Voluntary finance director

Solar for Schools Community Benefit Society; Castle Hedingham; Remote; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading community benefit society is seeking a Non-Executive Director with finance expertise to provide strategic oversight and help shape their financial future. This voluntary role requires a commitment of 4-6 hours per month and offers a unique opportunity to influence community-led renewable energy initiatives.

Benefits

Travel expenses covered for Board meetings

Training on Community Benefit Societies

Qualifications

• Background as a Finance Director, CFO, or equivalent senior finance role.
• Experience in financial forecasting, investment structuring, cash flow and risk management.
• Knowledge of fundraising strategies, including debt financing.

Responsibilities

• Provide financial oversight and strategic input to support the CBS’s mission.
• Guide financial forecasting, investment planning, and risk management.
• Support diversification of funding streams.

Skills

Financial oversight

Strategic input

Risk management

Fundraising strategies

Investment planning

Job description

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Solar for Schools: Decarbonisation and education powered by the sun.

Solar for Schools Community Benefit Society Non-Executive Director (Finance Expertise)

Location: Remote, with in-person meetings at different locations across the UK up to twice a year

Time Commitment: Flexible, estimated 4-6 hours per month

Term: voluntary (unpaid)

About Solar for Schools CBS

Solar for Schools Community Benefit Society (CBS) is a rapidly growing not-for-profit organisation driven to creating real change. We do this by helping schools across the UK save money through generating their own clean, renewable energy. We empower schools to reduce their carbon footprint through installing solar panels on their roofs, educate students on sustainability, and reinvest financial savings into educational and other initiatives.

Our mission is to expand community-owned solar energy solutions, ensuring schools benefit from greener, more sustainable operations. We are innovative and collaborative, committed to bringing others along with us in our commitment to a net-zero future.

The Solar for Schools Community Benefit Society (SFS CBS) was established by Solar Options for Schools Ltd (SOFS) in 2016 as a finance vehicle to enable every school in the UK to get solar panels and, through them, to educate the next generation on energy, carbon, climate change, and what they can do about it. It is bound to act for the community benefit of the member schools who have installed solar panels.

As of 2025, the CBS is at a critical juncture in its development as:

• The number of member schools and MW of energy capacity has scaled up rapidly in the last two years to a current total of about 190 member schools and about 20 MWp, with the objective of adding about 8-10MW (80-120 schools in 2025.
• The CBS is piloting diversification beyond solar panels into batteries and EV chargers.
• The CBS diversifies its funding sources beyond fundraising via debt investments secured on the Ethex platform to include debt to Triodos Bank and exploring offering withdrawable shares. Ultimately our aim is to access funding from pension funds.Strong financial leadership is crucial in balancing our cash flow, investment returns, and risk exposure.
• The CBS has reached a size where increased scrutiny of its impact on education and carbon reduction means we need to strengthen our governance procedures and impact measurement to better manage reputational risk and help gain further funding.

Role Summary

We are seeking a Non-Executive Director with a strong financial background to provide strategic oversight and help shape our financial future given the evolving complexity of the CBS’s financial structure and funding mechanisms. As a key member of the Board, you will play an essential role in ensuring robust financial management, overseeing funding sources, and guiding our long-term financial strategy. Your expertise will be invaluable in driving financial resilience and securing innovative funding mechanisms for our ongoing growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide financial oversight and strategic input to support the CBS’s mission and expansion.
• Guide financial forecasting, investment planning, and risk management.
• Support diversification of funding streams, including debt financing and pension fund access.
• Ensure the organisation maintains a strong financial position through effective budgeting and cash flow management.
• Advise on financial reporting, governance, and compliance matters.
• Work collaboratively with other Board members to enhance the overall financial sustainability of the organisation.

Person Specification

Directors must be able to commit sufficient time to effectively contribute to the governance and strategic oversight of the CBS.

We are looking for individuals with the following experience and expertise:

• A background as a Finance Director, CFO, or equivalent senior finance role.
• Experience in financial forecasting, investment structuring, cash flow and risk management.
• Knowledge of fundraising strategies, including debt financing and pension fund investment into long term income generating assets.
• An understanding of renewable energy or community benefit societies is advantageous but not essential.
• A strategic mindset with the ability to assess financial opportunities and challenges.
• A commitment to our mission and values in community-led renewable energy.
• A commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

Board Members must be aged 18 years or over. Some people are disqualified by law from acting as Directors including:

• Anyone who has an unspent conviction for an offence involving deception or dishonesty.
• Anyone who is an undischarged bankrupt.
• Anyone who is disqualified from being a company director under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986

We may conduct necessary checks on Prospective Directors to ensure eligibility. All Directors will be required to sign a declaration that they are not disqualified and to confirm that they have not been removed from trusteeship of a charity by the Courts or Charity Commission for misconduct or mismanagement.

What You Will Gain

This is a unique opportunity to apply your financial expertise in an organisation at the forefront of community-led renewable energy. You will:

• Play a key role in scaling impact across the sustainability sector, shaping CBS governance and financial structuring, and collaborating with like-minded professionals in community energy and education.
• Gain insight into innovative funding models and impact investment and help share these models with other community groups and the government.
• Work alongside a passionate team dedicated to driving positive environmental and social change.
• Play a key role in shaping a financially sustainable future for community energy.
• Training as required into the rules and functioning of Community Benefit Societies.

While this is a voluntary role, all reasonable travel expenses for Board meetings, networking events, and relevant training will be covered.

Term of Appointment

This is a voluntary position requiring attendance at Board meetings (typically quarterly, via VC) and occasional additional strategic discussions.

Directors are appointed by the Board with their appointment being ratified at the next AGM in October 2025 for a three-year term, with the opportunity for further reappointment.We are ideally looking for an individual who will become the Treasurer of the CBS during the course of their 3-year term.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds who share our vision for a sustainable future.

If you are interested in making a meaningful impact with your financial expertise, we would love to hear from you.

How to Apply

To apply or for more information, please contact Sîan Herschel on

To be read in conjunction with:

• CBS Society rules: https://www.solarforschoolscbs.org.uk/documentation/c0cbd93d-0b33-423a-882d-979846806c57
• Guidance on the FCA’s registration function under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014:http://fca.org.uk/publication/finalised-guidance/fg15-12.pdf

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Executive

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Finance and Sales

• Industries

  Education

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