Volunteer Treasurer for Small National Children's Muscular Dystrophy Charity (Hampshire)

What will you be doing?

The MHF Treasurer role is vitally important to our small charity. Whilst we need someone to keep us on track financially, ensuring our continued viability, we are also looking for that special person to be a part of a team that can help formulate MHF's future vision as the charity moves closer towards realising its current 657 mission. As with many charity's, resources are limited and this is currently presenting a challenge - our existing Treasurer is also MHF's Interim Chair. As a high achiever working full-time within an independent, employee-owned healthcare company, the need for a standalone Treasurer is now required to ease the pressure. Initially, you would work alongside our Treasurer, giving a good opportunity to familiarize yourself with processes etc.  MHF’s Treasurer will work with and continue to support the charity’s appointed chartered accountancy firm, book-keeping partner, the Interim-Chair and the Charity Secretary. MHF Treasurer – Main Responsibilities

Oversee, approve and present budgets, accounts and financial statements. Assure that the financial resources of MHF meet its present & future needs. Ensure MHF has appropriate financial policies incl Reserves etc. Prepare & present financial reports / overviews at trustee meetings. Ensure appropriate accounting procedures & controls are in place.

Liaise with any paid staff (MHF has 1FTE) about remuneration & expenses.  

Advise on the financial implications of MHF’s strategic plans. Ensure that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by funders and the relevant statutory bodies, e.g. The Charity Commission. If external scrutiny of accounts is required, ensure accounts are scrutinized in the manner required (independent examination or audit) and any recommendations are implemented. Keep MHF’s board informed about its financial duties in a timely manner. Contribute to the fundraising strategy of the charity. Make any informal and/or formal presentation of the accounts when required, drawing attention to key points in a coherent and easily understandable way (using plain English).

What are we looking for?

MHF Treasurer - Person Specification

Passion, enthusiasm and time to dedicate to the role of Treasurer (Trustee). A strong commitment to disability equality and how this impacts on the quality of life and life choices for disabled people and their families. Understanding of the context in which MHF works and a commitment to its values adds to public confidence and trust in the organisation. Understanding & acceptance of MHF’s governance, responsibilities & liabilities. Willingness to actively engage with contacts to further the organisation’s goals and to make new links for the charity.

Previous experience of working collaboratively as part of a team, using sound independent judgement and collective decision making, with an understanding of commercial and non-commercial issues.  

The intellectual capacity to grasp issues outside personal experience and the ability to contribute to high level strategy development. A good communicator with excellent communication, listening and interpersonal skills, able to both empower and challenge supportively. Commitment to equality and diversity in working relationships with other Trustees, staff, beneficiaries, and other stakeholders.

The ability to think creatively and strategically.  

Professional or relevant finance and business-related experience and knowledge and/or the ability to demonstrate the necessary financial skills needed to support the charity’s professional interests. Skills to analyse proposals, examine & comment on financial consequences. Knowledge of bookkeeping and financial management.

Good financial analysis skills, ability to think about the future & present.  

Focus on limiting manual input, tracing transactions, financial decision-making and statutory reporting – being methodical, organised and consistent. Updating the Xero Accounting system & drawing down financial information. Process monthly payroll postings: with 1 FTE, this task does not take long.

Running standard reports that could be run on a more consistent basis, help with budgeting/projects/restricted balances.  

Help with presenting simple reports to the board re performance vs budget, assessing the charity's reserves position, helping with forecasts and helping provide sometimes brief but key financial information to support MHF’s grant/trust applications.

What difference will you make?

As an MHF Trustee, this is a brilliant opportunity to bring your unique skill set to help the strategic progression of the charity in reaching its overarching goal to deliver 657 Muscle Dream interventions, that’s one cherished moment-in-time that changes lives and gives hope, that’s one experience for every muscle in the human body. By the end of June ’24, it is expected that the charity will have delivered >553 Muscle Dreams, leaving a further 104 or so to go. Thereafter, the direction of the charity will be informed by a stakeholder review and therein lies an exciting strategic opportunity to shift towards an organisation delivering its services with more of a wellbeing (psychosocial and physiological flavour).    How do Trustees benefit from volunteering?

You will have an opportunity to help improve the lives of children, young people and their families Be part of an incredible team all rowing in the same direction Contribute to the governance of a small, dynamic, multi award-winning national charity Have your voice heard and listened to An opportunity to work closely with one of Britain’s most influential people with a disability (aka our CEO & Chief Muscle Warrior) Attend events, meet beneficiaries & families and by default, witness the impact of our work Plus have strategic responsibility for a skill area ie. finance (in the key role as Treasurer) Network with other like-minded individuals with common values Receive induction, support and training And so much more…