Trustee - Honorary Treasurer

Location: Lower Smite Farm, Smite Hill Hindlip, Worcester & Droitwich, Worcestershire, WR3 8SZ

Worcestershire Wildlife Trust is seeking a new Honorary Treasurer to join our Council of Trustees.

Position details

• Commitment: Monday, Wednesday
• Frequency: Monthly

As well as fulfilling the general duties of a trustee, the honorary treasurer is required to develop and maintain a solid understanding of the Trust’s finances and to be the lead on the Council for financial matters. The treasurer ensures that effective and appropriate measures, controls and procedures are put in place and reports to the Council at regular intervals about the financial health of the organisation. We wish to make it clear that the treasurer role in our charity is primarily one of scrutiny and oversight and does not involve book‑keeping or the compilation of management accounts - our Head of Finance and Operations and his team undertake the hands‑on accounting tasks.

Treasurer duties

• Overseeing the presentation of budgets, internal management accounts and annual financial statements to council
• Ensuring that proper accounting records are kept and that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place
• Ensuring that robust and comprehensive financial policies are in place and being implemented, and supporting the development of policies covering financial reserves and cost management
• Monitoring and advising on the financial viability of the charity
• Overseeing financial controls and adherence to systems, regularly liaising with the chief executive officer and the head of finance and operations
• Advising on the financial implications of the charity’s strategic plan, including overseeing the charity’s financial risk‑management process
• Ensuring investments and assets are maximised
• Leading on the appointment of, and liaison with, external auditors working alongside the head of finance and operations
• Ensuring that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by relevant statutory bodies namely the Charity Commission and Companies House
• Keeping the council informed about its financial duties and responsibilities and liaising with the chief executive officer and head of finance and operations to develop the financial understanding of the trustees

General duties of all trustees

• Ensure that the Trust complies with its governing documents, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
• Contribute to the development of the Trust’s strategic plan and review as appropriate
• Act always in the Trust’s best interests, working with fellow trustees to make balanced and adequately informed decisions, considering the long term as well as the short term
• Avoid putting oneself in a position where one’s duty to the Trust conflicts with personal interests or loyalty to any other person or body
• Ensure the financial stability of the organisation, taking special care when investing or borrowing and never over‑committing the Trust
• Ensure the Trust’s assets are only used to support or fulfil its charitable purposes and in accordance with its strategic aims and policies
• Avoid exposing the Trust’s assets, beneficiaries or reputation to undue risk
• Use reasonable care and skill, making use of knowledge and experience and taking appropriate advice when necessary
• Devote enough time, thought and energy to the role, for example by preparing for, attending and actively participating in all trustee meetings
• Comply with statutory accounting and reporting requirements and ensure appropriate accountability to members

Additional duties

• Scrutinising papers before council meetings
• Leading or participating actively in discussions
• Maintaining a focus on key issues
• Participating in other meetings or working groups as required

Person specification

We are seeking a treasurer who has the following skills, abilities and personal attributes:

• A finance professional with relevant qualifications and/or appropriate experience
• A knowledge of charity finance is an advantage but not essential. In the absence of third sector knowledge, an enthusiasm to learn and to apply understanding of business finance and previous commercial experience
• An understanding of wider financial markets is desirable but not essential
• A strategic thinker with an ability to analyse the financial implications of proposals and balance risk and opportunity
• A clear communicator able to bring the financial information alive to non‑finance specialists
• Willing to play an active role in areas such as forecasting, setting budgets, liaising with auditors

In addition to the above, the Treasurer will also need to demonstrate the qualities required of all Worcestershire Wildlife Trust trustees:

• Willingness to understand and accept the statutory and legislative responsibilities of being a trustee
• Identification with the purpose, aims and values of the Trust and a readiness to take responsibility for the Trust’s long‑term outcomes
• Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to fulfilling the trustee role
• Commitment to respecting the Trust’s governance processes and providing effective, respectful challenge if there appears to be a breach
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with colleagues and key stakeholders to achieve the Trust’s objectives
• Ability to exercise good judgement, critical analysis and strategic vision
• Demonstration of strong team‑working skills
• Dedication to impartiality and fairness in all dealings and ability to respect confidentiality
• Commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and upholding safeguarding responsibilities
• Willingness to bring a diverse range of perspectives to the table and to listen to those views
• Willingness to be available to WWT staff for advice and support as required

Terms of appointment

Terms of office

• Trustees are appointed for a three‑year term of office, renewal for three further terms to a maximum of twelve years
• This is a voluntary position
• Time Commitment (estimated by our current Treasurer to be equivalent to one day per month)

For further information and to apply, please click here.