Treasurer/Finance Lead

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A charitable organization in the UK seeks a Treasurer Trustee to ensure financial sustainability and oversee governance. The ideal candidate has senior-level experience in finance and a commitment to ethical leadership. Responsibilities include providing strategic oversight, managing risks, and guiding the Board's understanding of financial matters. This is a voluntary role with a commitment of around 14 days annually, promoting the mission and values of the Foundation.

Benefits

Reasonable expenses reimbursed

Qualifications

• Proven experience in financial governance.
• Ability to oversee and evaluate financial reports.
• Commitment to good governance and ethical leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide financial oversight and ensure compliance.
• Oversee budgets and annual financial statements.
• Monitor financial viability and manage risks.

Skills

Finance expertise

Strategic thinking

Financial risk management

Education

Accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

Senior-level experience in finance

Job description

Be the spark behind stronger fundraising leadership.

Join The Elischer Foundation as our new Treasurer Trustee and help shape the future of fundraising across the charity sector. By supporting us, you won't just be safeguarding one organisation’s finances—you'll be strengthening leadership for hundreds of fundraisers making change happen around the world.

This is your chance to amplify impact through strategy, stewardship, and purpose-driven leadership. If you're ready to influence change at a sector-wide level, we’d love to hear from you.

The Opportunity

The Elischer Foundation seeks an experienced, strategic, and engaged Treasurer to join its Board. This role is essential in ensuring the sustainable and responsible stewardship of the Foundation’s finances as we build towards a future of greater reach, stronger partnerships, and lasting impact.

As Treasurer, you will play a critical governance role by supporting robust financial oversight, guiding the Board’s understanding of financial risks and opportunities, and providing leadership on matters relating to our financial sustainability. The role is not operational, but active engagement is expected.

We are seeking someone with strong financial skills, sound judgement, and a commitment to The Elischer Foundation’s vision, who will enjoy contributing to a small, ambitious, values-driven organisation.

About The Elischer Foundation

The Foundation was established in 2017 in memory of Tony Elischer, who had died the previous year. Tony was a fundraising leader known for his disruptive thinking, big ideas, and relentless hunger for growth and learning. The Elischer Foundation is dedicated to equipping charities and fundraising with the best leaders for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. We provide a bespoke mentoring programme which supplements and complements the training and support individuals may already access via their fundraising or fundraising related roles.

Our mission is to nurture authentic, diverse, and values based leaders, who are driven to create positive and lasting change for beneficiaries around the world. In 2022, we lost Nicky, Tony's wife and our founding Chair, and we became The Elischer Foundation—committed to ensuring that the next generation of fundraising leaders in the UK and beyond are best equipped to lead in a complex and rapidly changing world. This is Tony and Nicky's legacy.

We are currently developing a new five-year strategy that will see the charity engage in more collaborative partnerships, focus on the end-to-end mentee journey and what is offered, and build out our funding and fundraising to ensure sustainability and growth. Critical to our mission is the recognition that if we do the same things, at best we will get the same results and they won’t get us to a place of safeguarding our income and core delivery.

Our trustees play a vital role in making sure that The Elischer Foundation achieves its vision. They oversee the overall management and administration of the charity, by ensuring that our strategy, work and goals are in line with our vision. While we are fortunate to have a diverse Board, most members have experience rooted in charity sector leadership. We see this role as an opportunity to ensure we have strong strategic financial skills and oversight on our Board, complemented by commercial acumen perhaps honed through time in the private or social enterprise sector.

Key Responsibilities

Provide strategic financial oversight for the charity, ensuring effective financial controls, transparent reporting, and compliance with statutory requirements.

Oversee the preparation and presentation of budgets, management accounts, and annual financial statements to the Board.

Monitor the financial viability of the Foundation, supporting effective financial risk management.

Work with the Director to strengthen the Board’s understanding of financial matters and key risks.

Provide oversight of the Foundation’s financial assets, including the legacy fund, and work with external, regulated investment managers to steward funds in line with our ethical investment policy and risk appetite.

Ensure a clear separation of governance oversight from regulated investment management responsibilities.

Support the Director with the annual reporting process.

Advise the Board on financial implications of strategic plans and new initiatives.

While not required, experience in business development or commercial partnerships is desirable. All Trustees are expected to advocate for the Foundation and support its growth.

Responsibilities of all trustees

Uphold and support The Elischer Foundation’s mission and strategic objectives.

Actively participate in Board meetings and governance discussions.

Provide scrutiny and constructive challenge to ensure high standards of performance.

Promote good governance, safeguarding, and ethical leadership.

Use independent judgement, acting legally and in the Foundation’s best interests.

Represent the Foundation externally as an ambassador when appropriate.

As a small charity, Trustees contribute both at Board level and as champions and ambassadors for our work.

Person Specification

Essential:

Senior-level experience in finance, accountancy, or financial governance.

Strategic thinker with a strong understanding of financial risk management.

Ability to oversee and interrogate financial reports and systems.

Commitment to good governance and ethical leadership.

Desirable:

Accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) or significant relevant experience.

Experience with or understanding of charity finance.

Commercial or business development experience.

Terms of Appointment

Initial appointment for a three-year term, renewable by mutual agreement.

Voluntary role; reasonable expenses reimbursed.

Expected commitment: c. 14 days annually, including four Board meetings (hybrid: remote/in-person London), monthly calls with the Director, and active involvement in key governance and strategic discussions.

Application Process

To apply, please submit your CV (or a link to your LinkedIn profile) and a short covering letter outlining your motivation, relevant experience, and how you meet the person specification to Laura Swan, Director, at [e-mail] (Subject line: Treasurer Trustee Application).

We encourage applications from individuals who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.