Trustee (Treasurer - Volunteer)

Become a Trustee with Citizens Advice Tendring. Do you want to help the community where you study, live or work? Do you want to make sure you and your neighbours get the advice you need now and in the future? Do you want to utilise the skills you have gained from your working life? Citizens Advice Tendring is a highly respected and trusted service, providing valuable advice and support to the local community. We are affiliated to the national Citizens Advice service but like all the local offices, we are an independent charity governed by a board of local Trustees.

What will you do?

• Complete an induction and training programme for your role.
• Maintain an awareness of how the local Citizens Advice is operating.
• Read papers for board meetings and attend at least 6 board meetings per year.
• Explain, guide and advise the board on the key assumptions and financial implications of the local Citizens’ Advice budgets, operational and strategic plans.
• Ensure that the organisation has an appropriate reserves policy and a realistic budget that meets the services’ needs.
• Guide and advise Citizens Advice Tendring on the approval of budgets, accounts and financial statements with the organisation’s framework.
• Present accounts at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in an accessible way for volunteers and staff.
• Ensure that annual accounts are prepared in compliance with SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice) Accounting for Charities and submitted by the deadline to the Charity Commission and/or Registrar of Companies, and make arrangements for them to be audited or independently examined as required.
• Keep the board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities.
• Monitor the organisation’s income and expenditure position in conjunction with the Chief Officer and Business Support Manager and present accessible reports at least quarterly to ensure board members understand the accounts and implications.
• Understand the accounting procedures and key internal controls to be able to assure the board that the charity's financial integrity is sound.
• Work with the Chief Officer and Business Support Manager to give information and advice on financial matters.
• Work together with other trustees or staff within the local Citizens Advice to further the strategic objectives of the local Citizens Advice, including developing the funding strategy.
• Take an active discussion during board meetings and work with other trustees to set policy and strategy direction, set targets and evaluate performance.
• Seek the views of all sections of the community and monitor how well the service meets the needs of the local community.
• Ensure that the service plans for the recruitment and turnover of staff and volunteers.
• Ensure that all the finances and supporting financial control systems of the organisation are in order including that full financial records are kept for all transactions, that money is only spent for the purpose given, and that proper financial controls are in place to safeguard the organisation’s resources.
• Monitor the financial position of CAT ensuring that it operates within its means and objectives, ensuring that there are clear lines of accountability for day to day financial management.
• Review its own work and how effectively it operates including action for improvement.

What’s in it for you?

• Make a positive impact for people in your local area by ensuring that Citizens Advice Tendring is sustainable and meeting the needs of the community.
• Meet people and build relationships with trustees, staff and other volunteers.
• Build on your governance, leadership and strategy skills.
• We’ll reimburse expenses too.

What do you need to have?

• Understand and accept the responsibilities and liabilities as trustees.
• Have financial qualifications or relevant experience.
• Have or develop knowledge and experience of charity finances, fundraising, financial consequences and pension schemes.
• Be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own.
• Have good listening, verbal and written communication skills.
• Be able to exercise good independent judgement and if necessary to make difficult recommendations.
• Excellent good numeracy skills to understand accounts.
• Be able to explain complex financial information in an accessible way.
• Be willing to learn about and follow the Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection.
• Be willing to undertake training in your role.

How much time do you need to give?

Trustee board meetings usually meet in the afternoons every 6 weeks and last around 2 hours. We also hold a half day strategic planning meeting once a year and you will need to meet with staff occasionally and attend occasional meetings if you’re involved in specific projects. Your induction will include meeting with the volunteers and staff to orientate yourself with the organisation. We can be flexible about the time spent and how often you volunteer so come and talk to us. We are particularly keen to ensure our volunteers represent everyone in the community and we welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and abilities.

If you are interested in becoming a trustee and would like to discuss the role further, please contact us. If you want to know more about any aspect of the role before you apply, then one of our current trustees will be happy to have an informal discussion to help you decide if this is the role for you. If you would like to request an informal chat with one of our trustees, please email hr@cabtendring.org.uk