Finance Trustee
Role Description

Cooking Up is looking to appoint a new hands-on Finance Trustee to join its Board of Trustees.

Cooking Up’s Board of Trustees shares ultimate responsibility for governing the charity and directing how it is managed and run. As a member of the Board of Trustees, you will help set the strategic aims, objectives and direction of the charity, ensure that the charity complies with charity law requirements and ensure the charity’s resources are responsibly managed.

In addition to fulfilling the duties of a Trustee, the Finance Trustee maintains an overview of Cooking Up’s financial affairs. The Finance Trustee ensures that effective and appropriate financial measures, controls and procedures are put in place and reports to the Board at regular intervals about the financial health of the organisation.

Responsibilities

  • Taking a lead in all aspects of the financial management of Cooking Up and providing financial advice as appropriate to the Board of Trustees on the financial implications of Cooking Up’s strategies and plans.

  • Overseeing the presentation of budgets, internal management accounts and annual financial statements to the Board of Trustees

  • Ensuring that proper accounting records are kept, and that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place

  • Ensuring that robust and comprehensive financial policies are in place and being implemented, and supporting the development of policies covering financial reserves, and cost management

  • Monitoring and advising on the financial viability of the charity

  • Overseeing financial controls and adherence to systems, regularly liaising with the Board 

  • Advising on the financial implications of the charity’s strategic plan, including overseeing the charity’s financial risk-management process 

  • Lead on the appointment of and liaison with external auditors

  • Ensuring that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by the Charity Commission

  • Keeping the board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities 

In addition to the above, the Finance Trustee will also have the responsibilities and qualities of all trustees:

Responsibilities of all trustees

  • Support and provide advice on Cooking Up’s purpose, vision, goals and activities

  • Approve operational strategies and policies and monitor and evaluate their implementation

  • Oversee Cooking Up’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 Cooking Up’s financial statements

  • Keep abreast of changes in Cooking Up]’s operating environment

  • Contribute to regular reviews of Cooking Up’s own governance

  • Attend Board meetings, adequately prepared to contribute to discussions

  • Use independent judgement, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect Cooking Up’s interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third-party interests.

  • Contribute to the broader promotion of Cooking Up’s objectives, aims and reputation by applying your skills, expertise, knowledge and contacts.

Requirements

Essential

  • A finance professional

  • Willing to play an active role in areas such as forecasting, setting budgets (both internally and for fundraising bids), liaising with auditors

  • Clear communicator with the ability to bring financial information alive to non-finance specialists

  • A strategic thinker with the ability to balance risk and opportunity

  • A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

  • Enthusiasm for our vision and mission.

Desirable

  • Previous governance experience with a charity

  • A knowledge of charity finance is an advantage. Otherwise, an enthusiasm to learn, drawing from sound commercial experience and an understanding of SMEs

  • Experience in charity law and governance

  • Experience in HR and payroll

As a small charity, there will be times when the trustees will need to be actively involved beyond monthly Board meetings. This may involve scrutinising board 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.

Term of Appointment

The period for which Trustees are appointed is three years, with an option to serve two further terms by agreement of the Board of Trustees.

Time Commitment

In addition to monthly 1-hour in-person (Teddington) or Zoom meetings, as this is a hands-on role, there will be some additional time required for oversight of on-going financial transactions.

Trustees also attend four Board meetings annually.

To be considered for the role

To be considered for the role, please email your CV and a supporting statement outlining your suitability for the role to info@cookingup.org