About the organisation
The Barnes Fund is a local charity that does two things:
1. Makes grants to help those most in need in the Barnes community.
2. Provides, at Walsingham Lodge in central Barnes, a community comprising two types of sheltered housing – almshouses for those on low incomes; and also five leasehold bungalows.
The board of trustees is made up of nine people, all of whom must live in Barnes.
As a trustee you will oversee the charities’ work – including strategy, grant making, allocation of almshouse vacancies and the effective management of Walsingham Lodge, and finance and investments
The Barnes Fund aims to be the community’s first choice grant funding organisation, supporting old, sick, disabled, vulnerable, and deprived residents, as well as people needing help to fund education; plus carers and the organisations that offer support and recreation to the people of Barnes.
About the role
The treasurer of the charity takes the lead at board level on:
• making sure we keep proper accounts
• reviewing our financial performance, and making recommendations where action needs to be taken to improve that performance
• drawing up or reviewing our financial and investment policies
• ensuring that we have robust and effective financial controls in place
• liaising with our executive director regarding the finances of The Barnes Fund, with the Finance Director at the Managing Agent for Walsingham Lodge, and with our independent auditor
• reporting on financial matters to the other trustees
• oversight of our insurance arrangements
The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate
• A solid financial background
• An ability to explain financial matters and the financial consequences of the charities’ strategic plans clearly and succinctly based on sound analysis
• Experience of oversight of auditing professionals
• An ability to collaborate with and support our Executive Director in the preparation of management accounts, the annual audit and publication of the annual report and review
• An ability to oversee the financial management of the Walsingham Lodge almshouses and our leasehold bungalows through oversight of the financial analysis etc provided by the Managing Agent
• An ability to work closely with the Chair of trustees and with the Investment committee chair and our asset managers to ensure our income and outgoings are aligned
We hold approximately 12 main meetings a year – these include 3/4 Board meetings; 5 Walsingham Lodge Committee meetings; 4 Grant Making Committee meeting and 2 Investment Committee per year. Meetings are often held in the evening but can be daytime subject to trustee availability. Dependent on priorities at any time there are additional meetings outside these main ones
Our ideal candidate
The treasurer of the charity takes the lead at board level on:
making sure we keep proper accounts
reviewing our financial performance, and making recommendations wheraction needs to be taken to improve that performance
drawing up or reviewing our financial and investment policies
ensuring that we have robust and effective financial controls in place
liaising with our executive director regarding the finances of The Barnes Fund, with the Finance Director at the Managing Agent for Walsingham Lodge, and with our independent auditor
reporting on financial matters to the other trustees
oversight of our insurance arrangements
The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate
A solid financial background
An ability to explain financial matters and the financial consequences of the charities’ strategic plans clearly and succinctly based on sound analysis
Experience of oversight of auditing professionals
An ability to collaborate with and support our Executive Director in the preparation of management accounts, the annual audit and publication of the annual report and review
An ability to oversee the financial management of the Walsingham Lodge almshouses and our leasehold bungalows through oversight of the financial analysis etc provided by the Managing Agent
An ability to work closely with the Chair of trustees and with the Investment committee chair and our asset managers to ensure our income and outgoings are aligned
Trustees must live in Barnes (the SW13 postcode area and few surrounding roads)
What’s in it for you
We will provide some internal training, provided by other trustees and our Executive Director. We also operate a ‘trustee buddy’ programme for new trustees. And courses are available from Richmond Charity & Voluntary Services (RCVS) to help new trustees learn the ropes. Online training on safeguarding is provided to all trustees
A DBS check will be required and can be dealt with on appointment
The trustee role is an unpaid position. All relevant expenses incurred will be refunded.
Apply for the role
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Please provide a cover note if it is requested in the role description. Applications which are personalised, setting out your motivations for volunteering for the organisation and relevant skills/experience, are far more likely to be successful.
