Volunteer Trustee Treasurer/book keeper with financial experience to join our homelessness charity board

What will you be doing?

Bromley Homeless charity was created following the merger of two local charities, Bromley Homeless Shelter and LATCH (Bromley Churches Housing Action).  The merger completed formally in April 2021.  The two charities came together with a shared vision which has been defined as: A community where everyone has access to a decent home and no one feels their only option is to sleep rough The Covid pandemic presented some significant challenges for Bromley Homeless and the people we help and support.  The government’s Everyone In initiative was a positive catalyst to ending rough sleeping for good.  However, the challenge for local authorities and homelessness charities is adapting our service delivery, ensuring safety under  Covid safety measures and supporting our clients to stay off the streets.  We are now seeing a significant increase in numbers turning to us for help, support and guidance either individuals who are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless, increasingly due to the financial and mental health impacts of the pandemic and the cost of living crisis. As a charity we need to continue to adapt, grow and ensure financial and operational sustainability to support the growing number of individuals in need in our Borough.  Our continued financial sustainability relies on the success of our fundraising as well as controlling expenditure.  The charity is fully funded by voluntary grants and donations.

What are we looking for?

Overview of role The Treasurer role is a trustee officer position on the board of trustees.  The board is made up of 9 trustees with a variety of skills and experience.  We are seeking an individual with financial experience to oversee the financial management of the charity. The Treasurer duties currently include (however this is scope to delegate some of this to paid admin staff with appropriate training and supervision)

Maintaining cashbook and producing monthly management accounts Preparation of annual budget and reporting actuals against budget Liaison with outsourced provider to run the monthly payroll and raising amounts for payment each month Raising payments for approval in online banking system Review of petty cash and top up – in our office at the United Reform Church, Bromley Transfer of funds between current account and deposit Collating financial information for grant application and grant monitoring returns Thank you letters to donors Renewal of annual insurance (we use a broker for this) Preparation of year end statutory financial statements with the Chair and liaison with the independent examiner.

Necessary/desirable skills Trustees come from all walks of life, from professionals to people with personal skills and lived experience and as a charity we benefit from a diverse mix of trustees, employees and volunteers. We are looking for someone who has experience of finance in either a professional or volunteering capacity.  Experience of book keeping/accounts preparation and financial reporting would be desirable. Necessary

Understanding of the requirements of a trustee (first-time trustees are welcome and previous governance experience is not a requirement) Passion for the work of Bromley Homelessness Ability to allocate necessary time commitment to the role  Willingness to listen to others views but not be afraid to challenge and share your own views for the benefit of the charity

What difference will you make?

As a small charity (but one making a big difference in our community), the treasurer role is extremely important to achieving ongoing financial sustainability of the charity and ensuring that we have the ongoing resources to continue to deliver our vital services. As part of our board you will support and shape our work and strategic direction, as well as help us achieve our purpose.  Your financial acumen will be a essential skill in ensuring that the board has the right information that can be used for appropriate decision making.