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Become a Treasurer

At Age UK Bristol, we want to change the way we age. We aim to keep people aged 55+ well and active, encouraging Bristol to be an Age Friendly city. We do this in 3 ways - through providing practical help and supporting people’s emotional and physical wellbeing in a range of ways depending on their needs.  In addition, we want to prevent people from needing our help wherever possible.  We do this in our strategic work, where we aim to create the conditions for older adults to remain healthy and independent.   

Our organisational objectives are to  

  • Provide top-quality services and support to all older people in Bristol.  
  • Lead and enable collaboration between other organisations working with older people in Bristol. 
  • Influence public spending and policies in a way that benefits older people in the city. 
  • Promote positive attitudes to ageing in Bristol. 

We do this by 

  • Providing quality information 
  • Delivering quality services 
  • Involving older people  
  • Giving older people a voice 
  • Working in partnership 
  • Maintaining an effective organisation 

Main Trustee Duties and Responsibilities 

The Treasurer is a trustee with a specific role on the Board.  

In addition to the trustee role, the Treasurer supports other trustees to carry out their financial responsibilities and ensure that Age UK Bristol (AUKB) achieves its charitable objectives whilst abiding by its values and keeping within the law.  

This role involves working closely with other members of the Board and the Chief Executive in the financial management of the Charity, to oversee the financial health of AUKB.  AUKB has a Finance Group comprised of trustees, the Chief Executive and the Finance Manager.  The Finance Group will support the Treasurer in the delivery of these duties and responsibilities as required.  The Treasurer will also work closely with AUKB’s Finance Manager, supporting the production of Annual Accounts.  

There will be specific tasks to set out authorisations in the governing document or related procedure agreed upon by the other trustees, for example annual finance reports. 

 

Main duties and responsibilities 

  • Chair the Finance Group and present and explain financial reports to the Board in a format that helps the board understand the AUKB’s financial position 
  • Advise the board members and Chief Executive on how to carry out their financial responsibilities and provide guidance for the Senior Finance Officer as required 
  • Liaise with professional advisors and auditors, agreeing appropriate additional support with them e.g. training and induction for trustees 
  • Oversee the preparation and scrutiny of annual accounts, budgets, and financial statements 
  • Update and present AUKB’s financial accounts to members in a comprehensive way in the Annual General Meeting  
  • Ensure that there are appropriate investment and insurance policies implemented in AUKB, which align with Charity Commission Guidance  
  • Assist day-to-day financial activities, evaluation, and reports where this is necessary e.g. supporting AUKB with financial modelling of new service opportunities. 

The duties of all AUKB trustee align with the six main duties outlined in the Charity Commission Guidance (CC3a). We expect a trustee to: 

  • Ensure AUKB applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objectives for the public benefit 
  • Comply with the AUKB’s governing document and the law. The law refers to the following: 
  • laws on trading, political activities and fundraising 
  • Have an enthusiasm for the work of AUKB and the time, ability, and commitment to carry out the duties of a Board member. This includes attending at least eight Board meetings per year plus other training, planning and promotional events. 
  • Act in AUKB’s best interests by working closely with other Trustees and members of AUKB to provide sound AUKB strategic direction and decision making based on current best information. This includes setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets, and evaluating performance against agreed targets in the Board meetings and document reviews. 
  • Safeguard the good name and values of AUKB. 
  • Manage AUKB’s resources responsibly to ensure effective and efficient administration of AUKB’s business and strategic plan. This includes monitoring financial stability of AUKB, appointing key staff and future Chief Executive Officers, performing risk assessments regularly, overseeing the performance and outcomes, and mitigating potential and preventable risks.  
  • Be accountable for the AUKB. Trustees hold accountability to the charity, the members, staff, and volunteers. This includes statutory accounting and reporting requirements in a format comprehended to everyone, i.e. annual general meetings, annual reports, and financial reports. 

The above list of duties is not exhaustive. Trustees are expected to perform additional duties commensurate with their roles in supporting AUKB when necessary. 

Person Specification 

  • Financial qualifications or equivalent experience 
  • Experience of charity finance, fundraising and pension schemes 
  • The skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences 
  • A preparedness to make unpopular recommendations to the board 
  • A willingness to be available to members of the Finance Group for advice and enquiries  
  • They will know the third sector, have been a trustee for another charity, and /or have a real interest in older people.  
  • Someone who has a commitment to the aims and objectives of Age UK Bristol, in promoting it in the best interests of its stakeholders and staff. 
  • Strategic vision and understanding. 
  • Good, independent judgment. 
  • An ability to think creatively 
  • An understanding of legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship, together with an understanding of the financial aspects of running a charity. 
  • An ability to work effectively as part of a team, contributing an independent perspective. 
  • Possess integrity, objectivity, accountability, honesty. 
  • The applicant must be legally eligible to stand as a registered Company Director and Charity Trustee. 

Terms of Appointment  

Trustees should expect to serve for no more than 3 terms of 3 years.  

Training 

Induction and ongoing training and support provided, including essential Safeguarding Training and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Training, as well as other relevant training to enable you to carry out your role.  

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check 

This role required an enhanced DBS check.  

Time Commitment 

Trustees are required to attend scheduled meetings and some ad hoc meetings.  

It is anticipated that the time commitment should be no more than 2 hours a week on average but there could be occasions when extra time will be required (e.g. during planning of new projects or dealing with any particular difficulties that arise).  

 

Location 

Either at our Withywood Office or remotely.  

Expenses 

Age UK Bristol will pay all reasonable out of pocket travel expenses.  

 

Further Information  

For further information, please contact:  

E: hr@ageukbristol.org.uk  

P: 0117 928 1530