Treasurer
Big Leaf Foundation relies almost entirely on volunteers. We're a small team of passionate individuals, determined to support and empower displaced young people to know they are more than their status, and help them find their place within their local community. We’re seeking a new treasurer to join our board. You will be responsible for maintaining an overview of Big Leaf’s affairs, ensuring our financial viability and that proper financial records and procedures are maintained.
About the role
Renumeration | voluntary (+ expenses)
Location | Surrey with key project hubs in Redhill and Guildford
Hours | flexible but estimated at 2-4 hours per week; to include bi-monthly trustee meetings and attendance at min. 2 projects per year and a strategy planning day
Commitment | 2 years with option to renew for a further two terms
Read the full role profile and find out how to apply (PDF).
Location | Surrey with key project hubs in Redhill and Guildford
Hours | flexible but estimated at 2-4 hours per week; to include bi-monthly trustee meetings and attendance at min. 2 projects per year and a strategy planning day
Commitment | 2 years with option to renew for a further two terms
Read the full role profile and find out how to apply (PDF).
OUR VISION
Our vision is of a community where young refugees and asylum seekers are valued, supported and able to reach their potential.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to provide a nurturing programme of activities and events that focus on combating social isolation for displaced young people in the Surrey area. We want to engage the young people we work with to be excited about the opportunities and possibilities available to them, and to value their unique talents and abilities so that they can rediscover their potential and move forward with renewed optimism.
We want to support and empower these young people to know they are more than their status they have been given, and help them find their place within their local community.
OUR VALUES
Trust & Transparency
Everything we do, we do with the utmost integrity to create trust and transparency with all those we engage with. Nothing is more important than trust. We are trusted, because each of our actions are in the best interests of the young people we are working with. We hold ourselves accountable to this high standard.
Equality
We approach everything we do with a deep sense of empathy and compassion. We strive for a bias-free environment to create a safe, secure and inclusive place for young people to interact and build new friendships, explore new activities, and uncover their talents and passions.
Growth
Each activity and engagement with the young people must be focused on their personal growth as individuals; personal growth that allows them to know they can indeed belong, and that each one of them is unique and valued.
Our vision is of a community where young refugees and asylum seekers are valued, supported and able to reach their potential.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to provide a nurturing programme of activities and events that focus on combating social isolation for displaced young people in the Surrey area. We want to engage the young people we work with to be excited about the opportunities and possibilities available to them, and to value their unique talents and abilities so that they can rediscover their potential and move forward with renewed optimism.
We want to support and empower these young people to know they are more than their status they have been given, and help them find their place within their local community.
OUR VALUES
Trust & Transparency
Everything we do, we do with the utmost integrity to create trust and transparency with all those we engage with. Nothing is more important than trust. We are trusted, because each of our actions are in the best interests of the young people we are working with. We hold ourselves accountable to this high standard.
Equality
We approach everything we do with a deep sense of empathy and compassion. We strive for a bias-free environment to create a safe, secure and inclusive place for young people to interact and build new friendships, explore new activities, and uncover their talents and passions.
Growth
Each activity and engagement with the young people must be focused on their personal growth as individuals; personal growth that allows them to know they can indeed belong, and that each one of them is unique and valued.
Statutory duties of a Treasurer
- Overseeing, approving and presenting budgets, accounts and financial statements.
- Being assured that the financial resources of the organisation meet its present and future needs.
- Ensuring that the charity has an appropriate reserves policy.
- Working with our Governance, Partnerships and Projects coordinator to prepare and presenting financial reports to the board.
- Ensuring that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place.
- Liaising with any paid staff and volunteers about financial matters.
- Advising on the financial implications of the organisation’s strategic plans.
- Ensuring that the charity has an appropriate ethical funding policy.
- Ensuring that there is no conflict between any funding sources and the aims and objects of the charity.
- Ensuring that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by funders and the relevant statutory bodies, for example the Charity Commission.
- Ensuring that the accounts are scrutinised in the manner required (independent examination or audit) and any recommendations are implemented.
- Keeping the board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities.
- Contributing to the fundraising strategy of the organisation.
- Ensuring the accounts are presented in a coherent and easily understandable way in our annual review.
- Sitting on appraisal, recruitment and disciplinary panels as required.
In addition, with other trustees to hold the charity “in trust” for current and future beneficiaries by:
- Ensuring the charity has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction and is focused on achieving these.
- Being responsible for the performance of the charity and for its “corporate” behaviour; ensuring that the charity complies with all legal and regulatory requirements.
- Acting as guardians of the charity’s assets, both tangible and intangible, taking all due care over their security, deployment and proper application.
- Ensuring that the charity’s governance is of the highest possible standard.
Person specification
We are seeking individuals who have a strong empathy with our mission. We need individuals with experience, skills, and expertise in one or more of the following areas:
As treasurer you will also have:
The Board of Trustees are jointly and severally responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity, its financial health, the probity of its activities and developing the organisation’s aims, objectives and goals in accordance with the governing document, legal and regulatory guidelines.
All trustees should also be aware of, and understand, their individual and collective responsibilities, and should not be overly reliant on one or more individual trustees in any particular aspect of the governance of the charity.
TO APPLY
If you're interested in becoming a Treasurer for Big Leaf Foundation please read the full role profile and application guidelines here.
Please note: recruitment is undertaken in line with safe recruitment practices.
- Commitment to our vision, mission and values;
- Excellent teamwork and leadership skills and effective decision-making;
- Willingness to commit time and effort to the role;
- Good, independent judgement, strategic vision and ability to communicate ideas;
- History of impartiality, fairness and commitment to promoting equality and diversity.
As treasurer you will also have:
- Financial qualifications and/or experience;
- Some experience of charity finance, fundraising and HR and pension schemes;
- The skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences;
- Willingness to make unpopular recommendations to the board;
- Time to be available to staff for advice and enquiries on an ad-hoc basis.
- We particularly welcome applications from people with a demonstrable interest in the plight of displaced young people and an in-depth understanding of our work and ambitions.
The Board of Trustees are jointly and severally responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity, its financial health, the probity of its activities and developing the organisation’s aims, objectives and goals in accordance with the governing document, legal and regulatory guidelines.
All trustees should also be aware of, and understand, their individual and collective responsibilities, and should not be overly reliant on one or more individual trustees in any particular aspect of the governance of the charity.
TO APPLY
If you're interested in becoming a Treasurer for Big Leaf Foundation please read the full role profile and application guidelines here.
Please note: recruitment is undertaken in line with safe recruitment practices.