Treasurer

NB To apply, please make sure you send a cover letter/email as well as your CV. See below for details.

About us

Debt Justice is a UK based campaigning organisation that challenges poverty and inequality caused by unjust debt. In solidarity with global allies, we actively challenge the way that debt is used to sustain colonialism and exploitation in the global economy. At the same time, we use a community organising approach to build the collective power of people with lived experience of debt in local communities across the UK. Our local groups bring people on the frontlines of economic injustice together to lead campaigns and win systemic change to tackle the household debt crisis.

Role Description

This is a voluntary, unpaid trustee position. Travel expenses are provided, and funds are also available to support childcare arrangements if needed. The Treasurer takes lead within the Board of Trustees for all financial matters. They are responsible for Debt Justice’s financial management and oversight. You will need to be able to attend three Board meetings a year and quarterly finance committee meetings, and to be available to provide advice to the staff, Chair and Vice-chair on an ad hoc basis.

Specific responsibilities as Treasurer:

• Overseeing, approving and presenting budgets, accounts and financial statements
• Being assured that the financial resources of the organisation meet its present and future needs
• Identifying financial risks facing the organisation and recommending appropriate action
• Ensuring that the organisation has an appropriate reserves policy
• Approving financial reports and presenting them and the annual accounts to the board, drawing the board’s attention to important points.
• Ensuring that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place
• Advising on the financial implications of the organisation’s strategic plans
• Ensuring that the charity has an appropriate investment policy which does not conflict with the charity’s aims, and monitoring implementation
• Ensuring that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by funders and the relevant statutory bodies, for example the Charity Commission and/or the Registrar of Companies

Skills and experience

• Appropriate financial qualifications and experience (normally a qualified member of one of the member bodies of the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB))
• Experience of charity finance
• The skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences and make recommendations to full board based on sound financial principles
• Commitment to the vision, mission and values of Debt Justice
• Strategic vision
• Ability to think creatively
• Willingness to speak one’s mind
• Good, independent judgement
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team
• Willingness and ability to devote the necessary time and effort to carrying out the trustee role effectively, including participating in board meetings and calls in between meetings, scrutinising board papers, and responding promptly to board email discussions and willingness to be available to staff for advice and enquiries on an ad hoc basis
• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship, especially those set out in The Charity Commission’s guidance The Essential Trustee (CC3) and Debt Justice’s Memorandum & Articles of Association
• Commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
• Commitment to ongoing training and development as a trustee

Experience of being a Treasurer is not essential. We are looking for someone who has skills in financial management and there is no requirement of any knowledge of campaigning, advocacy or communications. If you are interested in becoming a Treasurer for the first time, we'd be happy to talk to you about what it involves to help you make up your mind.

How to apply

To apply for the role please submit your CV with a letter of interest of no more than 2 pages, Your cover letter should demonstrate how you meet the requirements under the four headings in the person specification and confirm that you are eligible to act as a charity trustee.

Please send your CV and cover letter to application@debtjustice.org.uk by 9am on Monday 29 April.

Interviews will take place on zoom on Friday 10 May. We can provide funds for childcare if this is needed to enable candidates to attend an interview.

The Chair of Debt Justice’s Board is available to answer any questions about the role so please get in touch with us, we’d love to have a conversation with you. If you would like to arrange a telephone conversation, please contact matt@debtjustice.org.uk.