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About the organisation
Mavar’s Mission
Founded on the belief that everyone has the right to choose their own path in life, Mavar’s central mission is to empower individuals who choose to explore opportunities beyond the strictly orthodox (Charedi) Jewish community to develop and fulfil their personal goals. Mavar supports the efforts of its members (i.e. service users) to achieve independence, live authentically and cope with the obstacles they may encounter as they explore options to live, work or study in the wider world.
Mavar is not associated with any faith-based community or organisation. Operating across the UK, our service is confidential, impartial and free. Mavar neither advocates leaving nor remaining - we assist without judgment. That said, most members will have made the choice of leaving the Charedi community.
Mavar helps by offering confidential, one-on-one mentoring and guidance to those who turn to us in desperate need of support and advice. We assist on all aspects of life – first and foremost education, but also legal advice, housing, referral to counselling and financial assistance.
About the role
An opportunity to step into a high-impact charity leadership role and to shape the charity’s future during an exciting phase of evaluating a potential merger as a pathway to organizational growth.
Role
The Honorary Treasurer is a Trustee with responsibility for providing financial oversight, governance and advice to the Trustee Board. This is of course a pro-bono role. Mavar’s Trustees are legally responsible for the governance of the charity. Trustees have a collective responsibility – they work together for the best interests of Mavar and its members (i.e. service users).
The Treasurer works with Mavar’s CEO and the charity’s bookkeeper to ensure that the Board has a clear understanding of Mavar’s financial position, and that appropriate financial controls, budgets and reporting arrangements are in place. The day-to-day operations of Mavar are conducted by staff and volunteers under the leadership of our CEO and with the overall oversight of the Trustee Board.
Background
Mavar’s current Treasurer will be stepping down at the end of 2026, after completing a 2-year tenure. Driven by the outgoing Treasurer and a new CEO who joined Mavar in April 2026, the charity is nearing completion of a significant back-office overhaul, strengthening its financial management, governance and administrative infrastructure.
Mavar is also currently in active discussions regarding a potential merger with another charity in the sector. The Treasurer will provide financial advice and oversight throughout this process.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Oversight
· Lead the setting and monitoring of realistic and financially viable budgets.
· Monitor Mavar’s financial position, cash flow, reserves and significant financial risks.
· Advise the Board on the financial implications of significant decisions.
· Ensure Mavar’s funds and assets are properly managed and used in accordance with its charitable objectives.
Controls and Reporting
· Ensure appropriate financial controls and authorisation arrangements are in place.
· Work with the bookkeeper to create and/or review regular financial reports and ensure the Board receives clear and relevant financial information.
· Oversee the preparation of the annual accounts and liaise with the independent examiner.
· Ensure significant financial or accounting issues are brought to the Board’s attention.
Support of Current Merger Discussions
· Provide financial input and advice throughout the merger discussions.
· Contribute to financial due diligence and assessment of financial risks, liabilities, costs and opportunities.
· Challenge financial assumptions and proposals and help protect Mavar’s charitable assets and interests.
· Support financial planning and integration should the merger proceed.
Our ideal candidate
Person Specification
Essential
· Commitment to the charity’s mission and values
· Familiarity with the Jewish cultural context
· Understanding of the legal duties and responsibilities of charity trusteeship
· Strong relevant financial experience and sound judgement
· Ability to understand and constructively challenge financials and explain them to the Board
Desirable
· Experience as a charity Trustee and/or Treasurer
· Experience of charity mergers
· Qualified accountant
· Familiarity with Xero
Time Commitment
· You are expected to give at least two days per month to your role.
· Board meetings generally take place four times a year in London, with a mixture of online and in-person meetings and are complemented by bi-weekly online or in-person feedback meetings with the CEO.
What’s in it for you
Context: Mavar’s Service Users
Some men and women who have grown up in the closed world of the Charedi community hold personal and religious values that are not in line with the rest of the community. Attempts to follow their own path often bring them into direct confrontation with family, friends and neighbours who regard expressions of individualism or self-determination as heresy.
· These individuals fear that the community will ostracise them, leaving them feeling trapped, isolated and helpless.
· Some may simply wish to explore options for obtaining a general education or improving their access to employment opportunities whilst wishing to remain within the Charedi community; others may look to leave the confinement of strict orthodoxy and to lead a more mainstream lifestyle.
· They all typically lack the everyday life skills to cope with the challenges of the secular world, which appears to them as a confusing, frightening and alien planet.
· Any effort to integrate with the outside, secular world is hampered by limited English language skills, cultural disorientation, lack of basic education or job qualifications and negligible skills for employment.
When a new member comes to us for help, it is highly likely that they do not have any foundational or basic education. Some may have one or two GSCEs, but most have none. It is also highly likely that they speak very little or broken English – if they do, it will be their second or third language.
New members come to us with very few skills that allow them to function in the secular world – lack of time keeping, budgeting and prioritisation skills as well as unfamiliarity with societal norms are basic obstacles for them to creating a life of their choosing. Members need to learn all this, and quickly.
Mavar helps by offering one-on-one mentoring services, guidance and signposting in the areas of:
· Education
· Counselling and Mental Health
· Legal Rights, Housing and Welfare Provision
· Social and Personal Support
· Accommodation
· Financial Management
· Employment
The strictly orthodox population in the UK is estimated at ca. 76,000 (Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR), 2022). With a high birth rate, it is the fastest growing and the youngest of any Jewish denomination: 56% of strictly orthodox Jews in the UK are under 40 and the annual leaving rate from this group is 11% (JPR, 2024). There is huge demand for Mavar's services.
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