Finance Trustee

We are seeking an individual with:

o financial management experience;

o commitment to our vision, mission and values;

o excellent teamwork and leadership skills and effective decision-making;

o willingness to commit time and effort to the role;

o good, independent judgement, strategic vision and ability to communicate ideas;

o history of impartiality, fairness and commitment to promoting equality and diversity;

o charity sector experience (preferred)

Duties of a trustee with finance experience:

○ Chair the Finance and Fundraising sub-committee of the Board.

○ On behalf of the Board, to oversee the production of Big Leaf Foundation’s annual budget, management accounts and annual financial statements.

○ Provide advice, scrutiny and support to the finance coordinator and Board.

○ Act as the Board lead on scrutiny of financial strategy and risk.

○ Ensure that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place.

○ Advise on the financial implications of the organisation’s strategic plans.

The statutory duties of a trustee are to:

○ Ensure the organisation complies with its governing document.

○ Ensure that the organisation pursues its objectives as defined in its governing document.

○ Ensure the organisation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objectives – the charity must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objectives, no matter how ‘charitable’ and ‘worthwhile’ those activities are.

○ Contribute actively to the Board of Trustees’ role in giving strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.

○ Safeguard the good name and values of the organisation.

○ Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.

○ Ensure the financial stability of the organisation.

○ 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 or her performance.

In addition, with other trustees to hold the charity “in trust” for current and future beneficiaries by:

○ Ensuring that 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.

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