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Voluntary Treasurer

Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses
Remote working

Posted: 21 Jun 2022

Deadline: 5 Aug 2022

Compensation: Voluntary

Volunteer Remote working

Job description

We are currently looking for a Voluntary Treasurer to sit on the Board of Trustees for a five-year term and help us manage the finances of our charity during an exciting time in its development.

Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses (BPCG) is a vibrant community garden situated in the centre of Brockwell Park. We are registered under the Charities Act and are a registered company limited by guarantee. The charity is committed to enabling a diverse range of local residents, schools and visitors to increase their knowledge, improve their wellbeing and to create greener communities. Our one-acre site is a thriving hub of volunteering activities and educational initiatives.

We are planning for an increase in our activities following the completion of ‘Brockwell Barn’ – an indoor space with teaching kitchen, classroom and toilet facilities. Securing and delivering this project has taken up a huge amount of time and energy, and now it is complete we hope to broaden and diversify our charitable outputs and continue to empower and upskill staff and volunteers.

Alongside this new development we also have significant change among the charity’s management. The current Chair is stepping down from the role – although will remain on the Board – as they have moved a significant distance outside of London. This year, as part of the ongoing professionalisation of the charity, we hope to recruit a CEO (combining previously unpaid roles). The new Treasurer will, therefore, have substantial opportunity to contribute to BPCG’s future.

The current Treasurer carries out almost all of tasks associated with the charity’s finances. A series of documents such as Financial Procedures and Protocols and detailed work instruction have been created for these tasks. However, as we have grown and developed the number of tasks has stretched beyond the remit of a single voluntary role. The Voluntary Treasurer will focus on financial planning, strategy and reporting, and will also take management responsibility for a freelancer/agency who will carry out the charity’s general bookkeeping.

Board Responsibilities

• Overseeing, approving, and presenting budgets, accounts, and financial statements.
• Being assured that the financial resources of the organisation meet its present and future needs.
• Ensuring that the charity has an appropriate reserves policy.
• Preparing and presenting financial reports to the board.
• Ensuring that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place.
• Liaise with the CEO and other Trustees – and paid staff and volunteers as appropriate – attending management meetings and supporting development of annual budgets and longer-term financial planning as required, including the setting of financial targets for staff.
• Advising on the financial implications of the organisation’s strategic plans.
• Ensuring that the charity has an appropriate investment policy.
• Ensuring that there is no conflict between any investment held and the aims and objects of the charity.
• Monitoring the organisation’s investment activity and ensuring it is consistent with the organisation’s policies and legal responsibilities.
• Ensuring that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by funders and the relevant statutory bodies, for example the Charity Commission and/or the Registrar of Companies.
• Keeping the board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities.
• Contributing to the fundraising strategy of the organisation.
• Making a formal presentation of the accounts at the annual general meeting and drawing attention to important points in a coherent and easily understandable way.
• Attend Trustee meetings (6 per year), the AGM and such other meetings as may be required to efficiently operate the charity.
• Sitting on appraisal, recruitment and disciplinary panels as required.
• Attend yearly NCVO training to help set goals, priorities, and culture for the Board.

Management Responsibilities

• The newly appointed Treasurer will work with Trustees to develop and adjust existing financial management structures to better support the work of the charity. This is likely to include freelancer/agency bookkeeping staff to ensure all the charity’s requirements are met. The Treasurer will then assume management responsibilities for the new structure/staff.

Experience required: candidate should be able to show experience in most of the following

• Financial qualifications and proven experience from either and/or commercial or NGO sector.
• Some experience of charity finance, fundraising and pension schemes.
• Knowledge of Quickbooks accounting or similar small business software.
• Awareness of the appropriate requirements of BPCG as a charity and company limited by guarantee.
• The skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences.
• A willingness to be available to staff for advice and enquiries on an ad hoc basis.
• Alignment with the aspirations of the charity and evidence of the ability to contribute to its development.

Skills and attributes

• Willing to volunteer for approximately 4-5 days per month.
• Self-motivated and highly organised.
• Good ‘explainer’ able to contextualise financial data for Trustees without a financial or management background.

Hours

This voluntary position requires a commitment of up to 5 days spread over a month – to be done for the most part at any time of day. However, an ability to do a small part of this during normal office hours would be very useful.

Looking after our visitors

BPCG is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers interacting with these groups to share this commitment. This position will be subject to satisfactory reference and DBS checks.

Application information

Email Joshua Piercey (BPCG Chair) via chair@brockwellgreenhouses.org, or call for more information on 07871644060

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