About the organisation
About Health Equalities Group (HEG)
We are Health Equalities Group, a public health charity working to improve the wellbeing of our communities. We’re an independent voice for preventative public health in the North-West and beyond. We believe everyone deserves to live a long, healthy and happy life. But right now, not everyone gets that opportunity. That’s why we work with local authorities, charities, the NHS and central government to help improve the conditions that hold back so many of our communities. Together, we can create a fairer, healthier society.
Our influence and impact over the last 20 years has been significant. In 2005 HEG led a successful campaign to introduce smoke-free public spaces across Merseyside, an act that contributed to the evidence base for subsequent national smoke-free legislation. HEG was also formative in bringing about the UK Government’s ‘Sugar Tax’ in 2018, and we continue to deliver the ‘Food Active’ healthier weight programme for local authority public health teams across North West England to this day. We have led on delivery of health promotion programmes at large scale sporting events, including the UEFA men’s and women’s European Football Championships (EURO), whilst we have been working with all 16 NHS provider trusts in Cheshire & Merseyside since 2019 to embed prevention of ill health within governance and operations.
To understand more about the way we work and further details on our current projects, please read our recent report: Partnering for Prevention
About the role
Vacancy for new finance trustee
We are continuing a period of significant growth as we aim to further increase our social impact at both regional and national levels. Our Board of Trustees currently includes leading figures from epidemiology and public health, economics, marketing, legal services and academic research.
We are now seeking a new trustee from an accountancy / finance background to oversee financial governance duties for the charity. Please note that this is not an operational role for the charity, as book-keeping and day to day financial matters for the charity are carried out by our long-term finance support parter organisation NW Housing Business Services.
We would particularly value the following skills and experience:
· A qualified finance professional with post-qualification experience
· Experience of scrutinising management accounts and end of year audit accounts
· Experience of managing finance committees or sub-groups
· Experience of working with public sector clients or organisations from the Voluntary, Community, Faith & Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector.
The role includes attendance at quarterly, evening-based trustee’s meetings of 90 minutes (three online meetings, one face to face meeting), plus attendance at online Finance Group Meetings which are arranged 1-2 weeks ahead of each trustee’s meeting. As a registered charity, we would be able to reimburse reasonable expenses, but this is a voluntary role and is not salaried.
Our ideal candidate
Essential Skills and Experience
· Financial expertise, with experience in finance, accounting, budgeting and financial management (e.g. qualified accountant, finance professional, or senior financial leadership experience).
· Ability to interpret and scrutinise financial information, including management accounts, budgets, cashflow forecasts, and annual statutory accounts.
· Understanding of financial governance, risk management, and internal controls.
· Strategic financial thinking, with the ability to contribute to long-term financial planning and decision-making.
· Strong analytical skills, with sound judgement and attention to detail.
· Ability to communicate financial matters clearly to non-financial trustees and stakeholders.
Desirable Skills and Experience
· Experience of charity or public sector finance, including familiarity with Charity Commission requirements and the Charity SORP.
· Knowledge of grant funding, restricted funds, and funder reporting.
· Experience of working with or overseeing external auditors or independent examiners.
· Understanding of public health, health inequalities, and/or voluntary sector context.
Personal Attributes
· Commitment to the charity’s public health mission and values.
· Integrity, independence, and willingness to provide constructive challenge.
· Collaborative approach and ability to work effectively as part of a small trustee board.
· Willingness to give time for finance group and trustee’s meetings and provide occasional advice between meetings.
What’s in it for you
What can we offer you and how the role will be supported
This is an exciting and potentially very rewarding role. You will be supporting an organisation that is recognised at both regional and national levels for our work on prevention of ill health and tackling health inequalities. You will be part of an ambitious, growing organisation that is delivering public benefit through our research, health interventions, campaigns and advocacy activities. You would also, if you wished, be able to act as an ‘ambassador’ for the organisation at selected events during the year.
The role will not be onerous and will be well assisted by HEG’s Executive Director and NW Housing Business Services who provide the charity’s financial and management accounting support services. Other members of the Board will also be on hand for 1-2-1 support over your first year in the role, with financial management considered the responsibility of the whole Board of trustees. The role includes attendance at quarterly, evening-based trustee’s meetings of 90 minutes (three online meetings, one face to face meeting), plus attendance at online Finance Group Meetings which are arranged 1-2 weeks ahead of each trustee’s meeting. As a registered charity, we would be able to reimburse reasonable expenses, but this is a voluntary role and is not salaried.
We can thus offer to facilitate your own professional development. In addition to gaining experience as a trustee of a very successful and effective charity, you will have opportunities to develop further expertise at both local and national levels through interaction with our programmes of work and other members of the Board.
Interested?
If you are interested in applying for the position of Finance Trustee for HEG, please send a brief CV and a short (one page max) application letter saying why you are interested in the role, how your skills and experience are aligned to the areas of expertise we require, any previous experience of acting as a trustee, and how you might add overall value to the Board.
Please send your CV and brief letter of application by close of business on 15th May 2026 to: matthew.philpott@heg.org.uk
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