About the organisation
The Breastfeeding Network’s (BfN) charitable objectives are: 1. To inform, educate and support families in feeding and nurturing babies and young children; 2. To enable communities to support breastfeeding through sharing information, training and volunteering; 3. To contribute to evidence-based policymaking for government, healthcare providers and educators; 4. To promote the mental and physical wellbeing of mothers and babies through supporting breastfeeding.
How an infant is fed and nurtured strongly influences a child’s future life chances. Independent, practical, evidencebased information and support on breastfeeding is essential for women, parents and their families and should be available at every stage of a woman’s breastfeeding journey. The UK has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world and support for women, parents and families falls short of what is wanted and needed.
About the role
The Treasurer will work closely with the Finance and Systems Manager and CEO to provide effective leadership on the financial good governance and resilience of the Breastfeeding Network. The Treasurer will oversee monitoring of the organisation’s finances on behalf of the whole board of trustees and act as a sounding Board to the senior team in managing and planning BfN’s finances to be compliant and support the future plans of the charity.
Key responsibilities of the Treasurer:
The Treasurer leads the Board on their financial governance responsibilities, keeping properly informed about strategic developments on the organisation’s finances. With the Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, they ensure good oversight of BfN’s financial management. They also act as a sounding board and supportive advisor to the Finance and Systems Manager and CEO on sound financial operations and planning.
The Treasurer will be a counter signatory for online banking and applications to high value funders.
This may include inputting technical expertise and overseeing appropriate systems in operation for:
· Budgeting, financial control and reporting;
· Reducing the risk of fraud;
· Management of deposits and investments;
· Contract review and management including potential VAT implications;
· Meaningful reporting to the Trustees, regulators and high value/ risk donors;
· Appointment and management of the auditors;
· Managing short and long term cash flow and reserves policy;
· Cost recovery of core expenditure needs;
· Accounting systems, policies and records;
The Treasurer will also contribute to improved understanding of financial implications of the charity’s significant decisions.
As one of the Trustees (Directors), the Treasurer will also share collective responsiblity for the effective impact, stewardship, risk and representation of the charity. (Further details about the responsiblities of charity Trustees are available on the websites of OSCR and The Charity Commission).
Our ideal candidate
Essentials:
- Qualified accountant with hands on experience of managing the finances of an organisation (or equivalent level, Qualified by Experience)
- Understanding of charity and/ or public sector finances
- Basic IT skills
- Hands on experience of governance in a charity or comparable resource-constrained organisation
- Experience of managing relationships with auditors and regulators
- Strong affinity with and commitment to the work of the Breastfeeding Network
- Proven ability to communicate and explain financial information to a board and other stakeholders
- Understanding and commitment to undertake of the legal duties, responsibilities of trusteeship, and the Treasurer role in particular
- The board meets a maximum of 5 times a year and the Treasurer is expected to be available for all meetings, in person or virtual – dates agreed by consultation in advance
- Ready, willing and able to provide ad hoc advisory input by email and attend remote meetings with BfN
Desirable:
· Hands on experience of managing or auditing a charity’s finances
· Knowledge / experience of the charity SORP
· Experience of contributing to business planning
· Knowledge of the infant feeding, early years, health or similar sectors
· Knowledge or experience of information governance
· Experience of public sector commissioning processes
What’s in it for you
The Breastfeeding Network has a strong reputation for delivering quality-assured and independent services which women and families can trust and access when they need it most. In 2023-24, we supported approximately 1.26 million service users. Our 'peer supporters', women with direct personal experience of breastfeeding, support other women and parents, whatever their infant feeding choices and wishes and this support can be life-changing.
Since March 2024, The National Breastfeeding Helpline, which we run in partnership with The Association for Breastfeeding Mothers, with financial support from the Department for Health and Social Care and The Scottish Government, became a 24-hour service supporting women and families throughout the year. This means that our trusted services are available to families - free of charge- often when no other service is available. Our face-to-face services - in communities, hospital wards and homes- are delivered throughout Scotland, much of England, and our services are developing in Wales.
Our 914 serving volunteers contributed an incredible 39,758 hours of skilled time last year. They continue to do so because they know they make a difference. Our 'peer support' training is externally accredited, and our service providers/ call handlers receive supervision and take part in on-going continuing professional development, which is why we meet NICE standards and are a trusted of partner of health professionals as being expert in what we do.
It is essential that these services continue to be available to women and families when they need them most. The role of Treasurer is vital in ensuring that our financial planning and governance supports this goal, especially at a time of growing complexity in the financial and funding landscape for charities. We are confident that there will be many opportunities to apply your skills to make a difference and countless opportunities to learn as we do!
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