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About the organisation

Irise International is an award-winning global leader in period equality programming and advocacy, building a world where a female body is not a disadvantage through bringing together young people with firsthand experience of menstrual challenges to create change in their own communities and wider society. We work in the UK and East Africa, in partnership with our sister organisation Irise Institute East Africa and advocate together globally for the changes our community want to see. We’re powered by our community, driven by evidence and committee to feminist leadership. Read more about our shared purpose and values in our global strategic framework.

 

We were founded in 2014 in response to girls’ voices calling for their menstrual needs to be acknowledged and met. Almost a decade later, our small and agile team has directly supported over 100,000 young people to overcome period inequality, enabled 287 organisations to address period inequality in their work and boasts a community of over 174 groups and community organisations across the contexts where work. We’ve won a global award, sat on a UK government taskforce and been named one of the most effective organisations tackling this issue. Our current UK Board has 5 committed trustees who are committed to working in a way which is inclusive, welcoming, collaborative, transparent, and reflective.

 

We were shortlisted for a UK Charity Governance Award in 2020 for our approach to Diversity and Inclusion and we are on a continual journey to create spaces where diverse people can find community and a sense of belonging- we invite everyone who joins our community to help us do this better.

About the role

We are looking for a dedicated and passionate Treasurer, with specific skills and expertise in small charity financial management, who can guide the Irise community through the next phase of our journey. With a new CEO in role since April 2024 and cuts to funding for girls’ education in the Global South, alongside rising levels of period poverty in the UK, Irise is needed more than ever before and we want to deliver ambitious plans for transformative change, led by the people and communities who need it most.


Key Responsibilities:

1. Actively participate as a key member of the Board of Trustees.

2. Support the development of the annual budget and future trajectories in line with the aspirations of the Irise’s strategic plan and fundraising strategy.

3. Advise on all financial matters, including regulatory compliance.

4. Oversee the development and observation of financial policies.

5. Keep the Board of Trustees regularly informed of key financial events, trends, concerns and assessment of fiscal health in addition to completing financial reporting in a timely fashion, making these reports available to the Board within reason.

6. Have oversight of all financial transactions including monitoring developed systems for keeping cash flow manageable and efficient.

7. Advise fellow Trustees on a regular basis of the financial status of the charity and where necessary recommend action.

8. Arrange the compilation and agreement of Irise’s annual report, including the annual review of accounts by the independent examiner.

 

Time Commitment:

The Board meet at least every 3 months. All of our core Board meetings are held virtually on weekday evenings lasting approximately 1.5 hours. Board papers are circulated 1-week prior to each meeting to enable plenty of time to read through and ask questions prior to the meeting. In between Board meetings you may be invited to provide additional ad-hoc input such as providing insights via email or taking responsibility for researching and writing Board papers on particular issues. We also have 1-2 in-person meetings per year; where possible, we strive for hybrid access to enable inclusion of those people unable to attend in-person events. Trustees are also encouraged to participate in online and in-person events with our wider networks and supporters from the UK and East Africa, and to support our youth leadership initiatives, for example we ask one of our trustees to provide mentorship to our Empower Period Committee. In total, you can expect to spend an average of 1-2 hours per week on activities and meetings related to the role. The role is meant to be compatible with a full time job and caring responsibilities, and we always aim for trustee input to be as flexible and time efficient as possible. We are always open to new ideas to make our Board as accessible as possible.

 

Term:

Trustees serve a mutually agreed term, usually of at least 3 years, as agreed by the trustee and the board depending on the needs and desires of the organisation and the individual trustee. As a Board we engage in a continuous cycle of reflection, and each year our Chair meets with each board member, one to one, to review and reflect.

 

Our ideal candidate

The ideal candidate will have sound financial knowledge and the time needed to comprehensively fulfil the role:

● Competent and experienced in handling finances, ideally within small charities (formal accountancy qualification preferred).

● Good understanding of small charity accounting and the charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP)

● An understanding of the voluntary sector and previous experience as a Trustee In addition, all trustees are required to fulfill the following duties as outlined by the Charity Commission. You can find details of the essential duties of a trustee and other useful resources on the Charity Commission website

 

 

What’s in it for you

This is a unique opportunity to play a critical role in the transformation of an innovative

charity guided by a new CEO and a small board. As Treasurer, you will maintain an overview of the Charity's financial position and of the conduct of its financial affairs such that you can give well grounded advice and ensure that Irise continues to drive menstrual justice globally, and directly equip and accompany young advocates in the UK.

 

As a member of the Board, you will be willing and able to:

● Ask powerful questions and respectfully challenge yourself and others

● Collaborate with other Board members, Irise staff, volunteers, and external contacts 

● Scrutinize Board documents and papers

● Participate in discussions and share accurate information

● Provide advice and guidance (based on individual specific expertise and experience) on strategy, projects and initiatives

● Occasionally take the lead on specific board level initiatives or processes e.g. reviewing the organisation’s safeguarding policy with the staff safeguarding lead or compiling a short board paper on a relevant issue or policy change

Apply for the role

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Treasurer

Irise International

Irise International

Apply by

11 Oct 2024

Cause

Cause

Location

Location

Role-type

Trustee

Time commitment

1-3 hours per week

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