Job Description - Treasurer

The overall role of the treasurer is to:

• Maintain an overview of the organisation's affairs
• Ensuring its financial viability
• Ensuring that proper financial records and procedures are maintained.
• Subject to staff availabilty, the treasurer may take a greater role in the day-to-day finances of the organisation.

General responsibilities

• To ensure that the organisation complies with its governing document, the principles of charity law, company law and relevant legislation and regulations
• To ensure that the organisation pursues its objects as defined in its governing document.
• To ensure the organisation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects (the organisation must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are).
• To contribute actively to the Executive Committee's (EC)  role in giving firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.
• To safeguard the good name and values of the organisation.
• To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
• To ensure the financial stability of the organisation.
• To protect and manage the property of the organisation and to ensure the proper investment of the organisation's funds.
• If the organisation employs staff, to appoint the chief executive officer and monitor his/her performance.

In addition to the above statutory duties, each EC member should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the EC to reach sound decisions. This may involve:

• Scrutinising papers
• Leading discussions
• Focusing on key issues
• Providing guidance on new initiatives
• Other issues in which the officer has special expertise

Additional duties of the 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 organisation has an appropriate reserves policy
• The preparation and presentation of financial reports to the EC and making these available to the membership on the organisations website and updated at least once each month
  
• 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 organisation has an appropriate investment policy
• Ensuring that there is no conflict between any investment held and the aims and objects of the organisation
  
• Monitoring the organisation's investment activity and ensuring its consistency with the organisation's policies and legal responsibilities
• Ensuring the organisation's compliance with legislation
• Ensuring equipment and assets are adequately maintained and insured
• Ensuring that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by members, funders and the relevant statutory bodies, e.g. Inland Revenue
• If external scrutiny of accounts is required, ensuring that the accounts are scrutinised in the manner required (independent examination or audit) and any recommendations are implemented
• Keeping the EC and membership informed about its financial duties and responsibilities in a timely manner and making all such information available on request of a member
  
• Contributing to the fundraising strategy of the organisation
• Making a formal presentation of the accounts at the annual general meeting and drawing attention to important points in a coherent and easily understandable way
• Sitting on appraisal, recruitment and disciplinary panels as required

Treasurer person specification

• Commitment to the organisation
• Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort
• Strategic vision
• Good, independent judgement
• Ability to think creatively
• Willingness to speak their mind
• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team
• Nolan's seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership
• Financial qualifications and experience or willingness to study and gain the required knowledge to do the job effectively and in accordance with these requirements.
  
• Some experience of fundraising and pension schemes
• The skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences
• Preparedness to make unpopular recommendations to the board
• · Willingness to be available to staff for advice and enquiries on an ad hoc basis