Trustee with business and finance expertise

The organisation
The British Society for Rheumatology (BSR) is the UK’s leading specialist medical society for rheumatology and musculoskeletal professionals. They support their members throughout their careers, allowing them to progress, collaborate and innovate so they can deliver the best care for their patients, improving the lives of children and adults with rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease.

Main responsibilities of the Lay Trustee with business and finance expertise
The lay trustee will be responsible for supporting the Treasurer in reviewing and overseeing the business and financial management of BSR. The postholder will consider BSR’s financial strategy and support the Treasurer to make recommendations to the Board. He/she will monitor financial performance and agree action plans where remedial steps are necessary.

• To review the financial strategy and make recommendations to the Board as applicable
• Support the oversight of all financial aspects of charity operations to ensure both short and long-term viability
• As a member of the Board, review expenditure of a significant nature on new initiatives
• Review longer-term forecasts income and expenditure and oversee the form of presentation of financial information
• Advise on appropriate reserve levels to the Board for approval
• Advise on banking arrangements for BSR
• Advise the Board with respect to the remuneration of senior management staff
• Actively contribute to the charity’s investment policy, including the charity’s stance on ethical investments
• To agree the charity’s attitude to financial risk strategy
• To support the oversight of the performance of the charity’s investments, ensuring that funds are invested effectively.

Person specification
You should be able to demonstrate and provide evidence of the criteria listed below within your written application. This will be tested further at the interview stage.

• Experience of financial strategy and effective oversight of finances
• Understanding (although not necessarily experience of) and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship and an understanding of the respective roles of the Chair, Trustees and Chief Executive and staff
• Experience of organisational performance management
• Sound, independent judgement and the ability to think creatively
• Strong intellectual and analytical ability
• An understanding of, and commitment to, the values of accountability, probity and openness
• An understanding of professional membership organisations. This could include membership of such an organisation
• Ability to process detail and get to the heart of an issue
• Confident and effective communication skills with a range of audiences
• A willingness to undertake training as might be required, and a willingness to devote the time and effort required to effectively discharge the duties of this role.

The full role specification and the terms of reference for the Board of Trustees can be found under Supporting Documents.

How to apply
Please click on the Apply button below and include the following in your application:

• A one-page covering letter explaining why you are interested in the role and how you meet the person specification
• A comprehensive CV including details of your achievements in each role and including details of two referees (who will not be contacted without your prior knowledge or consent)

If you would like to discuss the role in further detail before making an application, please get in touch with governance@rheumatology.org.uk.

Key dates to note
Deadline for applications: Close of business on Monday 22 November
Interviews: from Monday 6 December
Formal offer made: by Wednesday 15 December

3-year term of office will formally commence at BSR’s Annual General Meeting 2022 (normally held in April/May). A period of induction and training will commence from January 2022, according to the successful applicant’s availability. The applicant will be invited to attend their first Board meeting as an observer on Wednesday 26 January.

Inclusion and diversity statement
BSR is committed to encouraging inclusion, equality and diversity across our governing bodies and workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimisation by complying with the Equality Act 2010.

We want a working environment free of all of the above, where individual differences and the contributions of all committee members and staff are recognised and valued. To do this, we will proactively tackle discrimination and disadvantage and ensure that no individual or group is directly or indirectly discriminated against for any reason.

We expect all trustees, committee members and BSR employees to champion and live our values through their work at every opportunity.

Our values
Leadership - we drive excellence in rheumatology care
Collaboration - we listen, we learn, we improve
Openness - we are inclusive and accessible
Celebratory - we support and celebrate success