Vacancies

Volunteer Treasurer / Trustee Vacancy

  • Location: home based
  • Expected hours: variable – 1-2 per week – flexible working
  • Remuneration: unpaid – expenses incurred in undertaking the role will be reimbursed
Overview

The British Porphyria Association (BPA) is a small UK charity which aims to support people with porphyria www.porphyria.org.uk. We are seeking an enthusiastic and confident volunteer Treasurer to join our Board of Trustees.

A competent treasurer or part-qualified book keeper or accountant would be ideal. Experience in the charity field is desirable but not essential.

Our accounts are not complex, but we do have multiple income streams to consider. The successful candidate would need to maintain financial control and ensure we comply with our legal responsibilities as a Registered Charity.

More about the role

The Treasurer will hold the Board and BPA committee to account for the Charity’s finances and vision, maintain financial control and ensure we comply with our legal responsibilities as a Registered Charity. The Treasurer will work with all members of the team to ensure that there is a transparent and clear financial process.

Time commitment

It is expected that the work will take approximately 1-2 hours per week, but this may vary, dependent on workload at the time.

As part of the hours, it is expected that a BPA Treasurer will attend the majority of online meetings (usually 9-10 virtual meetings per year – held in the evening) and the AGM (may be virtual or face-to-face) to keep up to date with current developments, and update the committee and Board of Trustees on financial matters. This means devoting the necessary time and effort to prepare for meetings where necessary.

Key responsibilities
  • General oversight of the BPA finances
  • Manage the BPA’s budget in conjunction with the Trustee Board and BPA team
  • Manage the BPA bank account and restricted fund accounts
  • Work with an administrator to:
    • Issue bills and receipts and make payments of charity and volunteer expenses
    • Manage income from multiple income streams, including grants, donations, PayPal, JustGiving, Easy Fundraising etc.
    • Ensure there are clear and accurate records of the BPA’s financial transactions
    • Process Gift Aid claims
  • Monitor and report on the financial health of the organisation and give an annual financial report at the AGM
  • Attend meetings (approximately 9-10 virtual meetings per year, except for the 1-2 instances per year where there are face-to-face meetings)
  • File returns with the Charity Commission and ensure the charity complies with accounting policies and regulations
  • Arrange for annual independent examination of the accounts prior to the AGM

 

Essential personal criteria
  • Good communication skills and experience of team working
  • Empathy and understanding
  • An ability to be objective, honest, non-judgemental and able to deal with issues of a confidential nature
  • A commitment to the aims of the BPA and the BPA’s policies and procedures
Essential skills
  • Financial qualifications and/or bookkeeping experience
  • Computer literacy: competent using Outlook, Excel, Word and an Access database
Desirable skills/experience
  • Financial management expertise and an understanding of charity finance issues
  • An understanding of charity governance
Being a Trustee

As Treasurer to the Charity, you will also become a Trustee. Trustees are expected to understand and accept the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship and understand their role as a Trustee.

You cannot become a Trustee if you:

  • Are under 18 years of age.
  • Are disqualified under Sections 178 and 180 of the Charities Act 2011, because for example, you are an undischarged bankrupt or have an unspent conviction for an offence of dishonesty or deception.
  • Have previously been removed from trusteeship of a charity by the court or charity commissioners or is under a disqualification order under the Company Directors Disqualification Act.
  • Are a paid member of staff.
How to apply

Applications must be made via Liz Gill, Strategic Lead of Operations on liz.gill@porphyria.org.uk and copy to helpline@porphyria.org.uk. Please provide your CV, along with a covering letter stating why you wish to work for the organisation, and demonstrating how your skills meet the essential criteria and would add value to the Trustee Board.

Overview

The British Porphyria Association (BPA) is a small UK charity which aims to support people with porphyria. As a small charity, we are always seeking volunteers to help support our aims.

Why volunteer?

There are many reasons why people volunteer to be involved with charities such as the BPA. Most of us in the BPA want to help others with the same condition as ourselves or as our family member. We have often fought alone for many years and don’t want others to have to do the same.

The nature of being involved with supporting patients is very fulfilling personally, but volunteering can also have many benefits for you. It may be a way to find out about something that you are good at or develop a new skill. Volunteers typically have an improved sense of well-being and physical and emotional health as a result of their contribution to society, no matter what the size.

Meeting a diverse range of people is another benefit of volunteering, whether it is the people that are being helped or the people with whom you are working. This can help to develop interpersonal skills and offers a great chance to network.

What does the BPA expect from you?

Time commitment

It is hoped that BPA Committee and Trustees will attend at least one face-to-face and at least three virtual meetings per year to keep up to date with current developments. This means devoting the necessary time and effort to prepare for meetings where necessary, including reading past minutes. It is hoped that BPA Committee members will contribute expertise to at least one element of the charity’s undertakings each year, whether that be fundraising, advocacy, administration or taking part in a Working Group.

Volunteers or freelancers not on the Committee or Trustee Board may have other suggested commitments in line with the skills that they bring to the organisation and tasks they are involved in. This can be flexible according to what you feel able to do.

 

The BPA expects all BPA volunteers to possess the following:

  • Empathy and understanding
  • An ability to listen and be non-judgmental
  • An ability to be objective, honest and able to deal with issues of a confidential nature
  • A commitment to the aims of the BPA and the BPA’s policies and procedures
  • Good communication skills and experience of team working
  • Ability to use email and IT efficiently

 

What can you expect from the BPA?

You can expect the BPA to always behave in a professional manner towards others. Any problematic issues should be dealt with in a timely and appropriate manner by the BPA.

While the role of volunteer/committee member/trustee of the BPA is voluntary and no remuneration is to be expected, you can expect legitimate out-of-pocket expenses to be reimbursed in accordance with the BPA’s expenses policy.

If you are interested in volunteering to help the BPA, please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you: helpline@porphyria.org.uk.