Volunteer Honorary Treasurer

What will you be doing?

Essex Gardens Trust was set up in 1996 with the aim of protecting the special and historic gardens and landscapes in our county.  We do this through: i) research, ii) conservation and iii) education. Our charity provides our members and friends with a regular programme of talks and garden visits (both in and outside the County).  We also hope to continue our collaboration with our appointed Artist in Residence and look for other opportunities to extend our influence. Our research team has recently completed a funded project to identify and record historic gardens and landscapes in the City of Southend.  The results of this research has been given to both the County planning authority and the Essex Records Office where it will join our existing inventories covering other Districts and Boroughs of Essex and will be freely available to all. Essex Gardens Trust is entirely volunteer-run.  There are currently eight trustees and three co-opted members of the Management Committee. The Committee is supported by a number of sub-groups covering different aspects of the Trust’s activities. The responsibilities of the Treasurer  are to:-

Meet statutory requirements;

Companies House, Charity Commission, Information Commissioners Office

Ensure all appropriate policies and procedures are in place and up-to-date; Make payments, pay in receipts; Maintain accounts; Prepare budgets and report against them; Prepare annual Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements and co-ordinate the preparation of the Annual Trustees’ Report; Prepare AGM notice and supporting documents; Advise on basic legal issues; Maintain appropriate insurance policies.

Essex Gardens Trust is entirely volunteer-run.  There are currently eight trustees and three co-opted members of the Management Committee. The Committee is supported by a number of sub-groups covering different aspects of the Trust’s activities.

The Committee meets bi-monthly: at present mainly by Zoom. The Treasurer will also be a trustee  Trustees are appointed for a three year term, renewable.

What are we looking for?

You should be a qualified accountant with:-

 at least three years' experience of the charity sector;  Good, independent judgement and integrity;  The ability to work effectively as a member of a team. 

Experience of making funding applications would be helpful but not necessary.

What difference will you make?

Through effective support to our management team, you will enable the Trust to achieve its aims to protect the valuable and historical gardens and landscapes in Essex for the benefit of all our community.