Treasurer - Trustee

Treasurer and Trustee (Voluntary Role)

Make a difference for local families. Bring your financial skills to a charity that changes lives.

Home-Start Guildford supports families with young children through challenging times, offering practical and emotional support at home. We’re now looking for a Treasurer to join our Board of Trustees and help guide our financial sustainability and growth.

Role Summary

As well as fulfilling the duties of a Trustee, the Treasurer maintains an overview of Home-Start Guildford’s financial affairs. The Treasurer ensures that effective and appropriate financial measures, controls and procedures are put in place, and reports to the Management Committee at regular intervals about the financial health of the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Oversight

• Maintain an overview of the charity’s financial position, ensuring its long‑term sustainability.
• Monitor cashflow, reserves, and financial risks, alerting the Board to any emerging issues.
• Advise on the financial implications of the charity’s strategic plan, including overseeing the charity’s financial risk-management process.
• Ensure appropriate financial controls, policies, and procedures are in place and followed.

Financial Reporting and Planning

• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting to the Board of Trustees and regulators.
• Prepare and present cashflow forecasts, budgets, and annual financial statements to the Trustees.
• Present clear, accessible financial information to the Board to support strategic decision‑making.
• Keep the Board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities and liaising with the Director of Services to develop the financial understanding of the Board of Trustees.
• Lead on the appointment of, and liaison with, the independent examiner.

Governance and Compliance

• Ensure that proper accounting records are kept, and that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place.
• Ensure that the Financial Control Policy is followed, and where necessary is amended to reflect best practice, and what is practicable for the management of the charity.
• Ensure the charity complies with financial and reporting obligations set by the Charity Commission, HMRC, and other relevant bodies.
• Ensuring that the accounts are prepared and filed in the form required by the Charity Commission.
• Support the Board of Trustees in understanding its financial responsibilities and provide guidance where needed.

Operational Support

• Act as Primary User for the bank accounts held with HSBC, and to ensure that the appropriate staff members have access as needed to manage the day to day running of the charity.
• Oversee financial administration, including bookkeeping, payments, and banking.
• Approving expenditure over certain limits, as set out in the Financial Control Policy.
• Support staff with financial processes, offering training or guidance where helpful.
• Prepare financial information, as required, to assist with funding applications and reports.

Responsibilities of all Trustees

• Support and provide advice on Home-Start Guildford’s purpose, vision, goals and activities.
• Approve operational strategies and policies and monitor and evaluate their implementation.
• Oversee Home-Start Guildford’s financial plans and budgets and monitor and evaluate progress.
• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
• Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored and controlled effectively.
• Review and approve Home-Start Guildford’s financial statements.
• Provide support and challenge to Home-Start Guildford’s Chair in the exercise of their delegated authority and affairs.
• Keep abreast of changes in Home -Start Guildford’s operating environment.
• Contribute to regular reviews of Home-Start Guildford’s own governance.
• Attend Management Committee meetings, adequately prepared to contribute to discussions.
• Use independent judgment, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect Home -Start Guildford’s interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third-party interests.
• Contribute to the broader promotion of Home -Start Guildford’s objectives, aims and reputation by applying your skills, expertise, knowledge and contacts.

As a small charity, there will be times when the Trustees will need to be actively involved beyond Management Committee meetings. This may involve scrutinising Management Committee papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, presenting externally, or other issues in which the Trustee has special expertise.

Your time commitment

The Management Committee meet approximately every 6 weeks; although online attendance is possible, face to face is preferred. The key report currently produced is a cashflow forecast for the following 12 months. This takes around 3-4 hours to complete.

Other responsibilities, including those outlined above, will depend on the level of involvement that the Treasurer has with the day-to-day running of the charity. It is anticipated that the Treasurer will need to commit a minimum of 8-10 hours a month to the role.

A little bit about you

• Passionate and dedicated individual with experience of fundraising in charity, public, and/or corporate sectors, with a successful track record of achieving and exceeding fundraising targets.
• Enthusiasm to work collaboratively as part of a small, ambitious team.
• Eager to take the initiative and get hands-on with a positive “can do” attitude to bring fundraising projects to fruition.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise.
• Friendly and approachable; honest and trustworthy.

What does becoming a trustee involve?

As part of the trustee role, you will be expected to:

• Attend, and prepare for, a minimum of six Management Committee meetings per year.
• Undergo a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.
• Undergo a selection process as outlined by Home-Start Guildford.
• Commit to the legal and financial responsibilities of the role, as outlined in the charity’s Constitution (‘Foundation’ model constitution).
• Visit and engage with the office and staff to enhance your understanding of how Home-Start Guildford works.

Training and Support?

Trustees are fully inducted into Home-Start at the start of their new role; they will receive:

• An online welcome event and e-learning, introducing Home-Start’s service and your responsibilities.
• Training in key areas including safeguarding.
• Reimbursement of paid expenses.
• Access to Home-Start’s online community via Home-Start UK intranet – full of information and guidance on running a local Home-Start.
• Tailored support by other trustees and staff.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role to ***email_hidden***. We look forward to hearing from candidates who share our vision and are eager to contribute to our mission.

Closing Date: 12pm Thursday 23 rd July 2026

Contact Information: For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Louisa Tompkins in the first instance at ***email_hidden*** or call 01483 511181. We are happy to answer any questions and provide further details about this exciting opportunity.

This is a voluntary position. All prospective volunteers must have the legal right to stay in the United Kingdom and you will be asked to produce evidence of this as part of the induction process.

Office: Home-Start Guildford, Astolat, Coniers Way, Guildford, GU4 7HL

Contact: 01483 511181 / ***email_hidden***

Home-Start is committed to equality of opportunity and diversity.

Home-Start Guildford is committed to safer recruitment practice as an important part of safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults.

Registered Charity No. 1154609