Trustee - Honorary Treasurer - Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

Scotlink; Worcester; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Part time

Job summary

An environmental charity is seeking an Honorary Treasurer to join its Council of Trustees. The role involves overseeing the charity's financial management, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, and advising on financial implications of strategic plans. We're looking for a finance professional with relevant qualifications to enhance our financial practices. This voluntary position requires a commitment of approximately one day per month and offers a chance to make a meaningful impact in the community’s conservation efforts.

Qualifications

• Experience in charity finance is advantageous.
• Ability to analyse financial implications and balance risk and opportunity.
• Willingness to learn and apply business finance knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Oversee budgets, financial statements, and accounting records.
• Ensure compliance with governing documents and charity law.
• Advise on financial implications and risk management.

Skills

Finance professional

Strong communication

Strategic thinking

Team working skills

Education

Relevant finance qualifications

Job description

Overview

Worcestershire Wildlife Trust is seeking a new Honorary Treasurer to join our Council of Trustees.

Location: Lower Smite Farm, Smite Hill, Hindlip, Worcester & Droitwich, Worcestershire, WR3 8SZ

Commitment: Monday, Wednesday

Frequency: Monthly

Treasurer duties

• Overseeing the presentation of budgets, internal management accounts and annual financial statements to council
• Ensuring that proper accounting records are kept and that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place
• Ensuring that robust and comprehensive financial policies are in place and being implemented, and supporting the development of policies covering financial reserves and cost management
• Monitoring and advising on the financial viability of the charity
• Overseeing financial controls and adherence to systems, regularly liaising with the chief executive officer and the head of finance and operations
• Advising on the financial implications of the charity’s strategic plan, including overseeing the charity’s financial risk-management process
• Ensuring investments and assets are maximised
• Leading on the appointment of, and liaison with, external auditors working alongside the head of finance and operations
• Ensuring that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by relevant statutory bodies namely the Charity Commission and Companies House.
• Keeping the council informed about its financial duties and responsibilities and liaising with the chief executive officer and head of finance and operations to develop the financial understanding of the trustees

General duties of all trustees

• Ensure that the Trust complies with its governing documents, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
• Contribute to the development of the Trust’s strategic plan and review as appropriate
• Act always in the Trust’s best interests, working with fellow trustees to make balanced and adequately informed decisions, considering the long term as well as the short term
• Avoid putting oneself in a position where one’s duty to the Trust conflicts with personal interests or loyalty to any other person or body
• Ensure the financial stability of the organisation, taking special care when investing or borrowing and never over-committing the Trust
• Ensure the Trust’s assets are only used to support or fulfil its charitable purposes and in accordance with its strategic aims and policies
• Avoid exposing the Trust’s assets, beneficiaries or reputation to undue risk
• Use reasonable care and skill, making use of knowledge and experience and taking appropriate advice when necessary
• Devote enough time, thought and energy to the role, for example by preparing for, attending and actively participating in all trustee meetings
• Comply with statutory accounting and reporting requirements and ensure appropriate accountability to members

Additional duties

• Scrutinising papers before council meetings
• Leading or participating actively in discussions
• Maintaining a focus on key issues
• Participating in other meetings or working groups as required

Person specification

We are seeking a treasurer who has the following skills, abilities and personal attributes:

• A finance professional with relevant qualifications and/or appropriate experience
• A knowledge of charity finance is an advantage but not essential. In the absence of third sector knowledge, an enthusiasm to learn and to apply understanding of business finance and previous commercial experience.
• An understanding of wider financial markets is desirable but not essential
• A strategic thinker with an ability to analyse the financial implications of proposals and balance risk and opportunity
• A clear communicator able to bring the financial information alive to non-finance specialists
• Willing to play an active role in areas such as forecasting, setting budgets, liaising with auditors

WWT trustee requirements

In addition to the above, the Treasurer will also need to demonstrate the qualities required of all Worcestershire Wildlife Trust trustees:

• Willingness to understand and accept the statutory and legislative responsibilities of being a trustee
• Identification with the purpose, aims and values of the Trust and a readiness to take responsibility for the Trust’s long-term outcomes
• Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to fulfilling the trustee role
• Commitment to respecting the Trust’s governance processes and providing effective, respectful challenge if there appears to be a breach
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with colleagues and key stakeholders to achieve the Trust’s objectives
• Ability to exercise good judgement, critical analysis and strategic vision
• Demonstration of strong team-working skills
• Dedication to impartiality and fairness in all dealings and ability to respect confidentiality
• Commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and upholding safeguarding responsibilities
• Willingness to bring a diverse range of perspectives to the table and to listen to those views
• Willingness to be available to WWT staff for advice and support as required

Terms of appointment

Terms of office

• Trustees are appointed for a three-year term of office, renewal for three further terms to a maximum of twelve years
• This is a voluntary position

Time Commitment

Estimated at 1 day per month

• Attending eight Council of Trustee meetings annually. Currently meetings are held on Mondays from 6.30 to 8.30pm in person at Lower Smite Farm near Worcester with the option to join meetings online when needed.
• Attending four meetings of the Trust’s trading company, WNCT Enterprises Ltd and the Trust’s Investment Committee. This is a combined meeting held at Lower Smite Farm near Worcester from 6.30 to 8.30pm on Wednesdays.
• Quarterly scheduled meeting with the head of finance and operations with the flexibility to respond swiftly to the occasional ad hoc issue
• Periodic meetings with Trust auditors (pre and post audit meetings)
• Attending the Trust’s Annual General Meeting in October
• Attending occasional training sessions, mostly on Monday evenings from 6.30 to 8.30pm
• Attending occasional visits to Trust nature reserves or sites we are considering purchasing
• Attending two whole Trust days where staff and trustees come together to look at current work and discuss future plans alongside a visit to a Trust project or nature reserve

Our strategy 2023 - 2030

Our vision A wilder Worcestershire – more nature everywhere, for everyone.

Our mission To lead nature’s recovery through community action.

Our three strategic goals

• Nature in recovery – 30% of land in recovery for nature by 2030
• Action for nature - one in four people taking action for nature by 2030
• Sustaining our future – more diversity, more funding, carbon zero by 2030

Closing date: Monday 19th January 2026

Interviews: w/c 9th February 2026

Apply here