Can you help? Situation Vacant for super charity

FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN TRUST
Charity No 1093131

Trustee – Honorary Treasurer

Families for Children are a vibrant adoption charity based in the South west who finding loving and secure homes for children who have suffered particular hardship, disability and deprivation. These children have been in local authority care nationwide and we place them with families in Devon, Dorset and Cornwall. Our key expertise is to find families for children from birth to 10 including single children, sibling groups, and children with extra needs and those with a mixed heritage. We t hen provide our ‘forever policy’ of support to them and their new family for as long as they need us.

The adoption agency brings positive outcomes to some of the most vulnerable young people in society. The treasurer will be fully involved in managing a range of financial and other risks

The Role

The treasurer will maintain a financial overview of the organisation, ensure its financial viability, monitor the financial records and procedures and ensure that adequate risk management takes place to accord with Charity Commission requirements.

The charity is part way through a five year strategic plan which includes expansion of activities with the aim of placing at least 40 children pa.  This expansion carries financial risks in that working capital and/or fees earned plus funds raised may fall short of requirements.

The treasurer will be required to monitor carefully the ongoing progress of this plan and report to the Finance sub-committee and the board of trustees.

There are 10 trustees who have a broad range of experience in social work, industry, financial services and a family law QC.

We are looking for someone with a financial risk management background who can work closely with the charity’s Business Manager in monitoring production of monthly management figures and preparation of statutory accounts together with presentation to fellow trustee members in a user friendly manner. Accountancy qualifications are not necessary. HR experience would be an advantage but not necessary.

You will play a key part in ensuring the financial survival of the charity against a background of an operation which encounters the full spectrum of risk both financial and operational. We can only survive by raising £300k pa to fund the essential post adoption work.

This is a great opportunity to help to improve the lives of children who have had the very worst thrown at them at the start of their lives. Despite all that we can tell of great success stories. Michael Caines MBE, the renowned chef, himself placed for adoption by Families for Children, is one of our patrons and he speaks eloquently of the positive effect on his life.

Our base is at Buckfastleigh Devon in the very congenial surroundings of Buckfast Abbey.

Commitment

We would expect your time commitment to be 4 formal Trustee meetings per annum plus an equal number of finance sub-committee meetings. Additional monthly meetings with the Business manager maybe required subject to agreement.

Other involvement is optional but could involve sitting on recruitment or possibly adoption panels.

For further details or an informal discussions please contact Caroline Davis, CEO on
01364 645480 or email cdavis@familesforchildren.org.uk