Treasurer – Board of Trustees

SCIP is an arts charity dedicated to breaking down the barriers which stop people from accessing the arts in our community, we do this by providing workshops, exhibitions and events from The Crypt Gallery in Seaford, East Sussex. Our team is passionate about contemporary visual arts, and believe art can be a powerful tool to support individuals wellbeing and bring together entire communities.  We provide opportunities for children and young people to explore their own creativity by providing free art workshops and family friendly events throughout the year.

We are passionate about providing our youth workshops for free as we believe that every child should have access to the arts regardless of family income.

The charity’s day to day operations are run by a small team of 3 part time staff and a crew of amazing volunteers. 

We are looking to recruit a treasurer to join our board of trustees. The treasurer, in addition to their role as trustee will oversee  income, expenditure and support SCIP to manage cash flow and safeguard the charity. Please refer to job description and person specification for more information.

This post is subject to the following pre-post checks:

• Enhanced DBS
• Register of disqualified directors
• Insolvency Register
• Register of all persons removed as charity trustee

Thank you so much for your interest in in this role.

Please request an application form from ange@wearescip.co.uk. CVs will not be accepted.

Role Description

Role	Treasurer – Board of Trustees
Accountable to	Board of Trustees and Charity Commission
Liaising with	Board of Trustees, Senior Management, finance officer and charity independent examiner/auditor.
Pay Scale	This is an unpaid role
Hours	Approximately 2 days per month
Term of Office	3 years

 Purpose of the role

We are looking for a team player, who is experienced working with trustees, and new charities. We are a passionate and dedicated team, but in need of support developing new procedures and strategies and plans to help the charity grow. We welcome hands-on trustees who wish to come and help at workshops and events but this is not expected or a requirement of the role.

We welcome and encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds.  SCIP are focused on working with people who share our vision and values.

Principle Accountabilities

The Treasurer will be responsible for supporting SCIP to achieve the charity’s mission, whilst safeguarding the charity and the board.

• Making sure the charity keeps proper accounts
• Reviewing the charity’s financial performance
• Drawing up or reviewing policies for finance and investment
• Ensuring that the charity has robust and effective financial controls in place
• Liaising with finance staff and with the charity’s independent examiner or auditor
• Reporting on financial matters to the trustees
• The treasurer may share these responsibilities with the finance officer who carries out the day to day finance of the charity.
• Supporting the senior staff with financial forecasting and short and long term budgeting and aims as well as strategy.

A finance officer is currently in post managing the book-keeping.

 Responsibilities and tasks

This is in addition to the standard board member role of a trustee: see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-essential-trustee-what-you-need-to-know-cc3

• Comply with all SCIP policies and procedures and report concerns to an appropriate person.
• Establish constructive relationships with the board and staff team.
• Attend and participate in trustee meetings.
• Participate in training and other learning activities as required.
• Budget forecasting and cash flow management of charity finances.
• Guide and advise the board on implications for the charity’s strategic future
• Supply the trustees with the financial information in a format that helps them understand the implications of decisions.
• Oversee the financial affairs of the organization, ensuring they are legal, constitutional and within accepted accounting practice.
• Ensure proper bookkeeping records are kept with effective financial procedures in place in liaison with the finance officer.
• Monitor and report on the financial health of the organization.
• Oversee the production of necessary financial reports/returns, accounts and audits.
• Provide ad hoc support where required to review funding bids, business plans, financial targets, salaries and recruitment strategies.
• Act as signatory on cheques, transfers and other important documents.
• Ensure the board have the necessary information to approve a budget for the next financial year.
• Ensuring that SCIP pursues its stated objects (purposes), as defined in its governing document, by developing and agreeing a long-term strategy.
• Ensuring that SCIP applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its charitable objects (i.e. the charity must not spend money on activities that are not included in its own objects, however worthwhile or charitable those activities are) for the benefit of the public.
• Ensuring that the organization defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets.
• Safeguarding the good name and values of SCIP.
• Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of SCIP, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place.
• Ensuring the financial stability of SCIP.
• Protecting and managing the property of the charity and ensuring the proper investment of the charity’s funds
• Following proper and formal arrangements for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal and remuneration of the chief executive (if the charity employs staff).

Specific Treasurer task list	Frequency/timings
Report and provide supporting papers for the finance section of the Board meeting. Reports to include the following: Treasurers report, management accounts, finance risk register and any other areas of note. Contribute to the agenda via the Chair.	2.5 hours prep per meeting. 3 hour meeting every 2 months, dropping to every 3 months in 2025
Work with chair, senior staff and the charity accountants to produce the annual report. Highlight any areas of interest etc to the board	4 hours plus meetings as needed over the preparation time.
Cash flow and forecasting – To be discussed and clarified with candidate. Work with the relevant staff to instigate the cash flow and forecasting, then oversee management of this.	Weekly/fortnightly to suit needs of both parties. 2 – 4 hours depending on need.
Annual Budget Work with relevant staff to produce, update and review the annual budget	Annually and ongoing monitoring 2 – 3 hours spread as needed.
Organizational structure consideration - Grant funding bids (ad-hoc advice) - Gift-aid claim reviews - Advice on finance systems/procedures	As needed
Bank authorization (cheque signatory) and online fob holder for authorization/2nd authorization of banking payments from the Charity when required	As needed
7. Support and check the finance officer’s book-keeping in preparation for board meetings or new decisions.	Monthly 1 hour.

The Treasurer post is usually held for a minimum of three years to ensure financial stability. The Treasurer may then be re-elected by the Board.

The post is not paid. However, reasonable expenses may be claimed.

The role of Treasurer is likely to require a commitment of at least 2 days per month. This includes a commitment to Board meetings and sub-groups between meetings where relevant. In common with other Board members, the Treasurer is encouraged to contribute to other activities, including acting in an ambassadorial role, taking into account the needs of the organization, the skills and interests of the Treasurer , and their availability.

Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task may not be identified.

Person Specification

Experience and knowledge	·         Charity, school bursar or similar background. ·         Ideally previous charity trustee experience and/or ·         knowledge of charity financial regulations. ·         Broad knowledge/experience of accounting and finance/tax regulations, legislation and best practices [Qualified accountant, or working towards accountancy or bursary examinations].
Skills and Abilities	·         Ability to manage time and commitments effectively. ·         Negotiation and problem solving skills. ·         Good, independent judgement. ·         Able to relate well to all levels of the team. ·         Self- Motivated. ·         Good oral and written communication skills ·         IT skills relevant to post i.e. Microsoft. ·         Recognize own strengths and use these to advise and support the board and staff.
Equalities	·         Commitment to understanding of equal opportunities. ·         Supportive of SCIP encouraging and supporting diversity and inclusion within the board and the charities beneficiaries.
Other Requirements	·         Able to work to deadlines. ·         Commitment to SCIP. ·         A commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. ·         Understanding and acceptance of legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship. ·         Ability to undertake additional training required (i.e. safeguarding training).

Please request application form from Ange@wearescip.co.uk. CVs will not be accepted.