Accounting volunteer volunteer roles

The BDFA is seeking a new Volunteer Treasurer/Trustee to join our passionate and dedicated Board.

URGENTLY REQUIRED

As a trustee, you will play a key role in shaping the strategic direction of the BDFA, ensuring strong governance, and helping to improve the lives of children, young people, and families affected by Batten disease across the UK.

The overall role of Treasurer is to maintain an overview of the organisation’s affairs, ensure its financial viability and ensure that proper financial records and procedures are maintained.

As our Treasurer, you will:

• Oversee, approve and present budgets, accounts and financial statements
• Assure that the financial resources of the organisation meet its present and future needs
• Prepare and present financial reports to the Board
• Ensure that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place
• Have oversight of and give guidance to BDFA Accounting & Financial Administration Officer
• Attend board meetings
• Present financial overview at the AGM

Ideal Background:

Fully qualified chartered accountant/financial qualifications and experience. Some experience of charity finance and fundraising.

We welcome suitably qualified applicants who share our commitment to inclusion, integrity, and advocacy, and who are willing to contribute their time, skills, and experience to drive meaningful change.

Trustees meet regularly (virtually and occasionally in person) and contribute to board discussions, sub-committees, and strategic projects, including attending our in person meeting once a year.

This is a voluntary role, but the personal and social impact is immeasurable.

URGENTLY REQUIRED

About us

Batten disease is a very rare genetic disorder that affects the brain and nervous system. Symptoms sometimes begin in infancy and sometimes later in childhood, after apparently normal early development. Occasionally it may start in adulthood. In individuals suffering from Batten disease, nervous system function steadily declines, causing a wide variety of neurologic problems, including loss of vision and seizures. The life expectancy of a child born with Batten disease can vary, depending on the form of the disease and the age of onset. Some children die in early childhood, while others may be able to live into their teens or twenties.

The BDFA was registered as a charity in 2001 and our mission is “to enable children and adults who are affected by Batten disease to live life to the full and to provide families with the care and support they need so that they do not walk this path alone.” The BDFA offers informed guidance and support to families and the professionals who work with them, as well as actively raising awareness, and promoting research into the management of Batten disease to improve patient care pathways and ultimately find a cure.

Work Location: Remote

Could you use your financial expertise to help shape the future of a community-focused charity, at a pivotal moment of change?

Voluntary Action North Somerset (VANS) is an established infrastructure charity supporting, connecting and championing voluntary and community organisations across North Somerset and beyond. With a strong local reputation and a clear ambition for the future, VANS plays a vital role in strengthening communities by bringing organisations together, amplifying collective voice, and enabling others to deliver impact.

We’re looking for a new Finance Trustee to help ensure the charity remains financially resilient, sustainable and well-positioned for long-term growth.

Location: Based in North Somerset, working across the South West and beyond
Remuneration: Voluntary, with expenses covered
Time commitment: Approximately 1–2 days per month. Currently, 4 Board meetings and 2 Development Days per annum, 4 Finance Committee meetings, plus occasional ad-hoc meetings, preparation and support around budgeting, annual accounts and financial planning.

About the opportunity

You'll join a committed Board and work alongside the Chief Executive, Finance Committee and external finance support to help oversee the charity's financial health and sustainability.

As Lead Finance Trustee, you'll also chair the Finance Committee, helping to ensure robust financial oversight, effective governance and informed decision-making.

You'll play a key role in:

• Providing strategic financial oversight and assurance to the Board
• Supporting long-term financial sustainability and organisational resilience
• Chairing the Finance Committee and strengthening financial governance
• Ensuring financial information is accessible for non-financial trustees
• Supporting budgeting, forecasting, reserve management, risk oversight

About you

We're open to different backgrounds and pathways into this role. You may already be a Finance Trustee, Treasurer or Finance Committee Chair, or you may be a senior finance professional looking to take on your first board-level governance role. What matters most is your ability to provide relevant strategic financial leadership and support effective decision-making.

We're particularly interested in people who can:

• Bring a recognised accountancy qualification and strong financial management experience
• Interpret financial information and translate it clearly for non-financial audiences
• Support strategic thinking around growth, sustainability and income diversification
• Balance scrutiny and challenge in a collaborative and supportive way
• Operate confidently at both a strategic and governance level

Previous charity trustee experience would be welcome, but is not essential. Experience of charity finance, accounting regulations and SORP is also highly valuable.

How to apply

A CV or short profile is a great first step. We'd also welcome an informal conversation if you'd prefer to ask some questions first. Amelia Lee at Charity People is leading this search.

Deadline: Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis. If you feel this approach disadvantages you in any way, please get in touch with Amelia, who will ensure you are given full and fair consideration and do not miss out.

Charity People is a forward-thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background, including age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

A women led grassroots charity in southern India is seeking a volunteer accountant to strengthen accounting systems, reporting, budgeting and finance team confidence.

The organisation works with women, children and marginalised communities through programmes focused on empowerment, health advocacy, childcare, education and residential care for children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Much of the organisation’s accounting remains manual and paper based, and financial reports are generally prepared only when requested by donors.

The volunteer will review current finance processes, assess use of accounting software, support budgeting and cashflow tools, introduce simple monthly management accounts, improve donor reporting and provide mentoring to the local finance team.

This would suit a supportive, hands on volunteer who enjoys working closely with smaller grassroots organisations.

Free accommodation, weekday breakfast and lunch, and airport transfers from Madurai Airport can be arranged.

______________________________________

Accounting for International Development, AfID, matches experienced accountants with charities, NGOs and social enterprises around the world. Our volunteers provide practical finance support, helping partners strengthen systems, reporting, controls and confidence.

An international child protection NGO headquartered in Cambodia is seeking a volunteer accountant to review and strengthen accounting systems, software and financial management processes.

The organisation works across Southeast Asia, supporting vulnerable children, young people and communities through programmes focused on child protection, education, livelihoods and social inclusion.

The volunteer will work alongside the finance team to assess current systems and support practical improvements across financial management and reporting.

Key areas of support may include accounting systems, software options, financial reporting consistency, internal controls and practical systems improvements across country programmes.

This would suit a volunteer with strong systems and financial management experience, ideally with experience of complex organisations or multi programme environments.

__________________________________

Accounting for International Development, AfID, matches experienced accountants with charities, NGOs and social enterprises around the world. Our volunteers provide practical finance support, helping partners strengthen systems, reporting, controls and confidence.

A conservation NGO in Indonesia is seeking a volunteer accountant to strengthen donor reporting, financial systems and accounting processes.

The organisation works with fishing communities, women and young people to support community based natural resource management, sustainable livelihoods and biodiversity conservation.

The finance team currently relies heavily on Excel and is planning to move to a more structured accounting platform.

The volunteer will work with the team to review budgeting and donor reporting templates, support the transition from Excel, improve reporting consistency, strengthen financial systems and controls, and provide practical mentoring.

This would suit a collaborative volunteer with experience in donor reporting, Excel, accounting systems and small NGO finance.

_________________________________

Accounting for International Development, AfID, matches experienced accountants with charities, NGOs and social enterprises around the world. Our volunteers provide practical finance support, helping partners strengthen systems, reporting, controls and confidence.

A growing women’s empowerment social enterprise in Uganda is seeking a volunteer accountant to strengthen budgeting, cashflow forecasting and financial systems.

The organisation supports over 300 women artisans, including single mothers, widows and teenage mothers, through vocational training and income generating opportunities linked to handmade crafts.

As international sales opportunities grow, the organisation wants to ensure its finance processes remain practical, sustainable and fit for purpose.

The volunteer will work with the Founder and Managing Director to review internal processes and controls, support effective use of Zoho Books, review the chart of accounts, improve budgeting and cashflow forecasting, develop simple management reporting tools and support audit preparation.

This would suit a hands on volunteer comfortable working closely with a small local team.

__________________________________

Accounting for International Development, AfID, matches experienced accountants with charities, NGOs and social enterprises around the world. Our volunteers provide practical finance support, helping partners strengthen systems, reporting, controls and confidence.

Two small community based organisations in Malawi are seeking practical finance support to strengthen day to day financial management, reporting and controls.

Both organisations work across vocational training, youth development and livelihoods support, with small local teams and simple finance systems.

The volunteer will work closely with staff to improve budgeting, cashflow management, financial reporting, record keeping, controls and procedures.

This is a very practical grassroots placement, focused on helping local teams build confidence, consistency and simple sustainable systems.

It would suit a collaborative and adaptable volunteer who is comfortable working hands on with small organisations and providing patient, practical mentoring.

________________________________

Accounting for International Development, AfID, matches experienced accountants with charities, NGOs and social enterprises around the world. Our volunteers provide practical finance support, helping partners strengthen systems, reporting, controls and confidence.

A growing NGO in Malawi, working across education, livelihoods, health and environmental sustainability, is seeking a volunteer accountant to strengthen its finance systems.

The organisation has grown significantly and now manages multiple donor funded projects, with annual income of over £1 million. QuickBooks has been introduced, but is not yet fully embedded, and many processes remain manual.

The volunteer will work with the Finance and Administration Manager, wider finance team and senior leadership to review current systems, identify priorities and support practical improvements.

Key areas of support may include QuickBooks, budgeting, forecasting, cashflow, donor reporting, management accounts, internal controls, expenditure verification, audit readiness and mentoring.

This would suit a collaborative and adaptable finance professional who can balance a broad systems review with practical, hands on support.

______________________________________

Accounting for International Development (AfID) matches experienced accountants with charities, NGOs and social enterprises around the world. Our volunteers provide practical finance support, helping partners strengthen systems, reporting, controls and confidence.

The Anglo-Danish Society is seeking a Treasurer with relevant qualifications and experience to take on the important role of managing all aspects of its finances, including compliance with the law and charitable regulations, in addition to accounting.

Our Treasurer will need to have relevant accounting/ financial qualifications and experience. Previous experience of being a Trustee would be a help. The ideal person will need to be able to work with an all-volunteer managing Council who care about the Society and its work, particularly the Scholarship Programme.

The Treasurer is responsible for transaction accounting, paying accounts, scholarship grants payment, sales invoicing, investments and deposits, membership subscriptions, event budgeting, preparing accounts for audit, giving a report to the Annual General Meeting, providing an annual report to the Charities Commission, making an annual Gift Aid claim and other related administration, as required. 

All business is conducted in English and there is no need to know Danish!

As Treasurer, you'll be the guardian of our wonderful theatre's finances. It'll be your job to keep the committee updated on the theatre's financial affairs. You'll have a full understanding of the Bookkeeper's role, and oversee their work - or, if you wish, you may volunteer for that role too (details available on request). As Treasurer, you'll prepare an annual budget for the theatre, then manage and track progress, producing quarterly reports on actual income and expenditure vs budget. You'll then produce annual accounts for presentation to the independent examiner, and the wider membership at the AGM. The role requires around 25 hours per month of your time, plus an additional commitment at year end. You'll join the board of trustees, which entails a DBS check, and you'll attend monthly committee meetings, in which you'll have the opportunity to contribute to the general running of the theatre.

Training

Over the course of several months, you'll receive a comprehensive handover from the existing Treasurer. At first, you'll shadow them to gain a full understanding of what's required, then they'll shadow you, offering as much support as you need until you're ready to take the reins.

Skills

You'll have a love of numbers (and spreadsheets!), a forensic attention to detail, and great organisational skills. You'll be good at presenting data to people who aren't as mathsy as you, and keen to join a team of friendly, passionate volunteers. This role will be a great fit for a trainee accountant looking for experience, a retiree with bookkeeping or accounting skills, or a self-proclaimed maths geek with time to spare, and a desire to be part of a wonderful community of people.

Accounting for International Development is seeking an experienced charity finance professional to support a UK-registered charity working internationally to strengthen responsible, low-impact small-scale fisheries.

The organisation works with coastal communities, fishery stakeholders and market actors to improve fisheries practices, support responsible sourcing, strengthen policy engagement and contribute to better livelihoods and food security.

They are now looking for a remote volunteer to review and strengthen their finance systems, reporting routines and use of Xero. Some finance processes, reporting and budget monitoring are currently managed outside the system, and they would value an experienced finance professional who can help them improve consistency, accuracy and the usefulness of financial information provided to senior management and Trustees.

This is not a day-to-day finance role. The assignment is intended as an independent review and strengthening exercise, working with the Managing Director, Finance Manager and selected Trustees to identify practical improvements and develop a realistic action plan.

Key areas of support may include:

• Reviewing current finance processes, month-end routines and reporting timelines.
• Reviewing how Xero is currently being used, including any processes or reporting managed outside the system.
• Supporting improvements to monthly management accounts and Board reporting.
• Reviewing internal controls, financial procedures and consistency of finance processes.
• Identifying key financial risks, control gaps or areas where processes could be strengthened.
• Advising on forecasting, budget monitoring and how project managers provide information to the finance team.
• Supporting the Finance Manager to strengthen monthly reporting and budget versus actual monitoring.
• Providing practical suggestions, templates or examples where helpful.
• Helping develop a clear, proportionate action plan with priorities and timelines.

We are looking for someone with:

• Senior charity finance experience.
• Strong financial management, management accounts and Board reporting experience.
• Experience reviewing or improving finance systems, processes, controls and reporting routines.
• Good working knowledge of Xero.
• Understanding of UK charity finance, trustee reporting and governance expectations.
• Experience with international charities or organisations operating across multiple countries would be helpful.
• A practical, diplomatic and collaborative approach.

The assignment is expected to involve up to 75 hours of remote support over around 3 to 4 months. The organisation expects a minimum commitment of around 4 hours per week, with the exact schedule and workplan to be agreed between the volunteer and the organisation.

This would be a good opportunity for a senior charity finance professional who enjoys helping organisations strengthen their systems, reporting and governance in a practical and supportive way.

SHASBAH is in need  of a  Volunteer Treasurer to help continue our 60 year old charity and ensure smooth running of the charity finances while providing the  trustee board and staff with appropriate budgetary and financial information on the activities of the charity including organising annual accounts. 

A Treasurer maintains effective governance of the organisations affairs, ensuring its financial viability and ensuring that proper processes and procedures exist for assuring all financial records, decisions and delegations are maintained. Ensuring  our mission statement is being fulfilled. SHASBAH charity has trustees with a range of skills and lots of lived experience and has a small staff team. 

The Treasurer role will include:

•  Ensuring  that all accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by funders and the relevant statutory bodies including Charity Commission.

• Providing guidance and reviews of financial grants, loans and investments. 

• Recommending to our trustees and staff appropriate accounting procedures, controls and policies.

• Becoming a joint account holder and signatory. 

•  Working in close partnership with the Director of services in executing their responsibilities and achieving the charity goals.

• Ensuring that appropriate financial policies are in place. 

As a Treasurer you will be required to provide monthly updates on the charity finances to the trustees and attend quarterly meetings via zoom or in person. Approx 8 hours a month in total.  All are welcome to attend any events or meetings. 

Our partner is a national civil society network in Central America that supports and strengthens non-profit, community-based and civil society organisations. Its work focuses on institutional strengthening, governance, legal reform, member engagement, and building a more resilient and coordinated civil society sector.

The organisation is seeking remote finance support to strengthen its financial management systems and improve the way financial information supports decision-making, donor reporting and future planning. It currently uses QuickBooks and would value an experienced finance professional to review the current setup, identify areas for improvement, and provide practical recommendations that support stronger reporting, compliance and audit readiness. Alongside this, the organisation would like support to think through financial sustainability.

Key areas of support

• Review the current QuickBooks setup, including the chart of accounts, class or project tracking, donor reporting setup and financial workflows.
• Identify gaps, risks or inefficiencies in the current financial management and reporting processes.
• Provide practical recommendations to strengthen accounting practices, compliance, audit readiness and management reporting.
• Review the organisation’s current funding model and sources of income.
• Support the organisation to understand financial risks and consider possible income diversification opportunities.
• Help test sustainability ideas led by the organisation, adding financial assumptions, costs, risks and practical next steps.
• Support improved use of financial information for planning, Board discussion and decision-making.

Volunteer Profile

This assignment would suit a finance professional with:

• Experience in non-profit accounting systems, QuickBooks, donor reporting, financial controls and management reporting.
• Experience supporting small civil society organisations, membership networks, non-profit governance, or financial sustainability discussions would be particularly helpful.

The ideal volunteer will be practical and collaborative, able to provide clear recommendations while recognising that fundraising strategy and resource mobilisation ideas need to be shaped by the organisation’s own context, relationships and priorities.

Time Commitment
The assignment can be delivered entirely remotely. The anticipated commitment is approximately 30 hours in total, ideally over a period of 2–3 months. A commitment of around 2–3 hours per week would be helpful, allowing time for the QuickBooks review, discussions with leadership and Board members, and financial sustainability support in a way that is manageable for both the organisation and the volunteer.

Our partner is a small faith-based organisation supporting indigenous communities in Central America through integrated health, education and community care programmes.

The organisation has grown around a committed local team and is now reviewing how its finance and operations functions should be structured for the next stage of development. It currently has a Finance Manager who also holds some operational responsibilities.

The Executive Director is seeking support from an experienced finance professional to offer an external perspective on how finance and operations responsibilities could be organised in a way that protects financial controls, supports staff development, and enables the Executive Director to focus more time on fundraising and organisational leadership.

Key areas of support

• Review current finance and operations responsibilities, including how tasks are currently split across finance, administration, purchasing, inventory and related operational processes.
• Consider possible organisational structure options for the finance and operations functions, including whether the Finance Manager’s role could evolve into a more strategic finance and systems position, and whether a separate operations-focused role may be needed to take on non-finance operational responsibilities.
• Review how additional accounting or finance responsibilities could be delegated safely within the team, identifying the internal controls, reporting lines and role clarity needed under different structure options.
• Provide practical recommendations on structure, controls, staffing options and job description content where useful.

Volunteer Profile

This assignment would suit a senior finance professional with experience in:

• Small or growing non-profits, finance operations, internal controls and organisational structure.
• Managing finance teams and supporting operational change
• Working with organisations in Latin America would be helpful, and Spanish language skills would be beneficial, but are not essential.

The ideal volunteer will bring a practical, sensitive and collaborative approach, with the ability to support a small leadership team to think clearly through structure, controls and capacity before making changes.

Time commitment
The assignment can be delivered entirely remotely. The anticipated commitment is up to 15 hours in total, ideally over a period of approximately 4–6 weeks, with the hope that the bulk of the work can be completed in July.