Build on Belief is a charity dedicated to helping people who have, or have had issues with drugs and alcohol use, working to improve and sustain their health and wellbeing in order they can recover to lead fulfilling lives. Bring your accountancy and financial experience and skills to become a voluntary trustee and Honorary Treasurer for a growing and innovative organisation and help make a difference across diverse communities in London and SE England. If you’ve experience in accountancy and finance and perhaps even your own lived experience, then you could help us take the organisation forward.
What we do
BoB helps build the “social capital’ of people who are on a journey of recovery from histories of alcohol, illicit or prescribed drugs. Many of our service users and volunteers across our fourteen London and South-East projects have associated mental and physical health problems, along with histories of homelessness and unemployment.
We largely operate a structure where we recruit volunteers from our service users, and our managers from our volunteer pool, once trained. Our CEO, most managers and some members of the Board have lived experience, and many have been through the drug and alcohol treatment system. This ‘unique’ structure, we believe, gives a high level of peer led understanding of needs and responses
What you will be doing
Purpose of the Trustee Role & Hon Treasurer
The role of a trustee is to ensure that the organisation fulfils its duty to its beneficiaries and delivers on its vision, mission and values. The board of trustees are both jointly and individually responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity, its financial health, the probity of its activities and developing the organisation's aims, objectives and goals in accordance with the governing document, legal and regulatory guidelines.
The Hon. Treasurer plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the financial integrity and sustainability of the organisation. Their primary responsibility is to maintain strategic oversight of the organisation’s financial affairs, ensuring that it remains viable, compliant, and well-positioned to achieve its charitable objectives. This includes ensuring that robust financial systems, accurate records, and effective procedures are in place and consistently followed.
The Treasurer works closely with, and is, actively supported by the CEO and Head of Finance & Central Operations, collaborating on both strategic and operational financial matters to ensure sound governance and effective delivery.
Time Commitment
Trustees are expected to attend bi-monthly board meetings (Tuesday evening) at Earls Court and participate in ad-hoc task groups and occasional on-line meetings.
BoB Trustees are Required To:
Uphold the charity’s mission and ensure its effective governance, strategic direction, and legal compliance. Their responsibilities include:
Strategic Leadership
· Ensure the charity pursues its stated charitable objects as defined in the Memorandum & Articles of Association.
· Establish and maintain a clear vision, values, and strategy, ensuring shared understanding among trustees, staff, volunteers, stakeholders, and associated personnel.
· Ensure operational plans and budgets align with and support the strategic vision.
· Define organisational goals and evaluate performance against agreed targets.
· Advise on and support fundraising efforts and project engagement.
Stakeholder Engagement
· Regularly seek and consider the views of external stakeholders and service users, staff, and volunteers.
· Uphold the good name and values of the organisation in all interactions.
Governance and Compliance
· Ensure compliance with the Mem & Articles of Association, charity law, company law, employment law, and other relevant regulations.
· Ensure resources are used exclusively to further the charity’s objects.
· Maintain appropriate governance structures that reflect the charity’s size, complexity, and diversity.
· Review the governance structure and board performance regularly.
· Ensure trustees adhere to an agreed code of conduct, with mechanisms for addressing non-compliance.
Risk and Oversight
· Identify and regularly review major risks to the organisation, ensuring systems are in place to mitigate or manage them.
· Monitor changes in the external environment (political, financial, demographic, competitive) that may impact the charity.
· Hold staff accountable for the management and administration of the charity.
· Consider external professional advice on matters presenting material risk or potential breach of trustee duties.
Staff and Operational Oversight
· Follow formal arrangements for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal, and remuneration of staff.
· Ensure the organisation exercises a duty of care to its employees.
· Support continuous professional development across the organisation.
Engagement and Representation
· Visit local services and attend key events to support the charity’s work.
· Actively engage with the charity’s activities and initiatives.
· Act as ambassadors for the charity.
The Hon. Treasurers Role
Strategic
· Assist and advise in the formation of the charity’s financial strategy, ensuring adequate resources to deliver services and that funds are spent on furthering charitable purposes.
· Advise on the financial implications of strategic and operational plans.
· Advise on the funding strategy and ensure alignment with the charity’s aims.
· Ensure the Board receives regular and appropriate financial information.
· Review and present the annual financial statements to the Board.
· Recommend appropriate accounting procedures, controls, and policies consistent with financial and regulatory legislation.
· Oversee the appointment and regular review of auditors.
· Work in close partnership with the CEO and Head of Finance & Central Operations to support strategic goals.
· Ensure appropriate investment and reserves policies are in place.
· Monitor the performance of investments.
· Ensure all assets are adequately maintained and accounted for.
Governance
· Maintain effective governance of the organisation’s financial affairs, ensuring viability and proper processes for financial records, decisions, and delegations.
· Ensure the Board is aware of its financial duties and responsibilities and complies with all relevant legislations (e.g. Companies and Charity Law)
· Lead on the assessment and management of financial risk
· Ensure financial policies and procedures are regularly reviewed and updated
· Ensure compliance with charity accounting practices and statutory requirements
· Ensure recommendations from auditors are implemented
· Ensure accounts meet conditions of contractual agreements with funders and statutory bodies.
Experience, Skills & Behaviours required to fulfil the role of Hon. Treasurer effectively:
- Experience of charity accounting.
- Experience of financial control, budgeting, and risk management.
- Good communications and interpersonal skills.
- A willingness to be contacted on an ad-hoc basis.
- Ability to ensure financial decisions taken are followed up in a timely manner.
What we are looking for
Our Trustee Board comprises people who have good skills and experience in, corporate strategic marketing and communications, health care, HR, information technology, research and legal matters.
Our current Honorary Treasurer is standing down after seven years, and we are looking to replace him. The role of Honorary Treasurer is an important one, being the key person colleague trustees look to for professional advice about all things financial. We have a Head of Finance & Central Operations who manages the day-to-day financial management and reporting systems.
This year we have introduced two systems to underpin our growth to a nearly £2m business. These are Xero and PLEO, with PEOPLE HR for our associated HR functions.
If you’ve experience of senior financial management and leadership, then you could make a significant contribution to our development.
Essential experience & qualifications sought
We are open to a variety of professional financial backgrounds and qualifications with, ideally but not necessarily only, charities and including current registration as a member of the:
o Institute of Chartered Accountants.
o Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
o Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
o CIPFA
We are very open to bringing on board people who can support us becoming a more inclusive organisation. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, women and other underrepresented groups, including those with disabilities and from LGBTQI communities. We are also very open to recruiting someone who may have their own lived experience of addictions and adversity to draw upon. What counts will be your enthusiasm, commitment, competence and interest in taking on a trustee and governance role.
A few more details on application process
Our deadline for applications is Monday 15 December 2025
· Please submit a CV and a covering letter (no more than 2 pages) which must address three questions (see below).
· We aim to be flexible with interview dates, to include early evenings but aim to hold them during January or early February.
· If you need any particular support if you are invited to an interview, then please make this clear in your supporting statement (see below).
· We plan to have an induction and familiarisation/onboarding process before final confirmation as a trustee. Once appointed, Trustees are expected to serve a minimum three-year term of office. This is a voluntary and non-paid position.
Please send your CV with covering Supportive Statement to our Chair, Roger Howard:
· Your Supportive Statement or covering letter should address three questions:
i. Why are you interested in becoming a trustee and treasurer of BoB?
ii. What insights and experiences can you bring to our charity Board?
iii. Is there anything in your background that we should be aware of that might be relevant to you becoming a trustee/company director?
Personal data statement: In line with GDPR, we ask that you do NOT send us any informtion that can identify children or any of your Sensitive Personal Data in your CV and application documentation, apart from matters relating to your own experiences of addictions and matters which may arise during a subsequent DBS enhanced scrutiny.
Following this notice, any inclusion of your Sensitive Personal Data in your CV/ application documentation will be understood by us as your express consent to process this information going forward.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Closing Date:
We are reviewing applications on a rolling basis and applications will be reviewed as they are received.
The Role:
We are currently seeking a Finance Trustee to join our Board as Treasurer. It’s a voluntary role that requires a committed individual with financial expertise to take a collaborative approach, supporting our Trustees, our Head of Finance and Governance, and our management team to oversee the financial affairs of our charity and ensure that they are legal, constitutional, and within accepted accounting practice.
Our Organisation:
Greener and Cleaner delivers locally but thinks, and influences, nationally. Our vision is greener, healthier, better connected communities across the UK. We seek to achieve this through normalising 360-degree sustainable living, bringing the community together to make changes that can deliver a big impact. We have a non-judgemental peer-to-peer approach, so that all elements of the community feel empowered to take action in how they live, work, and play and in how they use their voice to push for change.
Treasurer Role:
The primary role is to ensure alongside other Trustees that they accept ultimate responsibility for the affairs of G&C and ensure that it is solvent, well run, and delivering the charitable outcomes for which it has been set up. As well as fulfilling the duties of a Trustee, the Treasurer ensures that effective and appropriate financial measures, controls, and procedures are put in place and reports to the Board at regular intervals about the financial health of the organisation.
- Overseeing the presentation of budgets, internal management accounts, and annual financial statements, as produced by the finance team or others where appropriate, to the Board of Trustees
- Ensuring that proper accounting records are kept, and that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place.
- Liaising with any paid staff about financial matters, as appropriate.
- Ensuring that robust and comprehensive financial policies are in place and being implemented, and supporting the development of policies covering financial reserves, and cost management.
- Overseeing financial controls and adherence to systems.
- Drawing any major financial concerns to the attention of the trustee and the management team.
- Ensuring that the charity has appropriate reserves in line with its reserves policy, and monitoring and advising on the financial viability of the charity.
- Advising on the financial implications of the charity’s strategic plan, including overseeing the charity’s financial risk-management process.
- Ensuring that the charity has an appropriate investment policy and that investments and assets are maximised.
- Leading on the appointment of and liaison with external auditors.
- Overseeing the development and implementation of systems for appraising, mitigating, and reporting corporate risk.
- Ensuring that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by relevant statutory bodies – for example, the Charity Commission and/or the Registrar of Companies.
- Keeping the board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities.
- Supporting other Trustees in understanding the charity’s financial position and decision making.
- Contributing to the fundraising strategy of the charity and its ethical fundraising policy.
- Making a formal presentation of the accounts at the Annual General Meeting and drawing attention to important points in a coherent and easily understandable way.
The Person We’re Looking For:
- A finance professional with a firm understanding of charity finance and some experience of fundraising and pension schemes.
- Knowledge of charity fundraising, bid writing, and/or other income generation and/or securing funding through creation or leveraging of partnerships and networks (at a national or local level).
- A strategic thinker with an ability to balance risk and opportunity and the skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences.
- Clear communicator with the ability to explain financial information to members of the Board and other stakeholders.
- Willing to play an active role in areas such as forecasting, setting budgets, and liaising with auditors.
In addition, the Treasurer will also have the responsibilities and qualities of all Trustees.
Responsibilities of All Trustees:
- Demonstrating a commitment to G&C’s objectives
- Contributing to setting the strategic goals and monitoring performance by active participation in Board discussions and decision-making
- Actively assisting the charity to build their connections and partnerships for the purposes of most effectively delivering their goals and fundraising
- Ensuring that G&C complies with its governing documents, the law, and all other relevant documentation
- Helping to identify risks and ensuring appropriate controls are in place
- Helping the Board to make sound decisions by making available their own personal knowledge and experience
- Assisting the Chair to appoint and appraise the performance of the Senior Leadership Team members
- Sharing relevant skills and expertise with the Senior Leadership Team members
- Making all reasonable efforts to attend Board meetings, away days, development meetings, publicity events, and other such public functions as requested by the Chair
- Ensuring the charity’s focus on equality, diversity, and inclusion remains at the heart of its strategy and delivery
Trustee Person Specification:
In addition to the Treasurer role specific above, our Trustees will ideally also demonstrate the following:
- A commitment to the objectives and activities of G&C
- A willingness to devote time and effort to G&C beyond attending board meetings
- Have strategic vision, an ability to think creatively, and an appropriate level of financial literacy
- Understanding of and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of their position
- Have good independent judgement
- Be willing to effectively act as part of a team
- Adhere to the Nolan Principles of public office: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership
- A willingness to allow the Employee/s to make reasonable decisions and to act within the limits prescribed by the Board
To Apply:
To see the full job advertisement with details on how to apply, and to learn more about the role and our organisation, please see the attached supporting documents.