Volunteer Honorary Treasurer

What will you be doing?

LDCVS is an independent charity that provides support for the voluntary and community sector in the Lancaster District. Our role is to help the voluntary sector to support local communities, and we work with a range of stakeholders to achieve this.  We now have an exciting voluntary opportunity available as our Honorary Treasurer has finished their term. The ideal candidate will want to help us to shape the next phase of LDCVS’s development, to make a real difference to our local community and to develop their understanding of the challenges and rewards of the VCFSE sector.  You will be joining a thriving charity which has just celebrated its 50th anniversary. We are increasing and enhancing our work in a number of directions and you will play a key role in shaping our growth, assisting with forecasting and strategic management, as well as ensuring that our financial reporting is fully compliant. Our Honorary Treasurer works closely with our Chief Officer and senior staff as well as the Board, to ensure that all strategic plans are financially appraised and budgets are aligned to both short-term and long-term objectives each year. You will oversee the planning/budgeting processes and provide constructive challenge where required, and ensure a high standard of management accounting is maintained in order to safeguard assets. You will liaise with our Finance Officer to prepare and produce management accounts. We will also expect you to work with our external auditors on specific issues during the auditing process, to guide and advise fellow trustees to formally approve the annual report and audited accounts, and to explain technicalities of accounts in plain language which is fully understood by the trustees. Our Honorary Treasurer chairs our Finance & Audit in line with its Terms of Reference and reports its work to the Board of Trustees. As part of this work they advise on the financial implications of the charity’s strategic plans and overseeing the charity’s financial risk-management process, and also lead the development and implementation of financial reserves, cost management and investment policies. We are aiming to recruit a qualified accountant with demonstrated commercial awareness and knowledge of charity SORP and a proven ability to communicate and explain financial information to members of the Board and other stakeholders.

What are we looking for?

You'll be joining LDCVS, a friendly and dynamic team that always puts the needs of local communities first, and you will have the opportunity to listen to help influence decision-makers in areas such as health, local government and the voluntary sector. This is an ideal opportunity to demonstrate and enhance your significant skillset and develop the core principles of LDCVS around voice, representation, influence and engagement. We ask all our trustees to demonstrate...

Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trustees. Commitment to the charity’s objects, aims and values and willingness to devote time to carry out responsibilities. Strategic and forward-looking vision in relation to the charity’s objects and aims. Independent judgement, political impartiality and the ability to think creatively Good communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to respect the confidentiality of discussion. An ability to balance tact and diplomacy with willingness to challenge and constructively criticise.

Ideally our trustees will also have...

Prior experience of committee/trustee work or a willingness to learn about this area. A wider involvement with the voluntary sector. Experience of charity finance and/or charity fundraising.

For the role of Honorary Treasurer we are also looking for...

A qualified accountant with demonstrated commercial awareness and knowledge. Knowledge of charity SORP and impending changes. IT skills. An ability to explain financial information to members of the Board and other stakeholders. Analytical and evaluation skills, demonstrating good judgement.

Ideally our Honorary Treasurer will also be able to...

Demonstrate knowledge and experience of charity fundraising and finance practices. Act as the charity’s ambassador to external bodies, charities and companies. Draw on skills and experience in one or more areas of non-executive governance and management e.g. financial planning, business management, financial/accountancy, experience of Trusts or other grant giving bodies particularly fundraising and legal knowledge. Undertake a team-oriented approach to problem solving.

What difference will you make?

You will be helping to shape the next stage in the development of LDCVS, and will support the work of a highly committed staff team and trustee board who are making a real difference to the lives of people in Lancaster, Morecambe and the surrounding area through supporting the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise sector.    Significant effort has been put into developing robust financial systems, and the charity is in a healthy financial position. You will be working from a a strong foundation, with great potential for LDCVS to get involved in exciting new opportunities across North Lancashire.  If you have some time and energy to make available to the charity each week (varying from 3-7 hours, depending on the schedule of Board and sub-committee meetings) you'll be able to help us move forward positively in the next phase of our journey.