Treasurer Trustee for a People Charity

What will you be doing?

Speaking Out Forum is a registered charity founded in 2018. We believe it is a fundamental right of every human being to be able to express themselves. The core aim of Speaking Out Forum is to empower our participants - those with disabilities and learning difficulties, those who are neurodivergent and those who are deaf - through our public speaking training. We build their existing skills and confidence so that they can make their unique contribution to society and be heard.

We have developed a public speaking course run by a trained facilitator who has attended Speaking Out Forum training sessions. We have also adapted the course for people who are deaf. It is run by a trained facilitator who conducts the course in sign language, and where needed we also have a trained interpreter for the sessions. Speaking Out Forum has its own training session for mentors, who work in a voluntary role and are central to our work. At the end of the course, we work closely with our partners to provide a celebratory event where each participant receives a certificate of achievement and a medal. We are looking to grow and deliver our programme to more young people, partnering with more organisations, and exploring the opportunities around digital delivery. 

The charity has nine trustees who are passionate about what we do, from business, education, SEND, psychology and charity backgrounds. 

The Treasurer would help ensure the charity maintains appropriate financial systems and controls and monitor the financial health of the charity, ensuring income and expenditure are properly recorded. We would need you to help develop financial policies and procedures and support effective financial planning and budgeting,  ensuring appropriate reserves are maintained and monitoring cash flow where appropriate.

Other activity would include: 

•    Annual accounts •    Trustees’ Annual Report (financial sections) •    Independent Examination or Audit (where required) •    Submission of annual accounts and annual return to the Charity Commission •    Financial information required by Companies House (if applicable)

Also, attend three to four Board meetings each year •    Preparation of financial reports for meetings •    Liaison with the Chair, Administrator and Independent Examiner as required •    Additional work during preparation of year-end accounts and annual reporting

We would also ideally want the person work with fellow trustees to help us comply with: 

•    Charity law •    Charity Commission guidance •    Financial reporting requirements •    HMRC requirements •    Applicable accounting standards •    Internal financial controls •    The charity’s governing document.

Speaking Out Forum is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from individuals with lived experience of disability, neurodiversity or communication challenges, reflecting the communities we serve. 
 

What are we looking for?

Previous experience as  a Trustee or Treasurer, within the charity sector, would be desirable. Professional, financial accounting qualifications are expected, and some Charity compliance experience would be helpful but not essential.  Lived or work experience  wolf people with SEND, is beneficial, although not a requirement. 

What difference will you make?

As we develop and grow we want to remain compliant and financially nimble. We will look to raise funding over the next 12 months through funding applications, a fundraising campaign and workshop deceivers.  We have ambitions which mean we will have a greater number of financial transactions and the Treasurer will help us to navigate our way through this exciting journey. 

The role does not include bookkeeping or fundraising applications, unless this is agreed with the candidate. Resources will be available to support with the above. 

The Trustee meetings are in person and online, with Trustees encouraged to attend in person if practical. 

As a small charity we can give our Trustees the opportunity to get involved and to be ‘hands on’ with projects and to contribute fully to our strategy and planning.