THE ROLE
The role of the Independent Member is to provide the Finance Committee with knowledge and experience to making key decisions in respect to the organisation’s affairs, ensuring its financial viability and ensuring that proper financial records and procedures are maintained in accordance with the Association’s Bye-laws and in compliance of legal requirements.
Main Responsibilities
· To assist the Finance Committee with the review and monitoring of The Scout Association (TSA)’s financial policies and making recommendations to the Board where appropriate.
· To assist the Finance Committee with recommending the annual budget and financial plan to the Board for TSA and its trading subsidiaries; reviewing performance against this and contributing to the development of the Association’s long term financial plan and strategy.
· To assist the Finance Committee with TSA’s investment policy and asset allocation; the review and recommendation of a rolling strategy for all property and land owned by TSA and to contribute to the development, operation and performance monitoring of all National Centres.
· To contribute to the development of TSA’s Fundraising strategy and monitor performance against this.
· To support the Finance Committee in monitoring financial and deliverable performance against TSA’s Digital and Digital Technology strategies.
· To assist the Finance Committee in recommending to the Board the appointment of external auditors and meeting with auditors to discuss audit plans, fees, and key findings from the audit.
· To contribute to the detailed review and approval of TSA’s statutory accounts.
· To consider decisions and recommendations that involve substantial expenditure outside of budget.
· To assist the Finance Committee in the monitoring of TSA’s insurance arrangements and the financial impacts of TSA’s Pension Schemes, Development Grants Board and other TSA funds and making recommendations to the Board where necessary.
THE PERSON
Skills
· Communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences including, senior staff, volunteers, other Committee members, and others.
· Effectively contribute in meetings.
· Quickly assimilate a broad knowledge of Scouting’s purpose, policies, activities and structures.
Experience
· All round management experience with some element of either pensions/ investments/ insurance expertise.
· Experience of working in Finance, Financial qualifications (or working towards a qualification).
· An interest in charity finance, fundraising and pension schemes.
· Experience or knowledge of working or volunteering with charitable youth organisations.
· Looking ahead, there is the potential for the Finance Committee to evolve into a broader Audit and Risk Committee. While this role is currently focused on financial oversight, we would welcome applicants who bring additional experience or understanding of internal controls, risk management, and audit practices.
Characteristics
· Commitment to The Scout Association’s Purpose and values.
· Sufficient time available for the role.
Other essential criteria
The Finance Committee will meet at least four times a year (generally two meetings online and two face to face in Central London), with the requirement to read papers and contribute to occasional discussions and specific issues between meetings. The appointed candidate should expect to spend around two days per quarter on The Scout Association’s work after the induction phase.
Appointment term
These appointments would normally be for three years (subject to a 6-month review), extendable by mutual consent for a further three years.
Remuneration and expenses
In common with other registered charities, there is no remuneration directly associated with the role, although the Association will reimburse fully for all reasonable and properly documented expenses incurred in performing duties in accordance with the Association’s Expenses Policy.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
We're Scouts and everyone is welcome here. Every week, we help almost half a million people aged 4-25 develop skills for life.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
We are looking for individuals to join our Board in 2025. In recent years we’ve increased and diversified the membership of the Board including the launch of our Associate Board Member programme in 2023. We are looking to continue this work with dynamic and committed people to support further growth and development, building on our achievements.
We want to recruit new Board Members, alongside an opportunity for two Associate Board Members.
Being a Board Member
Board Members play an integral role in providing robust governance and stewardship, in externally supporting future development through advocacy with regional, national and international stakeholders, potential funders and partners from the public and private sectors. Board Members benefit from working with a small, creative and enthusiastic team on the strategic development of the organisation.
What is an AND Associate Board Member?
We have developed a 12 month programme for two Associate Board Members. These roles will work alongside the AND Board of Trustees, and have been designed as a development programme aimed to support potential candidates who do not yet have (sufficient) board-level experience, or the required availability, but have the passion and potential to be a future AND Board member.
The Associate Board Member roles have been created to support individuals who are currently under-represented in the cultural sector, providing greater access to training opportunities, and to add further diversity and richness of perspective to the organisation.
Associate Board Members will:
- bring unique experience from their field of expertise
- share our passion for new ideas and artforms
- place inclusion and engagement at the heart of our culture and vision
- be provided with relevant shadowing, mentoring or training opportunities to support their skills development over 12 months
- attend quarterly AND Board meetings (without legal responsibility or voting rights)
- have the opportunity to apply to become a Board Member after 12 months
It is not necessary to have governance/board-level exposure or experience, but a general understanding of how boards work is required.
If you feel that you don’t quite meet the person specification in the recruitment pack but you’re excited and interested in the opportunity, please get in touch following the application process outlined below.
Joining the AND Board as a Trustee
We are currently looking for individuals to join the AND Board with experience in the following areas:
- Strategic Regional Public Sector Knowledge
- Environmental Sustainability
- Charity Finance
- PR / Digital Communications
- Regional commercial business knowledge across the creative sector, immersive and digital technologies
This isn’t an exhaustive list, and we’re interested in hearing from anyone who believes they have skills or experience to positively contribute to the organisation. We’re also looking for candidates interested in exploring a Vice Chair role with a view to future succession planning for AND Chair. We’re committed to opening up opportunities to people who are currently under-represented in the cultural sector, and we particularly welcome applications from candidates from ethnically diverse backgrounds, Disabled candidates and candidates under 30.
What is it like to be on the AND Board?
Read an interview with our Trustees Sam Bompass and Katie Moffat about being on the AND Board.
About AND
AND is an arts organisation known for creating radical, site-responsive projects at the intersection of art, technology and digital culture.
Working across the UK and internationally, AND commissions artists to explore the social, environmental and ethical implications of emerging technologies. Our portfolio includes large-scale outdoor artworks, exhibitions, research programmes, residencies, online projects and our flagship AND Festival — a nomadic biennial bringing cutting-edge digital experiences to diverse locations.
Our work often takes place in unexpected settings, from post-industrial towns to natural landscapes, creating space for bold experimentation and critical reflection. At our core, we champion interdisciplinary collaboration and are committed to inclusive, sustainable practices that challenge what is considered ‘normal’ in culture today
Practical Details
AND’s Board currently meets for a minimum of four times a year, through a mix of online, and in person meetings in Manchester (UK). There are additional, occasional meetings and sub-committee groups which can be attended via video call. We are particularly interested in hearing from North-based candidates, especially those with regional public sector or commercial business expertise, although we are open to applications from candidates from across the UK.
This is an unpaid role. You’ll need to commit around a day a month to the role. AND will reimburse reasonable travel expenses to meetings in full.
How to apply
- Read our AND Board Membership Recruitment Pack or our AND Associate Board Membership Pack
- If you’d like to speak informally about becoming an AND Board Member or Associate Board Member, you are welcome to request a conversation by Friday 30 May 2025
- Following this, we ask for a CV along with a short written statement (max 1 page) / video (max 3 minutes) to be submitted by Midnight Sunday 22 June 2025 with AND BOARD MEMBER ROLE or AND ASSOCIATE BOARD MEMBER ROLE as the subject field.
- Complete an Equal Opportunities Form (submitted anonymously)
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.