Volunteer Branch Treasurer

This role covers Dumfries and surrounding areas.

Could you look after the finances for the local SSAFA service in your area? You don’t need a military background, just some basic I.T and finance skills. If so, this could be the role for you.

**What is a Branch Treasurer?**

There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas. These are divided into small local areas that we call divisions. Each branch has a treasurer overseeing the divisions that, in turn each have a treasurer of their own. This is a key role involving financial planning and financial administration.

**Why do we need you?**

We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan.

There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles and fundraisers.

One of the key ways we help people is by tapping into various sources of funding on their behalf. Monitoring and reconciling this flow of funding into and out of SSAFA accounts is important to ensure clients receive timely support and we are able to account for all charitable funds in our care.

**When would you be needed and where would you be based?**

As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but many volunteers are based at home. This flexible role involves using our on-line financial management system and on-line bank accounts and so can be done when and where suits you best. You will need to attend a number of branch committee meetings each year.

**What would you be doing?**
- Maintaining and reconciling local bank accounts and recording transactions
- Supporting divisions to manage their local finances.
- Making and recording all authorised payments
- Preparing year end accounts and financial statements including arranging an independent review
- Working with the branch secretary, advise on a local fundraising programme to cover branch running costs.
- Identify and manage the return of any surplus monies from grants as appropriate.
- Providing reports to the branch committee and to SSAFA’s Central Office
- Maintaining accurate records using our on-line finance management system
- Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer, or fundraiser.
- Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the Volunteering policy and data protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.)

SSAFA is embarking on a programme of review and change to ensure that the beneficiary is at the heart of all that we do and that volunteers are fully supported in their roles. The remit of this role is likely to change over the next 12-18 months, away from supporting caseworkers to focus on fundraising and ambassadorial activities. This will help us to raise the profile of SSAFA and of the services we offer to the Armed Forces family. By joining us now, you will be part of that transition and can help shape the future of SSAFA.

**What can you gain from this volunteering role?**
- Gain experience of holding a responsible role in a well-respected charity
- Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
- Support and friendship from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
- Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
- Better physical and mental health - studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression

**What training and support would you receive?**
- Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role - treasurers webinar (with some pre-course learning), and financial management system training.
- Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
- Support from the branch Chair and the Finance team based as our central office.
- Access to a range of e-learning courses
- Support from the Volunteer Support Manager and the Volunteer Support Team based at our central office.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
- Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.

**What are we looking for?**
- Friendly and approachable people with some experience of financial administration
- Good written and spoken English.
- Ability to be respectful and non-judgemental with volunteers, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues.
- Willingness to use our on-line banking and on-line finance management system (this is covered in