FBA Honorary Treasurer

About the Freshwater Biological Association

We are seeking to recruit a new Honorary Treasurer and Trustee to join the Board, since our existing Treasurer is stepping down after seven years’ service.

The Freshwater Biological Association is a long established charity, whose objects are to promote the understanding and the investigation of the biology of the animals and plants and other organisms found in fresh waters. The FBA is proud to be a leading local organisation and well renown in its field and its offices are located on the banks of Lake Windermere in Cumbria.

Role summary

The role of Honorary Treasurer and Trustee encompasses the opportunity to contribute your experience and insight into the governance of the charity at Board level and to support the Executive Director and Business Manager in overseeing all financial aspects of the organisation including evaluating the financial position and associated risks.

You will provide input into strategy discussions at Board level and chair or be a member of appropriate Board committees and internal working groups.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for an Honorary Treasurer who has experience in governance and finance and is able to maintain oversight of the charity’s finances at a strategic level.

The individual should have good communication and organisational skills, and be able to deliver financial information to colleagues without a financial background.

Knowledge of charity financial regulations would be desirable but not essential.

Whilst much of the role can be undertaken via electronic communication, it will entail visiting the location in Windermere on occasions.

Time commitment

The Board meets twice a year generally in March and October with the former meeting held electrically. The meeting in October is preferably one where attendance in person at the offices is required, since is also coincides with the Annual General Meeting.

Naturally the time commitment is one down to the individual, however the following is provided as a guide.

Involvement in quarterly management accounts review necessitates approximately one day per quarter, including the preparation of a short report for distribution to the Board members.

Annual budget preparation in the first calendar period of January to March requires probably up to 3 to 4 days in total. The year end statutory accounts preparation etc amounts to approximately 4 to 5 days in total during the period July through to September.

The role of the Finance Working Group, of which the Honorary Treasurer has been the chairman, includes the monitoring of any proposed projects with funders and grant applications, the time commitment hence can be variable. These however are comprised of reviewing documentation for reasonableness and financial due diligence and therefore relatively straightforward.

How to apply

Please send a CV or similar profile and a supporting statement explaining why you are interested in the role and how your skills and experience would add benefit to the Board. You will then be invited to have an informal discussion with either the existing Treasurer or/and the Executive Director.

A comprehensive role description is available and the charity is extremely happy to speak to anyone who might be interested in the role and has any questions. 

Location, closing date and date of appointment

Whilst the present Honorary Treasurer lives in the Midlands and with the facility of holding meetings electronically, ideally someone based closer to the Lakes would be an advantage.

Whilst the current Honorary Treasurer is due to retire at the forthcoming AGM in October 2023, it would be desirable to have the new Treasurer in situ before then. This would enable for a smooth handover to take place. Therefore in terms of closing date, it would be idea to have indications of interest received by the end of May.