Trustee Treasurer

We're appointing our first Treasurer to help build strong, future-proof financial systems as we diversify our income. A great opportunity for someone to shape the role, support our growth and ensure we remain compliant, transparent and impactful.

What difference will you make?

Our mission is needed now more than ever, but we cannot scale our impact without strong financial leadership. As our first Treasurer, you will lay the groundwork that allows us to grow safely, responsibly and sustainably.

Your expertise will help us

• diversify our income in a compliant, risk-aware way;
• manage donations and any future grants transparently;
• build financial processes that protect both the organisation and our volunteers;
• demonstrate accountability to funders, service users and partners;
• create a stable financial base enabling us to expand our services;
• support our Fundraising & Bid Manager to develop viable proposals grounded in realistic budgets and proper controls.

By helping us implement the financial structures we've never had but now urgently need, you will unlock our ability to reach more people facing injustice, strengthen our campaigns, expand our casework support, and build capacity across the organisation. Your role will directly contribute to keeping lived-experience leadership at the centre of criminal justice reform and ensuring the movement has the stability and credibility needed to thrive long-term.

You will leave a lasting legacy the financial systems, controls and governance you put in place will shape Conviction for years to come.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a Treasurer with strong financial governance skills who can help us establish the basic systems, oversight and processes that Conviction has never formally had, but now urgently needs as we prepare for fundraising and income growth.

You do
not
need experience in large charities or complex financial environments - what matters most is your ability to build simple, robust financial processes suitable for a small, volunteer-led organisation with charitable aims.

We are looking for someone who has most of the following

Essential Skills And Experience

• Experience in financial governance, bookkeeping, accountancy or charity finance (formal qualifications welcome but not required).
• Confidence in setting up financial systems from scratch, such as budgets, reporting cycles, income tracking and basic controls.
• Understanding of financial compliance for small voluntary organisations or charities (e.g., HMRC expectations, restricted/unrestricted income, donor requirements).
• Experience maintaining oversight of bank accounts, payments, donations and basic financial records.
• Ability to produce clear, simple financial reports for the Board and help non-finance colleagues understand risks and implications.
• Ability to advise on budgeting for bids, funding applications and partnerships.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a small, lived experience-led Board.

Desirable Experience (not Essential But Helpful)

• Experience supporting an organisation through early-stage growth or setting up governance structures.
• Experience in charity accounting, community organisations, or unincorporated associations.
• Previous experience as a Treasurer, finance lead or financial adviser.
• Understanding of grant funding compliance, including reporting requirements.
• Experience supporting or mentoring fundraising or bid-writing colleagues.

Personal qualities
We are intentionally seeking someone who

• is supportive, reliable and open to working with a grassroots, volunteer driven organisation;
• values lived experience and understands the importance of a people first, justice focused movement;
• is patient and able to help us build financial foundations step by step;
• communicates clearly and kindly, and can explain financial concepts without jargon;
• is comfortable shaping a new role and setting up processes independently;
• is motivated by mission as much as by structure.

Lived Experience
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including those with lived experience of the criminal justice system, disability, poverty, discrimination or social exclusion. This is not required for the role, but such insight is valued and respected within our organisation.

What will you be doing?

Conviction is a volunteer led, lived-experience movement that has operated informally since 2017. Our work challenges injustice, supports people navigating the criminal justice system, and amplifies the voices of those most affected. Until now we have relied solely on volunteers, solidarity partnerships, and occasional small donations, with no consistent income or formal financial structure.

As we enter a new stage of growth in with a Fundraising & Bid Manager joining the team - our Board has identified the need for a dedicated Treasurer for the first time. This new role offers the right person a real opportunity to shape our financial direction, establish processes from the ground up, and help build a robust, transparent framework that strengthens trust from our service users, volunteers and partners.

We are seeking a Treasurer with strong financial governance experience who can support us in

• setting up simple, effective, compliant financial processes for a constituted unincorporated association;
• ensuring we meet HMRC expectations around charitable status (even without formal registration);
• managing or overseeing banking, donations and basic bookkeeping;
• advising the Board on budgets, forecasts and financial decision-making;
• working closely with our new Fundraising & Bid Manager to ensure bids, grants and donations meet compliance requirements;
• creating a future-proof system that is easy for volunteers to maintain.

This is a hands-on role in the early stages, ideal for someone who enjoys building systems, shaping governance, and helping an organisation move from informal to structured operations. You will be joining a small Board with lived experience and deep commitment to social justice. As Treasurer, your voice will play a significant role in helping us set direction, manage risk and grow responsibly.

If you're passionate about supporting a grassroots organisation at a pivotal moment and want to help us strengthen our foundations so we can reach more people in need, we'd love to hear from you.