Treasurer

Role Description: Treasurer (Board of Trustees)

Context

Our mission is to provide permanent support for adults who live with enduring mental health challenges and psychotic illnesses, and struggle with daily life. There is a growing scarcity of long-term support options for this vulnerable group. Our aim is to provide day centres and fully supported homes for life, where residents can live amongst friends, with 24/7 support on hand if and when required.

Our Charity Objects

The charity’s Objects are specifically restricted to the relief of persons suffering from a mental illness by the provision of:

• accommodation and care; and/or
• day centres and activities; and/or
• home support visits appropriate to their needs.

For now, our Outreach Programme provides support through visits to our vulnerable Outreach Members in their own homes, offering help with any daily tasks they may be struggling with, encouraging social engagement and hobbies, helping them to reach their personal goals and live their best life. We are working to expand this service nationwide.

We are a small but ambitious charity, now employing nine salaried staff, and managing teams of volunteers. We have been successful in securing significant funding, including from the National Lottery Community Fund.

Current context for this appointment

The charity has recently received a significant one-off legacy, which is currently being realised through professional sale. The incoming Treasurer will lead the Board’s financial oversight of this process. Because of its scale, it is likely to affect the level of external scrutiny the charity requires (potentially moving the charity from independent examination to a full statutory audit for the relevant year) and it involves valuation, currency and cross-border considerations. We are therefore looking for a Treasurer able to provide confident oversight of complex, one-off financial matters and to commission and direct appropriate professional advice where needed.

The Role

We are looking for the right person to join our Board of Trustees as Treasurer. The Treasurer provides independent, trustee-level oversight of the charity’s finances, working alongside, and distinct from, the Finance Officer’s day-to-day executive role. They will work with our Finance Officer to:

• Critically review and present financial reports to the Board in a format that helps the Board understand the charity’s financial position
• Advise the Board on how to carry out its financial responsibilities
• Work as required with financial advisers
• Oversee the preparation and scrutiny of annual accounts
• Oversee the financial aspects of significant one-off transactions and legacies, including the treatment of proceeds, valuation, currency and cross-border tax considerations, working with appropriate professional advisers
• Oversee the level of external scrutiny appropriate to the charity’s size and circumstances, whether independent examination or statutory audit, and liaise with the examiner or auditor
• Support the Board in maintaining sound internal financial controls and safeguarding the charity’s assets

Qualities

• Knowledge and experience of current and fundraising finance practice relevant to charities
• Knowledge of bookkeeping and financial management
• Good financial analysis skills
• Ability to communicate clearly
• Enthusiasm for our cause
• The judgement and standing to oversee an audit and to commission and direct specialist advice (for example on tax or valuation) where matters fall outside the Board’s own expertise
• A working understanding of charity financial reporting and external scrutiny requirements (the Charities SORP; independent examination and audit)
• Sound judgement on financial risk and internal controls

Time commitment

The Treasurer reports to the Chair of the Board and will be expected to attend Board meetings, in person or remotely, normally four times a year. These are held in Lymington, or on Zoom. In addition, the Treasurer will find time to liaise with our Finance Officer, as is necessary to fulfil the obligations.

During the current legacy realisation, a somewhat greater time commitment may be required for a limited period.

All Board roles are voluntary, but reasonable travel and other expenses may be paid.

Application Process

Please email a CV and covering letter to info@hammersleyhomes.org, explaining on no more than one side of A4 paper why you are interested in the role and why you feel you would be suitable.

Alternatively, please post a CV and covering letter to our office:
 Hammersley Homes, Suite 113 Town Hall, Avenue Road, Lymington SO41 9ZG

We are actively interviewing applicants and will close this advertisement when a suitable candidate has been found.

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.