Job Description

Full job description: Open Country Treasurer (Voluntary)

1. Role Summary

- Monitor the financial performance of the charity. Report to the Trustee Board and Chief Officer at Board and Finance Sub-Committee meetings on income and expenditure compared with budget, cash flow, balance sheet position and reserves position.

- Liaise with external independent examiners on financial accounts and any other issues. Guide and advise fellow trustees to formally approve the annual report and accounts.

- Ensure that annual accounts and annual returns are timely submitted by the Chief Officer to all relevant regulators.

- Ensuring that the organisation's finances are responsibly managed / invested.

- Oversee the financial affairs of the organisation and ensure they are legal, constitutional and within accepted accounting practice.

- Ensure proper accounting records are maintained and that effective financial procedures are in place.

2. Specific responsibilities

- Liaise with the Finance Officer and the external book-keepers, ensuring posting and book-keeping is accurate and up-to-date.

- In conjunction with the external book-keepers, review and / or prepare monthly management accounts. Review and investigate significant variances from budget. Provide monthly management accounts with a report on significant figures to the Finance Sub-Committee. Provide management accounts with a summary report, written or verbal, to trustees in advance of, or at, formal trustees' meetings.

- Review and update the organisation's 'Finance Policy and Procedures' annually.

- Act as one countersignatory on bank payments and applications to funders.

- Liaise with the Chief Officer on the production of an annual budget, present a draft to the Finance Committee for discussion. Propose its adoption to the Trustees no later than the last meeting of the previous financial year.

- Ensure all strategic plans are financially appraised and budgets are aligned to both short-term and long-term objectives each year.

- Assist the Chief Officer as necessary to ensure compliance with filing and regulatory requirements of Companies House and Charity Commission.

About Open Country

Open Country is a ground-breaking, Yorkshire-based charity (1107331) that seeks to enable people with any disability to access and enjoy the countryside. We offer a diverse programme of countryside activities and the provision of information and advice via hubs in Harrogate (Head Office), Wakefield and Teesside

About the Role

Working alongside the Chair of Trustees, Chief Officer and Finance Officer, the voluntary Treasurer is responsible for the Charity's financial and other regulatory reporting requirements.

About You - Who are we looking for?

A dynamic group of Board members is key to the success of our work. We are keen to be diverse in age, experience, skills, gender, ethnicity and outlook.

Financial literacy is essential for the role of Treasurer and an Accountancy qualification, with at least three years' experience would be highly desirable.

A criminal record check (DBS) will be necessary.

Time Commitment

Start date: By Autumn 2025 Term duration: One trustee term lasts for three years and Board members can apply for re-election for subsequent terms. Meetings: At a minimum, the whole Board meets around six times per year with additional Finance Sub-Committee meeetings in between.

Next steps

Please submit your CV and letter of interest in English. In your letter of interest, please include why you are interested in Open Country and what talents you can bring.

THIS ROLE IS VOLUNTARY.

Contact us to apply

For an informal initial conversation, please email David Shaftoe, Chief Officer, chiefofficer@opencountry.org.uk

Job Types: Part-time, Volunteer

Expected hours: 3 - 5 per week

Benefits:

Flexitime
Schedule:

Monday to Friday No weekends
Experience:

Financial acumen: 3 years (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Harrogate HG1 5LT

Application deadline: 11/09/2025
Reference ID: OCT25