Trustee (Treasurer)

Position

We are recruiting a new trustee with an accounting qualification and experience in charity accounting to fulfill the role of treasurer. 

About us

The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute is working for a world in which the vicious cycle of money and mental health problems is broken, so that we all have an equal chance of financial security, regardless of our mental health; and everyone’s mental health can flourish, regardless of their financial circumstances. We aim to be a world-class centre of expertise, but we don’t produce research to just sit on shelves. We develop practical policy and solutions, working in partnership with those providing services, those who shape them, and those using them, to find out what really works. We campaign, build, test and innovate until our research leads to real change. 

The board of trustees plays an essential role, guiding the organisation, shaping our strategy and ensuring that we meet our statutory obligations. The role of the treasurer is to oversee the financial affairs of the charity and ensure that they are legal, constitutional and within accepted accounting practice. The Treasurer delegates day-to-day financial management to the Chief Executive Officer and the Head of Finance and Operations. 

The Trustee will be one of nine members of the Board of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute chaired by Martin Lewis, the charity’s Founder. The Board of Trustees and the CEO together assure the delivery of the Institute’s charitable objectives, the quality of its research and the impact of its work. The Board of Trustees delegates responsibility for management and day-to-day operations to the CEO. The successful candidate will join a passionate and committed group of trustees, drawing from business, politics, regulation and the third sector. Information about our current trustees can be found on our website:  https://www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/about-us/trustees

Commitment

Attendance at quarterly board meetings and quarterly finance committee meetings, attendance at AGM, attendance at annual auditors’ meeting, reading papers in advance of meetings, availability from time to time to support the senior management team through correspondence or ad-hoc meetings. 

NB: the quarterly board meetings for 2021 will take place on 15 March, 7 June, 20 September and 13 December and the quarterly finance committee meetings will take place on 02 March, 24 May, 08 September and 29 November. It is envisaged that these meetings will be held online in Q1 2020 and that this might remain the case thereafter. 

OOP expenses

The position is not remunerated, however reasonable travel expenses can be claimed when attending quarterly meetings in person. 

Role description

• The statutory duties of a charitable trustee include:
• ensuring that the organisation complies with its governing document, organisation law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations
• ensuring that the organisation pursues its objectives as defined in its governing document
• ensuring that the organisation applies its resources exclusively in pursuit of its objectives
• contributing actively to the board’s role in giving firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets
• to ensure the financial viability of the organisation, seeing that proper financial records and procedures are maintained
• to protect and manage the property of the organisation and to ensure the proper investment of the organisation's funds

Other duties include: 

• assisting with the appointment and support of employees if appropriate
• ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation
• ensuring the organisation is properly insured against all reasonable liabilities
• representing the charity at functions and meetings as appropriate

In addition to the above statutory and other duties of a charitable trustee, the newly appointed treasurer should use their specific knowledge and experience in finance and charity accounting to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions and to support the Head of Finance and Operations on an ad-hoc basis. This will involve:

• Guiding and advising the board in the approval of budgets, accounts and financial statements, within a relevant financial policy framework 
• Keeping the board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities 
• Chairing the charity’s finance committee
• Advising on the financial implications of the organisation’s strategic plans
• Contributing to the fundraising strategy of the organisation
• Monitoring the organisation’s investment activity and ensuring it is consistent with the organisation’s policies and legal responsibilities
• Ensuring that proper records are kept and that effective financial / accounting procedures and controls are in place to provide assurance to the board of the charity’s financial integrity and to safeguard resources
• Ensuring that the charity has an appropriate reserves policy and adequate financial resources to meet its present and future needs
• Liaising with the CEO and the Head of Finance and Operations about financial matters 
• Overseeing the production of budgets and necessary financial reports / returns, accounts and audits.
• Ensuring that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by funders and the relevant statutory bodies, for example the Charity Commission 
• Liaising with external auditors as required
• Making a formal presentation of the accounts at the annual general meeting and drawing attention to important points in a coherent and easily understandable way 
• Sitting on the remuneration committee.

Person specification

• Experience in a senior accountancy or financial management role within a successful organisation including working to a Board of Trustees, Board or other governance body
• An accounting qualification
• Knowledge of and experience in charity accounting
• Knowledge of and experience in charity governance (highly desirable)
• A commitment to the organisation and its objectives and a personal interest in the charity’s work
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to their duties as a trustee; it is envisaged that the treasurer will most likely need to devote 14 days per year to the charity
• Integrity
• Excellent communications skills
• Strategic vision
• Good, independent judgment
• An ability to think creatively
• Willingness to speak their mind
• An ability to work effectively as a member of a team
• A willingness to be available to staff for advice and enquiries on an ad-hoc basis.

The Board always welcomes applications from people with lived experience of mental health conditions. We are also committed to improving diversity in the charity sector and are particularly keen to receive applications from members of minority ethnic communities.

How to apply

Please send a CV and a cover letter and a completed equality and diversity monitoring form (click here)  to contact@moneyandmentalhealth.org by Sunday 07 February 11:59pm.

The equality and diversity monitoring form is voluntary and will be immediately separated from your application; this will not be reviewed as part of the application process. Please do not put your name or any personally identifying information on this form.  

Initial panel interviews are provisionally scheduled for the afternoons of 22-24 February, with final interviews with our Chair likely to take place on the afternoons of either 1 or 3 March.