Volunteer Trustee with financial expertise

Degrees Initiative Private Limited; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic NGO based in the UK seeks a Volunteer Trustee with significant financial expertise. The role involves offering governance and strategic leadership to guide the charity's financial health and operations. Responsibilities include overseeing financial strategies, advising senior management, and ensuring compliance with governance standards. This is a pro bono position requiring a commitment of several hours monthly, with one annual in-person meeting. The ideal candidate is a qualified accounting professional dedicated to the mission of promoting research in climate change and global development.

Benefits

Expenses covered for annual in-person meetings

Qualifications

• At least 10 years post qualification experience in finance or accounting in the UK.
• Demonstrated knowledge of charity fundraising practices.
• Familiarity with non-profit structures and charity SORP.

Responsibilities

• Maintain oversight of financial affairs and budgets.
• Advising on financial health and governance.
• Approve and monitor financial statements.

Skills

Financial analysis

Communication of financial information

Charity governance knowledge

Risk assessment and management

Education

Accounting qualification ACA/ACCA/CIMA/CIPFA or equivalent

Job description

Job Opportunity: Volunteer Trustee with financial expertise

Time commitment: On average three to four hours per month but this will vary, with quarterly board meetings and quarterly board catchups and occasional advice and support provided to the senior management executive team. This role is expected to last three years.

Salary: None, pro bono volunteer role (with expenses paid for annual in-person meetings).

Location: Remote, with one in person meeting a year (expenses paid).

Background: Finance, with an accounting qualification.

Start date: As soon as possible.

The Degrees Initiative seeks a volunteer trustee with financial expertise to complement an existing five-person board that leads a dynamic charity working on climate change and global development.

About the Degrees Initiative

The Degrees Initiative is a UK-based NGO that builds the capacity of the Global South to evaluate solar radiation modification (SRM), a controversial proposal for reducing some impacts of climate change by reflecting sunlight away from the Earth. Degrees is neutral on whether SRM should ever be used, but we believe that the Global South should be empowered to conduct their own research and to play a central role in SRM discussions. The initiative has been working in different forms for over a decade, and our work receives worldwide coverage and widespread acclaim.

The charity was founded in 2021, now has around 20 staff members and is growing. We seek a volunteer trustee with significant financial experience including an accounting qualification to join an existing five-person board to help guide a growing initiative that is changing the field of SRM.

This position offers a fantastic opportunity for the right candidate to apply their financial expertise in a high‑profile governance role, shaping strategy and supporting a mission that empowers Global South researchers to lead in one of the world’s most important climate debates.

Role

The volunteer trustee will complement and further strengthen an existing five-person volunteer trustee board including the Chair & Treasurer. The role will entail strategic leadership, governance, and fiduciary responsibilities. Alongside the Treasurer they will predominantly be advising the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and the rest of the senior management team (the Chief Executive Officer and Chief of Staff) to ensure the robust financial health of the charity. This will include:

• Maintaining an overview of the charity’s financial affairs by overseeing the annual financial planning and budgets proposed by the senior management team
• Monitoring and evaluating financial progress against budgets and forecasts from staff reporting at quarterly board meetings, acting a voice of financial expertise during board discussions
• Approving the audited annual accounts and financial statements presented by the senior management team alongside the rest of the board
• Strategic input by reviewing risk assessments alongside financial implications and advising on the organisation of financial resources and reserves to support the long‑term goals of the charity
• Confirming transparency and accountability in financial operations, and that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place in addition to compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
• Advising on how the charity can most effectively conduct its international work, especially providing grants to organisations in the Global South
• Confirming that the charity has an appropriate investment policy, and that there is no conflict between any investment held and the aims and objects of the charity
• Sitting on any board sub‑committees as required

Qualifications

• Finance or accounting professional, with at least 10 years post qualification experience in the UK.
• Accounting qualification, ACA/ACCA/CIMA/CIPFA or equivalent.
• Familiarity with charity governance and non‑profit structures, including knowledge of charity SORP and impending changes.
• Understanding of financial management and reporting and experience providing financial planning advice to growing organisations and/or charities.
• Ability to analyse, communicate and explain financial information to members of the Board and other stakeholders clearly.
• A willingness to be available to staff for advice and enquiries on an ad hoc basis.
• Dedicated to the charity’s mission and objectives.
• No existing or potential conflicts of interest and eligible to be a Trustee and a Director of a UK charitable company not having been disqualified from acting as Trustee or Director.
• Finance or accounting professional at Partner or equivalent level.
• Previous volunteer trustee experience for a UK charity.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of charity fundraising practices.
• Experience working on international financial issues in the charity sector – both receiving grants and disbursing funds in lower‑income countries.
• Skills and experience in more areas of non‑executive governance and management e.g. strategic planning, business management, understanding of HR issues, experience of Trusts or other grant‑giving bodies.

Time commitment and location

• The Board is expected to meet at least four times a year for a three-hour meeting, with three of those virtual and one of those in person, with expenses paid for by the charity. The last in person board meeting was in Cape Town, South Africa at the 2025 Degrees Global Forum conference, and the previous 2024 in person board meeting was in London, UK.
• There are also separate quarterly board catch‑up meetings that last one hour.
• Alongside this Treasurer this role will provide financial expertise and support to the staff on an ad hoc basis, and once monthly correspondence with the Chief Operating Officer is likely.

To apply

Please answer the questions below and attach a copy of your CV. We welcome applications from members of communities who are historically under‑represented in the climate, science and development sectors.

You will receive a reply confirming receipt of the application.

The deadline for applications is 5 February 2026 (23:59 GMT). Successful applicants will be invited to an initial interview. Those progressing further will be invited to a second interview.

The Degrees Initiative collects and processes personal data as part of the recruitment process. This information is used solely to assess your suitability for the role and to take necessary steps prior to entering into an employment contract.

We rely on the lawful basis of Article 6(1)(b) of the UK GDPR (processing necessary for the performance of a contract or to take steps prior to a contract). If your application is successful, your data will also be used to administer your employment.

Your personal data will be handled confidentially and stored securely. We may retain recruitment data for record‑keeping, future recruitment opportunities, or legal compliance purposes.

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