Are you an experienced finance professional looking to use your skills to make a real difference?
We're seeking a Trustee Treasurer to join our Board and help provide strategic financial oversight to our charity. Working alongside fellow trustees, the Chief Executive and Finance Manager, you'll help ensure the organisation remains financially sustainable and well governed.
This is a strategic role, focusing on financial leadership rather than day-to-day financial management.
About the role
Overview
The Treasurer is an officer of the Trustee Board and, as such, shares collective responsibility for the governance and strategic direction of the charity. The role provides financial leadership to the Board: guiding trustees on financial matters, ensuring that the charity's financial controls and reporting obligations are met.
Day-to-day financial management is delegated to the Chief Executive, supported by the Finance Manager.
The Treasurer works closely with the Finance Manager but is not responsible for bookkeeping, transaction processing, or the maintenance of financial records.
The Treasurer is also a trustee and holds the legal responsibilities of that office jointly with fellow trustees.
Main duties and responsibilities
Financial oversight and reporting
· Explain, guide and advise the Board on the key assumptions in the approval of budgets, accounts, and financial statements, within the framework of the charity's financial policies.
· Ensure that all Board members have a clear understanding of the accounts presented at meetings and of the financial implications they reveal.
Budget and reserves
· Collaborate with the Chief Executive Officer to prepare an annual draft budget that meets the organisation's needs and obtain Board approval for it.
· Monitor the reserves policy, ensuring it is appropriate, regularly reviewed, and understood by all trustees.
Year-end accounts and compliance
· Work with the Bureau’s auditors to ensure that the organisation complies with the required financial standards of the Charities Commission (currently SORP 2026), to the reporting requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and Financial Reporting Standards (currently FRS 102)
· Ensure that annual accounts are prepared in accordance with the above and submitted by the deadlines set by the Charity Commission and Companies House.
· Present the accounts at the Annual General Meeting in a form that is accessible to trustees, staff, volunteers, and other attendees.
· Ensure all financial reporting obligations required under Citizens Advice membership.
Banking arrangements
· With Trustee Board review the banking and deposit arrangements of the Bureau to ensure they are still appropriate
· Be an authorised signatory to the accounts.
Financial Procedures Handbook
· Review Financial Procedures Handbook annually on behalf of the Board, to confirm that it remains fit for purpose, and to ensure that the organisation is complying with it.
· Conducting any functions as required by these procedures.
Advising the Board
· Keep the Board informed of its financial duties and responsibilities.
· Advise on the financial implications of the organisation's strategic plans and the key assumptions in the operational plan and annual budget.
· Be available to the Chief Executive and relevant staff to provide guidance on financial matters as they arise.
Risk
· Contribute to the organisation's risk register.
Personal skills and qualities – what do you need to have
· a formal accounting qualification is desirable but not essential where there is evidence of demonstrable financial experience at a senior level. Relevant backgrounds include finance, business management, audit, financial planning or equivalent. Some knowledge of charity finance, including charitable fund raising is desirable but not essential, provided the candidate is willing to develop it.
· the Treasurer should be able to: analyse financial information and explain it clearly to a non-specialist audience; exercise independent judgement and make difficult recommendations when necessary; work collaboratively with the Chief Executive and staff; and commit the time the role requires.
· a commitment to the aims and principles of Citizens Advice, including its commitment to equality and impartiality, is essential.
· be friendly and approachable
· be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own
· have excellent verbal and written communication skills
· have good IT skills
· 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
Time commitment
The Board meets 6 times a year. In addition, the Treasurer should expect to spend time between meetings (2-5 hours per month) reviewing management accounts, the budget and financial performance with the Chief Executive and Finance Manager. The Treasurer will also spend time liaising with the Chief Executive over budget preparation and year-end arrangements as well as the Finance Manager for periodic review of financial controls and procedures.
The overall time commitment is estimated at 10 hours per month.
What’s in it for you?
· make a real difference to people’s lives
· learn about a range of issues that affect our clients such as benefits, debt, employment and housing.
· build on valuable skills such as communication, listening, marketing and advertising
· increase your employability
· work with a range of different people, independently and in a team.
· have a positive impact in your community.
Valuing inclusion
Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds, and we particularly welcome applications from disabled people, people with physical or mental health conditions, LGBT+ and non-binary people, and people from Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.
If you are interested in becoming volunteer and need flexibility around location, time, ‘what you will do’ and how we can support you please include details in your application.
Work Location: In person
