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The Community Forest Trust (CFT) supports, enables and champions England’s 15 Community Forests, creating a strong and resilient network of woodlands that enhance the environment for people, wildlife and the wider planet.

• Location: England-wide

Community Forest Trust supports, enables and champions England’s network of Community Forests so that they have an increasing and positive impact on people’s health and happiness and the environment – improving the agriculture, commerce, and climate of derelict or harmful sites.

Community Forests ensure urban areas are economically, socially and environmentally more sustainable and resilient for everyone. They support the regeneration of local communities and create better places. They also educate and empower people about environmental matters and transform places for the social and economic well-being of the community.

CFT is a registered charity with a Board of Trustees and has a small but dynamic team.

They are currently looking for a Finance Trustee to join the Board to work with the existing Senior Finance Trustee.

This is a great opportunity to contribute to a high-profile agenda and support the delivery of national programmes of tree planting.

All trustees must be committed to helping take the organisation through the next few years of dynamic and exciting change, evolution of operations and on-the-ground delivery.

CFT is looking for an additional Finance Trustee. They need to be aligned with CFT’s values and able to bring the skills listed below.

Person Specifications:

CFT need an additional board member with the specific skills, outlined below, who also brings vision and an appreciation and understanding of how to grow a network in a non-traditional and decentralised way that empowers all partners and stakeholders.

Strategic Finance & Risk Trustee:

CFT is seeking a finance and risk Trustee who has a background as a Chief Finance Officer, Finance Director or Finance Manager who can offer strategic guidance to a multi-faceted, multi-million-pound charity at this pivotal time in their growth.

This individual needs to be a qualified accountant with experience in operating at a strategic level. A person who appreciates the needs of a complex and growing organisation with diverse income and expenditure is needed for this role. CFT’s finances are multi-faceted because they apply for funding, distribute grants and are also developing their Green Finance work so that they can monetise the outputs of England’s Community Forests, as appropriate. They are also diversifying their income including through fundraising.

The new trustee will attend the quarterly Board meetings and also support the Senior Finance Trustee in chairing the quarterly Finance & Risk Committee for CFT. They will work with the CEO and Finance Manager as well as the external auditors concerning all financial matters and relevant reporting cycles.

We very much welcome applications from candidates without previous trustee experience.

All Trustees must align with CFT’s Values:

• CFT are passionate about the power of trees to transform urban environments.
• They aim to innovate, share knowledge and collaborate to achieve best practice in the field of community forestry.
• They see England’s Community Forests as a way to achieve widespread, environmental, social and economic benefits.
• CFT act as an advocate for England’s Community Forests and aims to listen, be responsive and work in close partnership; and
• They work in partnership with others. This includes a combined ECF level and the individual ECFs.

CFT are also interested in the development of diversity on their board and want to encourage younger professionals to apply.

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

If you would like to know more about this role please contact Marie McQuade.