Honorary Treasurer (Trustee)

We are the UK’s leading specialist medical society for rheumatology and musculoskeletal professionals. We support our members throughout their careers, allowing them to progress, collaborate and innovate so they can deliver the best care for their patients, improving the lives of children and adults with rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease.

Vision
People with rheumatic conditions across the lifespan receive the highest quality outcomes and live well.

Mission
To champion the specialty, influencing change and building a thriving community of best practice.

Values
The values which guide our approach are:

• Celebratory – we celebrate the achievements in rheumatology
• Inclusive – we support everyone in the rheumatology community
• Sustainable – we work to reduce the impact of our activities on the environment
• Leading – we use our profile to drive change and support those working in the specialty
• Collaborative – we always seek to work with others to have a greater impact

Who might be interested in this opportunity
To be our new Honorary Treasurer, experience in strategic level finance is needed, but you might not have a finance qualification. This would be an exciting role for someone looking for an opportunity to support an organisation diversify their income streams and build on the strong financial foundations already in place. You don’t need to have previous experience as a Trustee as we’ll provide a full induction and training, and we have experienced Trustees on our Board.

BSR is a high-performing award-winning organisation about to create our next strategy (2028-2033). We strive for continuous improvement and as a trustee you will be instrumental in helping us define what our impact should be and ensure we achieve our goals. We work alongside the complex and changing environment of the NHS and want to ensure that the rheumatology voice is heard and that the specialty designs and dictates its own future – an approach the Board will own. Our trustees support our drive to be financially sustainable, motivating our work on income generation and overseeing our investments. You will be part of a Board committed to constructive discussion, effective decision-making and respectful of everybody’s contribution.

Key Responsibilities

Purpose of the Treasurer role
The Honorary Treasurer is a trustee of BSR and the Chair of the Finance and Risk Committee (FRC), and the Audit Committee. They are part of the Remuneration, People and Culture Committee. The Treasurer is also a Director on BSR’s trading subsidiary, BSR Enterprises Ltd. Members of the Board of Trustees make up the governing body of the society. Trustees are responsible for ensuring BSR remains true to its charitable purpose and objects set out in its governing documents and for meeting BSR’s legal and financial duties as a registered charity. BSR is also a registered company limited by guarantee and therefore all Trustees automatically become company directors registered at Companies House. All trustees share responsibility for monitoring BSR’s finances.

Main responsibilities of the Treasurer

• To chair the Finance and Risk Committee, ensuring that BSR operates within the financial guidelines set by the Board, the Society’s governing documents, the Charity Commission and current legislation.
• To be part of the Remuneration, People and Culture Committee.
• To chair and document the annual Audit Committee following BSR’s annual financial audit.
• To support the Board of Trustees and SMT in meeting its strategic responsibility for BSR’s financial resources.
• To be actively involved in the financial security and ongoing support of the development of the BSR’s financial aims and objectives.
• To present the financial accounts to the membership at the Annual General Meeting.
• Support the FRC to carry out their duties to:
• ensure the charity keeps proper accounts
• review the charity’s financial performance
• review policies for finance and investment
• ensure that the charity has robust and effective financial controls in place
• liaise with the BSR staff team and with the charity’s auditor
• identify financial and other risks facing the organisation and recommending appropriate action

Time commitment
At present, the post requires approximately 2 days per quarter, split over a range of duties, including:

• Preparing for all Board and FRC meetings - reading meeting packs and sending any queries in advance (variable, but approximately 2-3 hours per quarter)
• Meeting with the COO in advance of each committee meeting to ensure the meetings run smoothly and efficiently (60 minutes each quarter)
• Attending the Board of Trustees meetings (four times a year - each meeting is 3 hours, either online or in person)
• Chairing the Finance and Risk Committee meetings (four times a year - each meeting is 2 hours, held online)
• Attending the Remuneration, People and Culture Committee meetings (twice a year - each meeting is 1 hour, held online)
• Chairing the Audit Committee (once a year - one hour, held online)
• Attending BSR Enterprises Ltd meetings (two a year - each meeting is 30 minutes, held online)
• Attending the Annual General Meeting (once a year, held online)
• Attend an annual Trustees and SMT away day (once a year, in person)

Trustees may also be asked, from time to time, to:

• Attend events and other meetings on behalf of BSR
• Attend training relevant to their role
• Be available between board meetings for advice and to make decisions via email
• Be available for other ad hoc requirements

Induction, training and support
BSR has a finance team who carry all out all day-to-day finance functions and provide quarterly management accounts to the Finance and Risk Committee. The new Treasurer will have support from this team, and from the COO both during their induction period and throughout their term in office. Support is also provided by the CEO and the Chair of Trustees. A comprehensive induction is provided for all new Trustees, including access to external financial training for members of FRC. We use a values behaviour framework to support all our volunteers to thrive in their role. Specialist financial advice and support is provided by external auditors, investment house fund managers, and an investment specialist firm. The FRC completes an annual review of their performance as a committee, and undertakes further training as required. The opportunity to shadow Board meetings before taking up post.

Term of office
The Treasurer role term is for three years, with the possibility of extension for a further 3 years with approval from the Board.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Person specification

• Strategic finance experience
• Ability to consider the implications of corporate risks at a strategic level
• Be able to explain complex financial information in an accessible way
• A commitment to BSR, its charitable objectives and values
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to the Treasurer role
• Ability to think and apply knowledge strategically
• Integrity, sound independent judgment
• Willingness to listen and learn to make effective decisions

BSR is committed to encouraging inclusion, equality and diversity. We are actively trying to increase the diversity of our staff team and volunteer roles. We try to reduce as many barriers as we can for those with a disability. We welcome approaches from individuals from underrepresented groups, including those from minoritised communities, and those with a disability, to better reflect the community we serve and help broaden our perspectives.

Benefits
This is a voluntary position. Out of pocket expenses will be paid in line with the BSR expenses policy, although where possible we will avoid individuals incurring these by holding meetings online.