Committee Member - Finance and General Purposes Committee

The UK Council for International Student Affairs is the UK’s national advisory body for international students and those who work with them. It is currently seeking expressions of interests from individuals with an interest in international education and with a finance or business skills background to serve on its Finance and General Purposes Committee.

About UKCISA

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has worked for over 50 years to support international students and the institutions, students; unions and organisations who work closely with them.

As well as giving advice directly to students, we support our members by providing training, up-to-date guidance about immigration rules and information about the wider student experience. We work collaboratively to represent our members’ interests to government, and to raise awareness of the benefits that international students bring to the UK in the wider media.

We are a small organisation of 16 staff based in London, but have nearly 500 members. Our membership includes every university in the UK, many FE colleges, independent schools and student unions.

Finance and General Purposes Committee

Being able to operate efficiently without impacting the services we provide is at the heart of what we do – and the role of the Finance and General Purposes Committee is key to this. Due to some committee members coming to the end of their terms, we now have some vacancies.

The Committee supports the Board of Trustees by overseeing our organisational resources and making necessary recommendations. The Committee is essential in maintaining effective financial control and safeguarding the financial health of the organisation.

We receive income of £1.5 million through a combination of subscription fees, training income and government funding. Given the breadth of our work and activities, the role of the Committee is pivotal in ensuring the efficient use of our resources and the sustainability of our income.

We are primarily seeking individuals with a finance, accounting or business background preferably working in the education sector but will also consider those who have a meaningful interest in our work.

The role would suit somebody who is able to contribute to our organisational development and advise on the key issues that we are facing. It provides an opportunity to make a real contribution to the UK’s work with international students at a time when we are needed the most.

Though a formal accounting/finance qualification is not essential, a good grasp of the financial issues that a small organisation like ours would face is important – as well as being comfortable analysing financial data.

The Committee consists of 8-10 members (half of whom are also Trustees) and meets three times a year in London, reporting to the main Board of Trustees on financial results, business risks and any other strategic, financial or organisational matters.

The role is not remunerated. Travel expenses are, of course, payable.

If you would like to receive further information please get in touch with Bhavesh Kotecha, Director of Finance Resources (DFR@ukcisa.org.uk)