Trustee Treasurer

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre; City Of London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A charitable organization in the UK is seeking a Trustee to oversee its operations and ensure financial stability. This voluntary role requires a strong commitment to the community and offers an opportunity to impact the local area positively. Candidates should exhibit leadership skills and have a grasp of governance principles. Training and support will be provided.

Qualifications

• Full commitment to The Peel’s purpose and ambition.
• Willingness to devote necessary time and effort.
• Understanding of legal duties and responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Attend all board meetings throughout the year.
• Support and challenge the management team.
• Ensure financial stability and effective governance.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Strategic thinking

Teamwork

Integrity

Job description

For a full candidate pack, please get in touch with Paddy Radcliffe, CEO: [e-mail].

THE ROLE OF A TRUSTEE

Our trustees play a vital role in making sure that The Peel achieves its core purpose. They oversee the overall management and administration of the charity. They also ensure that The Peel has a clear strategy and that our work and objectives are in line with our ‘True North’. Just as importantly, they support and challenge the team to enable The Peel to grow and thrive and, through this, ensure that we are able to enhance the well-being and life experience of the whole Clerkenwell community.

Trustees must always act in the best interests of The Peel.

Trustees have a collective responsibility. This means that trustees always act as a group and not as individuals.

The duties of a trustee are:

• Ensuring that The Peel pursues its stated objects (purposes) defined in its governing document. Trustees will help develop and agree a long-term strategy to achieve this
• Ensuring that The Peel complies with its governing document (ie. our Articles of Association)
• Ensuring The Peel complies with charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
• Ensuring that The Peel only uses its resources for its charitable objects. The charity must not spend money on activities that are not included in its objects, even if the activities are considered worthwhile or charitable
• Ensuring that The Peel defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets
• Safeguarding the good name and values of The Peel
• Ensuring that The Peel has an effective and efficient administration of The Peel. This includes having appropriate policies and procedures in place
• Ensuring the financial stability of The Peel
• Protecting and managing the property of the charity and ensuring the charity’s funds are invested properly
• To appoint and support the Chief Executive and to monitor his/her performance.

As well as the statutory duties above, each trustee should use their specific skills, knowledge and experience to help the board reach sound decisions.

This may involve leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, advising on any issues where the trustee has special expertise, and representing The Peel externally.

The Charity Commission provides a range of resources and guidance regarding the role of trustee roles and associated responsibilities.

YOUR COMMITMENT AS A TRUSTEE

Trustees are expected to attend all board meetings. We have four board meetings a year, as well as a strategy away-day. Papers are distributed in advance.

Board meetings tend to last between 1-2 hours and are usually in person, in Clerkenwell. The away-day is usually an afternoon, combined with a formal board meeting to make efficient use of time.

Trustees may be asked to become a member of a board committee (currently only our Financial, Investment and Risk Committee - FIRC). Our FIRC also meets four times per year, with meetings lasting around 1 hour.

Trustees will also have the opportunity, indeed are encouraged to visit The Peel, to meet and get to know our staff, and to see our work in action. You may also be expected to undertake and maintain appropriate learning and development where required (eg. safeguarding).

At present, we do not have term limits for Trustees, with appointments reconfirmed annually at our AGM. That said, good practice is usually for trustees to serve for six years (two terms of three years), longer by exception.

This is a voluntary position but reasonable out of pocket expenses are reimbursed.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for people willing to bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role, and who will broaden the diversity of thinking on the board.

Previous board experience is welcome but not essential. We will provide a full induction, and training and support where required.

Every trustee is expected to:

• Have a full and heart-felt commitment to The Peel’s purpose, ambition and work, and to the local community in and around Clerkenwell
• Be willing to devote the necessary time and effort to the role
• Attend every board meeting, and committee meeting where applicable
• Understand and accept the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
• Both challenge and support the CEO and senior staff, and to participate fully in all meetings
• Have strong communication skills and be able to work effectively as a member of a team and to support other trustees
• Display integrity and be expected to declare any conflict of interests as and when they arise
• Show good judgement and be able to think strategically and creatively.

To provide effective governance of The Peel, we aim to ensure that we have skills and experience on the board in the following key areas:

• Strategy and organisational development
• Finance, including investment
• Risk management
• Human resources and people development
• Marketing and comms
• Safeguarding
• Fundraising, partnerships and income generation
• Local community voice and representation
• Experience in/knowledge of best practice and delivery in a community setting
• Impact measurement and evaluation.

We also try to make sure that the board has some skill, experience and knowledge of the business world (in particular local business), IT and digital, legal matters and buildings/facilities management.

Treasurer – role description

As well as fulfilling the role and duties of a Trustee, the Treasurer maintains an overview of The Peel’s financial affairs. The treasurer ensures that effective and appropriate financial measures, controls and procedures are in place and reports to the Board at regular intervals about the financial health of the organisation.

Specifically, the Treasurer:

• Oversees the development, approval (by the Board) and presentation of budgets, forecasts, management accounts, financial statements and any other financial reports as necessary
• Ensures that the financial resources of The Peel meet its present and future needs
• Ensures that robust and comprehensive financial policies are in place and being implemented, and supports the development of policies covering financial reserves and cost management
• Ensures that The Peel has an appropriate reserves policy
• Ensures that proper accounting records are kept and that appropriate procedures and controls are in place
• Advises on the financial implications of The Peel’s strategic plans, monitoring the financial viability of the charity and overseeing the charity’s financial risk management process
• Works and liaises with the CEO and Finance Manager on financial matters
• Oversees financial controls and adherence to systems
• Works with the Board to ensure that The Peel has an appropriate investment policy, and that there is no conflict between investments and the aims and objects of the charity
• Ensures that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in a form required by funders and the relevant statutory bodies ie. the Charity Commission and the Registrar of Companies
• Oversees the external audit process to that accounts are scrutinised in the manner required and that any recommendations are implemented
• Keeps the Board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities
• Contributes to our fundraising strategy and approach.

Treasurer – person specification

In addition to what we are looking for in a trustee, the treasurer should have the following experience and capabilities:

• Financial qualifications and experience. Some experience of charity finance, fundraising and pension schemes is an advantage
• A clear communicator with the ability to bring financial information alive to non-finance specialists
• Ability to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences
• Willing to play an active role in areas such as forecasting, setting budgets and liaising with auditors
• A willingness to be available to staff for advice and enquiries on an ad hoc basis, and to support their personal development where possible.

Treasure – your commitment

We would anticipate the Treasurer needing to be able to commit the equivalent of 1-2 days per month in total to fulfil the role, in addition to the time commitment as regular trustee.

HOW TO APPLY

The Peel is committed to equality and diversity. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and from a diverse range of backgrounds. We know that greater diversity will lead to even greater impact for our local community.

If you would like a copy of the full candidate pack, have any questions about The Peel, or the role of Treasurer, or if you’d like to apply with your CV and covering letter please contact:

Paddy Radcliffe, CEO

[e-mail]

Please use your covering letter to tell us why you would like to join The Peel, why you would make an excellent treasurer, and how you would support The Peel’s development and impact more broadly.

Your CV and covering letter should not exceed 4 pages.

Applications will be dealt with on a rolling basis until the role is filled.

Selected candidates will be offered an interview. Subject to a successful interview, a candidate will be given the opportunity to attend, as an observer, a board meeting, prior to formal appointment.