Treasurer

Spires is an award-winning charity that has been working with homeless and disadvantaged people in Streatham, South London, since 1990.  Working with some of the most isolated and vulnerable in our society, we support over 900 men and women every year.

We are seeking a new Treasurer to join our friendly and committed Board of Trustees.

Role summary

In addition to Trustees’ responsibilities, the new Treasurer will monitor the financial standing of the centre. They will look at cash-flow forecasting, income streams, out-going expenses and the overarching strategic management of the organisation’s financial resources. The Treasurer will also oversee and report on the financial health of the charity to the Board of trustees at regular intervals and provide oversight on funding bids.

Person description

We are looking for an individual with the following background/experience:

• Qualified accountant and/or knowledge and experience in finance.
• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Trusteeship and adhering to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
• Proven ability to communicate and explain financial information to the Board and other stakeholders. • Analytical and evaluation skills.
• Good communication and leadership skills.
• Knowledge and experience of charity fundraising and finance practices.
• An understanding of Spires’ work and the challenges faced by our services users (Desirable)

We are fully committed to increasing the diversity of our Board. Having a more diverse Board will help us to understand better the needs of the communities we serve. To this end we would especially welcome applications from people from a variety of ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented on our Board.

We are also open to hear from individuals interested in joining our Board who have a variety of other skills and experience including: social work, education, legal and probation services.

Time commitment

The Board meets six times a year in the evenings. In addition to Board meetings, the treasurer will need to commit to approximately 1 ½ hours a month.

How to apply and other details

Applications should be made via Reach Volunteering in the first instance. Please provide a CV together with a supporting statement explaining your suitability for the role. This should include why you are interested in the role, how your skills and experience match the role description and any other relevant details.

Applicants will be longlisted and invited for an informal first interview with the Chief Executive. This will also be their opportunity to meet staff and see the services in action.

Candidates will then be shortlisted and invited for a formal interview with a panel of trustees including the Chair. They will be asked to make a short presentation based on their observations of the services.