Treasurer for Small UK Muscular Dystrophy Family Charity

Posted on September 30th, 2024

The charity is looking for a Treasurer who has financial management experience but is also passionate about our cause and keen to help contribute towards and drive MHF’s future strategic direction.

Now in its 21st Anniversary Year, MHF is moving ever closer towards realising its original 657 mission. As MHF’s Treasurer, you will also be a Trustee, fulfilling the fiduciary duties but also leading on the key responsibilities in maintaining an overview of the charity’s financial affairs, ensuring its continued financial viability and that proper financial records and procedures are duly kept and reported on in a timely way. This role description outlines the role of a Treasurer and then the role of Trustee.

Requirements + Key Criteria

Our key criteria are that you have a fundamental belief in the cause, plus a commitment and alignment to the charity’s values. Enthusiasm, an understanding and passion for our work, great communication skills and a real desire to make a difference to the lives of our beneficiaries are also key. You may have experience of living with muscular dystrophy, other disabilities or life limiting conditions, but this is not essential.

Treasurer – Main Responsibilities

Oversee, approve & present budgets, accounts & financial statements.
Assure that MHF meets its present & future financial resource needs.
Ensure MHF has appropriate financial policies incl Reserves.

MHF’s Treasurer will prepare & present financial reports, any headlines, overviews and commentary at Trustee Board meetings. In addition, the Treasurer will:

Ensure appropriate accounting procedures & controls are in place.
Liaise with any paid staff (MHF has 1FTE) about remuneration & expenses.
Advise on the financial implications of MHF’s strategic plans.
Ensure that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by funders and the relevant statutory bodies, e.g. The Charity Commission
If external scrutiny of accounts is required, ensure accounts are scrutinized in the manner required (independent examination or audit) and any recommendations are implemented.

MHF’s Treasurer will keep all members of the charity’s Trustee Board informed about its financial duties in a timely manner. You will also be required to:

Contribute to the fundraising strategy of the charity.
Using plain English, make any informal and/or formal presentations of the accounts when required, drawing attention to key points in a coherent and easily understandable way.

Treasurer – Accountability

As the Treasurer is also a Trustee, the board of Trustees are by default accountable to stakeholders including beneficiaries, funders, the Charity Commission and other regulatory bodies.

Working Relationships – With Whom?

MHF’s Treasurer will work with and support the charity’s appointed chartered accountancy firm, book-keeping partner, the Chair, the Charity Secretary, other MHF Trustees and the CEO.

Time Commitment

Time commitment required will be, on average, somewhere between 2-4 hours per week. Some weeks, there may for example be very little to do and this may depend on operational activity and the number of transactions etc. There are of course a several variables ie. peaks and troughs, not least preparing the annual accounts for submission online to the Charity Commission toward the end of each year.
MHF’s Trustee Board currently aim to meet virtually for 2hrs every two months, ensuring that at least six meetings take place across the charity’s financial year that runs 1st March to end of February.
Trustees are encouraged to attend and participate as an MHF Volunteer Host in at least one Muscle Dream programme per year to witness up close the charity’s work and impact.
On appointment and outside of the yearly meetings, Trustees are required to attend the Essential Trustee Training programme, in addition to occasional sessions for example on safeguarding, as well as MHF’s Annual Away-Day that will see everyone come together to not only discuss strategy but also connect socially.

Treasurer – Person Specification

Passion, enthusiasm and time to dedicate to the role of Treasurer (Trustee).
A strong commitment to disability equality and how this impacts on the quality of life and life choices for disabled people and their families.
Understanding of the context in which MHF works and a commitment to its values adds to public confidence and trust in the organisation.
Understanding & acceptance of MHF’s governance, responsibilities & liabilities.
Willingness to actively engage with contacts to further the organisation’s goals and to make new links for the charity.

Previous experience of working collaboratively as part of a team, using sound independent judgement and collective decision making, with an understanding of commercial and non-commercial issues.

The intellectual capacity to grasp issues outside personal experience and the ability to contribute to high level strategy development.
A good communicator with excellent communication, listening and interpersonal skills, able to both empower and challenge supportively.
Commitment to equality and diversity in working relationships with other Trustees, staff, beneficiaries, and other stakeholders.
The ability to think creatively and strategically.

Professional or relevant finance and business-related experience and knowledge and/or the ability to demonstrate the necessary financial skills needed to support the charity’s professional interests.

Skills to analyse proposals, examine & comment on financial consequences.
Knowledge of bookkeeping and financial management.
Good financial analysis skills, ability to think about the future & present.
Focus on limiting manual input, tracing transactions, financial decision-making and statutory reporting – being methodical, organised and consistent.

Updating the Xero Accounting system & drawing down financial information.

Process monthly payroll postings: with 1 FTE, this task does not take long.
Running standard reports on a consistent basis
Helping with budgeting, project information and restricted balances
Presenting simple reports to the board re performance vs budget.
Assessing MHF’s reserves position.
Forecast setting with the CEO and helping provide sometimes brief but essential financial information to support MHF’s grant/trust applications.

Trustees provide strategic leadership in line with MHF’s objectives. Trustees use their knowledge, skills and experience to help MHF achieve its charitable aims, representing the interests of all stakeholders and acting as ambassadors for the charity.

Trustee – Main Responsibilities

Ensure MHF and its representatives, function within all legal and regulatory requirements applicable, and in line with the organisation’s governing document, continually striving for best practice in governance.
Maintain the fiduciary duties invested in the position, undertaking such duties in a way that adds to public confidence and trust in the charity.
Take appropriate professional advice in all matters where there may be a material risk to MHF, or where the trustees may be in breach of their duties.

With the CEO, determine the overall direction and development of the charity through good governance and clear strategic planning, ensuring MHF has a clear mission, vision and strategic direction and is focused on achieving this.

Act with integrity, to avoid any personal conflict of interest, and to act in the best interest of the charity and its past, current, and future beneficiaries.
Manage and use the resources of the charity to optimise its potential.
Ensure that robust systems are in place for internal financial control and the protection of the charity’s funds and assets.

Undergo a thorough induction upon appointment and ongoing training to remain alert to, and aware of, their duties and responsibilities, and of the environment in which they operate.

Achieve the purpose of MHF & to pursue its objects and provide public benefit.
Safeguard the reputation and values of the charity.
Support the CEO, delegate to him/her the management of the charity and to ensure annual salary review and succession planning is in place.
Comply with the Trustee Code of Conduct and policies at all times.

Open + Inclusive

MHF’s recruitment process is open and inclusive, meaning that all applicants will know from the outset what to expect as the process unfolds.

Listening to You + Hearing You

The charity recognises that recruitment is really only just the beginning of the journey. We will work closely with successful new applicants as part of the charity’s induction process. We recognise how vital listening, hearing, and doing better is. Improvement is an ongoing commitment and one that our Interim Chair Matthew Adams is focused on.

Strategic Leadership + Oversight

MHF Trustees provide strategic leadership and oversight in line with MHF’s objectives. Trustees will use their knowledge, skills, passion and experience to ensure that the charity achieves its objectives. As a Trustee, you will represent the interests of all stakeholders, providing support to our CEO as well as being an ambassador in helping to promote the charity’s work and impact wherever possible.

Telling MHF’s Compelling Story

This is a key role that will help ensure that the charity can continue its support for its vulnerable community, namely children and young people (8-28yrs) with muscular dystrophy in the UK. The purity of MHF’s impact can be seen in these deep dive beneficiary stories that illustrate the transformative power of a Muscle Dream intervention. They also show the powerful relational and social connection that exists with the charity. As ambassadors, and supported by the CEO, trustees are given the tools to help champion the charity’s story.

Mission Focused

As an MHF Trustee, this is a great opportunity to bring your unique skill set to help the strategic progression of the charity in reaching its overarching goal to deliver 657 Muscle Dream interventions, that’s one cherished moment-in-time that changes lives and gives hope, that’s one experience for every muscle in the human body. By the end of the 2024/25 period, it is expected that the charity will have delivered >573 Muscle Dreams, leaving a further 84 or to go.

Power of Volunteering = Making a Difference

Opportunity to make a difference by helping to improve the lives of vulnerable children, young people, young adults and their families
Be part of an incredible team all rowing in the same direction
Contribute to the governance of a small, multi award-winning national charity
Have your voice heard and listened to
An opportunity to work closely with one of Britain’s most influential people with a disability (aka our CEO & Chief Muscle Warrior)
Attend events, meet beneficiaries & families and by default, witness the impact of the charity’s work
Plus have strategic responsibility for a skill area such as: safeguarding, HR & governance, fundraising (income generation), corporate partnerships or digital
Network with other like-minded individuals with common values
Receive induction, support and training
And so much more…

Diversity, Equality, Inclusion (DEI)

We believe our greatest strength as a board and as a charity is in our community’s diversity. We are interested in hearing from applicants with diverse skills and experiences that reflect the diversity of our beneficiaries. We value difference and welcome applications from first time Trustees.

Get in Touch… Let’s Have a Conversation

In the first instance, if you would like to reach out, say hello and have an informal chat about being a trustee, please contact the charity’s founder and CEO by emailing michael@musclehelp.com – alternatively, feel free to get in touch so a mutually agreeable time can be arranged with our Interim Chair or one of our trustees to discuss your interest.

If you would like to progress your interest forwards, we’ll send you the full application pack and a link – please be sure you let us know how we may be able to support you through the application and recruitment process. We look forward to hearing from you.

Safer Recruitment Statement

The Muscle Help Foundation charity is committed to safeguarding and ensuring the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. The charity expects all Trustees, employees and volunteers to share this commitment. The suitability of all prospective Trustees, employees or volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process accordingly.