TREASURER AND GENERAL TRUSTEES WANTED FOR AGE UK MERTON BOARD

Age UK Merton is an independent charity operating within the national Age UK network. We provide services for older adults in the London Borough of Merton in south west London. Our role is to ensure that older adults can easily access the support, services and care they need and to help older adults to live active and fulfilling lives. Our comprehensive services are specifically designed to support older people and reach around 3,000 Merton residents a year.

Age UK Merton has a strong and diverse Board comprising a group of Trustees from a wide variety of backgrounds. We currently have a vacancy for a Treasurer, but we are also interested in hearing from individuals who believe they have skills and experience to make a valuable contribution to the Board. The new Trustees will join the Board at the AGM in November 2023.

Person specification

Essential

· Commitment to Age UK Merton

· Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort

· Strategic vision

· Experience of operating at Board or senior level professionally

· Good independent judgment

· Ability to think creatively

· Understanding of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Trusteeship

· Ability to work effectively as a member of a team

· Ability to use and access ICT

Desirable

· Experience of the adult social care or health sectors

· Experience of being a charity Trustee

· Understanding of Merton as a place

Additional person specification for the Treasurer

· Financial qualifications and experience

· Some experience of charity finance, fundraising and pension schemes

· The skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences

· A willingness to be available to staff for advice and enquiries on an ad hoc basis

Role description

Trustees have a number of core duties, including ensuring the organisation complies with its governing document, charity law, company law, and relevant legislation; ensuring it pursues its objectives as defined in its governing document; actively contributing to the Board in giving strategic direction to the organisation; ensuring the financial stability of the organisation; and ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.

In addition, Trustees should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board reach sound decisions. This may involve scrutinising Board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues and working on sub-committees.

The overall role of Treasurer is to maintain an overview of Age UK Merton’s finances, ensuring its financial viability and ensuring that proper financial records and procedures are maintained. The Treasurer also chairs the Finance Committee that meets before each Board meeting.

Commitment required

Trustees have a significant responsibility within the organisation, so it is important that you can commit time to read and consider papers and reports, attend meetings and contribute to discussions and decision-making. Trustees meet a minimum of five times a year. We alternate between in-person and remote meetings. We also have sub-committees which meet several times a year. Trustees are expected to devote the necessary time to ensure they are fully prepared to actively participate in all meetings.

The role of Treasurer requires a commitment of up to 10 hours a month in addition to that outlined above. Most months are likely to require considerably less time than this.

To find out more and to apply

If you are interested in applying, please send a CV (maximum 2-sides of A4) and cover letter (maximum 1-side of A4) to our chair, Tobin Byers, at tobin@ageukmerton.org.uk. If you would like to have an informal discussion about the role, please contact Tobin who would be pleased to speak to you. Our current Treasurer would also be happy to have an informal conversation with anyone interested in applying for the role of Treasurer. Please contact Tobin to arrange this.

There is no deadline for applications. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis so interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible