trustee South Bank Students’ Union

South Bank Students’ Union is unapologetic about doing things differently. Bring your expertise as a Trustee to their Board and support their next strategic phase.

• Location: London, SE1

South Bank Students’ Union is the representative body of 15,000 students at London South Bank University. We are dedicated to creating a Union that is relevant, responsive and transformative for a diverse student body, from carers and nurses to entrepreneurs and last‑chance learners. Our bold changes over recent years have doubled student engagement and positioned us for an ambitious strategic future.

The ideal candidate will have experience in, or a strong understanding of, financial management, especially with regard to charity finance and developing long‑term strategic financial plans and reserve strategies. The ideal candidate will also understand HR principles.

If you are enthusiastic about using your skills to make a tangible difference for students from all walks of life and want to be part of a forward‑thinking, inclusive organisation, this is the role for you. You will play a key part in shaping strategy while influencing key decisions that directly improve student experiences, and helping to ensure the Union maintains robust governance, financial resilience, and a strong foundation for continued success.

Who we are

South Bank students are ambitious, setting high expectations for themselves in the face of complex lives and the pressures of balancing competing commitments. Many do not identify primarily as students, but instead as carers, nurses, engineers, parents, designers, workers, entrepreneurs, apprentices, and last‑chance learners.

Over the past few years, we have realigned our work to meet these diverse needs. We realised much of our activity was not engaging significant parts of our student population and thus made bold changes to meet the needs of our students. This has doubled the number of students who engage with us and our services.

We have been continuing along this positive trajectory in line with our strategic plan for 2025 and are currently in the process of creating a new strategy to align with our students’ goals and needs moving forward. The appointed candidate can expect to be involved in the strategy‑setting process for our new strategic cycle.

About the role

As a Trustee for South Bank Students’ Union, you help shape the strategic direction, governance, and long‑term success of the organisation. Working alongside student and staff trustees, you will help ensure that South Bank Students’ Union remains financially sustainable, legally compliant, and impactful in delivering for its members, the students of London South Bank University.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing strategic oversight to ensure South Bank SU achieves its charitable objectives and vision.
• Ensuring the Union’s financial health, governance standards, and compliance with charity law.
• Supporting and holding the Chief Executive accountable through sound governance and performance monitoring.
• Safeguarding the organisation’s assets, values, and reputation.
• Contributing expertise to board discussions and sub‑committees, helping to shape policies and strategic initiatives.

For all Trustees, we provide annual training for board members and meet at least twice a year for developmental and strategic conversations.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking a trustee with experience of, or a good understanding of, financial management, particularly in the context of charity finance, long‑term strategic financial planning, and the development of reserve strategies. A solid understanding of HR principles would also be valuable, enabling the trustee to contribute their expertise in support of a students’ union that is unapologetic about doing things differently as it enters its next strategic phase.

The ideal candidate will be energised by the diversity and potential of our Students’ Union and student body. You will bring commitment, insight, and the ability to provide constructive feedback, contributing to a Board that values inclusivity, openness and fresh perspectives. Finally, as an external Trustee, you would also be expected to mentor and develop our student trustees.

Time Commitment

Trustee Board meetings are held at least four times a year. Meetings are held in person at our Elephant and Castle campus. Additionally, Trustees can expect to sit on sub‑committees and get involved with other areas of the Union’s work. We provide annual training for board members and meet at least twice a year for developmental and strategic conversations.

Our Trustee Board and Development Day dates for 2025/26

• Monday 26 January 2026 – Board of Trustees, 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday 16 June – Board of Trustees, 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday 21 July – Contingency Board Meeting (Strategy Approval), time TBC

Learn more about South Bank Students’ Union

For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:

As a sector‑leading executive search consultancy, we know the importance of creating recruitment processes that are fair, inclusive, and free from bias. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a process that values differences.

If you require any job information in an alternative format (e.g. large print), please contact Conor Naughton. Please also let us know if you would like to submit your application in an alternative format.

Recruitment selection processes are based on evidence of competence stated in the person specification and in relation to our values.

Timetable

Closing date: Monday 17th November 2025
Candidates informed of outcome: Friday 21st November 2025
Interviews: Thursday 27th November 2025

Peridot and South Bank Students’ Union are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions. We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout, and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.

The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 launched on 25 May 2018.