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Treasurer (Trustee) - CPRE Oxfordshire

We’re passionate about making the countryside in Oxfordshire a better place for everyone to enjoy. Our vibrant team of volunteers inspire people to care for the countryside and enjoy the benefits it brings wherever they live.

With your support we can do even more! As treasurer you’ll have an essential role in planning and accounting for our finances to ensure the long-term sustainability of our charity you will also be a member of the CPRE Oxfordshire’s Board of Trustees.

Our friendly team will provide you with training and support to develop in your role. You’ll gain valuable skills and experience in the financial management of a charity.

Why we want you:

By volunteering with us you’ll be helping to find positive solutions for the issues facing the countryside and the environment. By applying your skills and experience you can make a real difference and be a central part of a friendly and passionate charity.

As treasurer you’ll ensure our financial affairs are conducted within legal requirements and good practice. You’ll work closely with the team to oversee the financial sustainability and development of our charity.

We’re ideally looking for volunteers with experience in financial management and a passion for environmental and countryside issues.

As a guide, we anticipate this voluntary role will take 3-4 hours per week. The Board of Trustees meets 3 times a year plus an AGM (normally a Saturday in June/July). There are 3 additional Operational management meetings a year that you would be required to attend.

What you will be doing:

· Keeping accurate records of income and expenditure in line with legal regulation.

· ​ Helping us to set an annual budget and periodically produce an updated rolling five yearly financial plan which will help assess the future viability of the charity

· Regularly reviewing the reserves policy considering the latest Charity Commission guidance, seek approval from trustees for any amendments

· Providing advice to trustees on investments when the level of reserves exceeds 12 months of expenditure considering latest Charity Commission guidance

· Being a signatory for cheque payments, reimbursing invoices, paying monthly staff salaries and expenses

·  Preparing financial reports and appoint auditors annually to independently audit and inspect the accounts

· Ensuring that the final accounts are produced in accordance with the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) and that funds are correctly identified. The chair's annual report must be in accordance with SORP

· Working with the charity’s secretary ensure that the approved annual and audited accounts are presented to Companies House on time

· Summarising a set of accounts to be presented at the AGM. 

·  Leading the annual review of finance policies and procedures advising trustees of any changes

· Acting as the lead contact for both the charity’s bank and CCLA Investment Management Limited.  Ensure that the mandates for both organisations reflect the latest finance procedures

· Regularly review cash flow and ensure that funds are available in the current bank account to meet day to day activities

·  Updating National CPRE about our charity finances

· Assisting with funding applications and accounting for external funding

· Where relevant, ensuring employment regulations are met e.g. staff salaries, pensions.  Advise chair and seek approval from trustees on the annual pay award for staff

·  Safeguarding the good name and values of our charity

· We ask that a treasurer is willing to become a trustee of the charity and a member of CPRE

The skills you need:

· A commitment to CPRE policies, brand, campaigns and initiatives

·  Ability to keep accurate records and confidence in handling finances

·  Experience of setting and managing budgets

· Experience in financial software and spread sheets

· Experience of forward planning income and expenditure

· Be able to provide financial updates and present information in an understandable way

· Access to a computer and the internet at home

· Be able to commit to volunteering regularly to suit your availability including attendance at meetings

· Happy carrying out tasks independently and as part of a team

· Good written and verbal communication skills

What's in it for you:

· Use your skills and experience to contribute to the success of our charity and make a positive difference to the countryside

· Meet like-minded people and enjoy being part of a team, there will be opportunities to get involved with social events and workshops locally

· Enhance your CV by developing new skills and gaining valuable experience

· We’ll give you a reference for your future work or volunteering

· The opportunity to attend a volunteer induction day hosted by CPRE’s national office

· The role is voluntary although we will pay out-of-pocket travel expenses

We believe that every child should have access to a quality education at a safe, inclusive school, with the opportunity to become a truly global citizen… do you too?

It’s an incredibly exciting time at African Adventures Foundation as we develop the vital programmes we deliver at the 34 partner schools we work with in Ghana, Kenya, and Zanzibar.

We have ambitious plans to help drive greater impact at our partner schools, and are looking to strengthen our existing Trustee Board that’s full of energy and experience!

 Do you have experience in charity governance, delivering projects in an African culture and context, or delivering WASH or female empowerment/education/menstrual health programmes?

If so, read on… we’d be keen to hear from you about becoming one of our amazing volunteer trustees! 

Introduction to African Adventures Foundation

African Adventures Foundation is a registered charity set up in 2013 to provide support to 34 schools in developing areas of Ghana, Kenya and Zanzibar.

These schools provide education, health and food security, and social support to young people whose access to these basic services would otherwise be very limited. African Adventures Foundation helps by funding food security programmes, the construction of important school facilities, and hygiene projects that will benefit children’s health and education.

Our mission is to provide more children with a quality education and better opportunities in life.

 All trustees are responsible for governing a charitable company and directing its management and operation. They must also ensure that the trust complies with all legal and statutory requirements.

Trustee Responsibilities:

The role of a Governance & Delivery Trustee is to ensure the Foundation complies with its charity obligations, maximise impact through effective in country project delivery, and bring valuable insight into the specific cultural and operational context of working in Africa.

We are looking for two Trustees to bring specific expertise to the overall Trustee Board alongside the Chair, Fundraising, and Treasurer Trustee positions.

Governance (role specific)

● Understand and represent the needs of the charity’s governing framework on behalf of the Chair and board.

● Recommend relevant changes or documentation, and identify any areas od noncompliance to be addressed within improvement plans.

● Act as spokesperson and figurehead for African Adventures Foundation internally and externally concerning our charity governance.

 Delivery (role specific)

 ● Contribute to governance, approval, and impact assessment processes at board level for the successful delivery of Foundation projects.

● Provide best practice advice, support, and oversight to the projects being delivered on behalf of the board as required.

Context & Culture (role specific)

●    Bring experience, knowledge and good judgement relating to the culture and context of the communities and territories we operate in.

● Bring an understanding of delivering charitable projects in an African educational context to board level.

● Bring an understanding to Trustee Board level, of delivering WASH programmes and Female empowerment, education, and menstrual health projects.

General (all Trustees)

 ● Support and provide advice on AAF’s purpose, vision, goals, and activities while working alongside the trustee Board, founder, and African Adventures personnel.

● Approve operational strategies and policies and monitor and evaluate their implementation, adding to overall good charity governance.

● Support broad decision-making, risk management, and charity planning through a range of platforms and processes.

● Keep abreast of changes in AAF’s operating environment through your external experience.

● Be fully prepared to attend, participate and contribute in Board meetings and Trustee events.

● Act as AAF ambassador applying your skills, experience and knowledge in a range of scenarios including government, fundraising and networking events.

● Use independent judgment, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect African Adventures Foundation’s interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third-party interests.

● Support the Chair with administrative tasks as required.

 What we are looking for:

● Attention to detail.

● A good knowledge of charity governance and willingness to challenge.

● A good understanding of delivering charity/NGO projects.

● A good understanding of operating and/or overseeing delivery in an African culture and context.

● Background in WASH and/or female empowerment, education, and menstrual health projects.

  Essential qualities and attributes of all our trustees

● Willingness and ability to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities as trustees, and to act in the organisation's best interests.

● Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member.

● Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussions.

● A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

● Enthusiasm for our vision and mission.

● Willingness to lead according to African Adventures Foundation’s values.

● Commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership.

 Terms of appointment

 ● Trustees are appointed for a 2-year term of office, renewal for 2 further terms to a maximum of 6 years.

● This is a voluntary position, but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

 Time commitment (estimated at one day every month)

● Attending quarterly Trustee Board meetings. Currently, these are alternating between online and in-person at HQ near Southampton, UK. 

● Flexibility to respond swiftly to the occasional ad hoc issue and Trustee comms

● Attending occasion workshops and fundraising & networking events as per availability.

We are looking for people to bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role and broaden the diversity of thought within our board.