The Hansard Society is looking for a new Treasurer to join our Board of Trustees. After two successful terms, our current Treasurer is stepping down. We are now looking for someone who can build on her legacy and help guide the Society over the coming years.

This is more than a financial oversight role. We are looking for a strategic thinker with a strong interest in the work the Hansard Society does to champion parliamentary democracy.

You will bring your expertise in financial leadership to strengthen our governance, safeguard our resources, and ensure we remain resilient and effective in delivering our mission.

If you believe Parliament matters, and want to see it work better for everyone, this is a chance to make a tangible difference.

The Board of Trustees

The Board currently comprises nine members: the Chair, the Treasurer and seven Trustees. You can find information about the current members of the Board on our website.

Charity Trustees are those responsible – under the charity’s governing document – for controlling its administration and management. The role of the Board of Trustees is to receive assets from donors, safeguard them and apply them to the charitable purposes of the Hansard Society.

Trustees must always act in the best interests of the Hansard Society, applying the same duty of care that a prudent person would use when managing the affairs of someone for whom they have responsibility. The Board of Trustees must act collectively as a group and not as individuals.

The Hansard Society is both a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. Accordingly, our Trustees are also registered as Directors at Companies House.

While all Trustees share certain core responsibilities, the Treasurer plays a distinct and vital role. (S)he maintains an overview of the Society’s activities to ensure they are sustainable and that resources are used effectively to achieve our aims. This includes managing the inherent tension between generating income to support the Society and delivering our core charitable objectives. This responsibility is especially important as we continue to recover from the effects of the pandemic on our business model and work to rebuild our income and our cash reserves.

The Treasurer of the Board of Trustees ensures that we uphold best practice in financial governance and reporting.

As a Trustee you will ensure that the Society:

• complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations;

• pursues its objectives as defined in its governing document;

• applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objectives;

• adopts a sustainable financial model; and

• safeguards its reputation and values.

As our Treasurer you will:

• keep the Board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities;

• recommend budgets and the Annual Report and Accounts to the Board;

• ensure the Annual Report and Accounts are prepared in accordance with financial best practice and meet the requirements of the regulators and the relevant statutory bodies;

• make a formal presentation of the annual Accounts at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), conveying the key points in a coherent and accessible way for members without a financial background;

• present the management accounts at Board meetings, after liaising with the Director and accountants;

• be assured that the financial resources of the organisation meet its present and future needs, as well as ensuring that the charity has an appropriate reserves policy;

• ensure that appropriate financial procedures and internal controls are in place;

• approve expenditure in accordance with the bank mandate and the Society’s financial procedures;

• work closely with the Director, providing a sounding board and expert advice and challenge to ensure the Society operates as effectively as possible;

• liaise with the Society’s accountants and independent examiner/auditor as necessary;

• periodically oversee the tendering process and/or (re-)appointment of the accountants, independent examiner/auditor;  

• sit on Board sub-committees and staff recruitment panels as required.

You will be the right person for this role if you have:

• a commitment to the mission of the Hansard Society and its non-partisan values and ethos;

• a recognised financial qualification or substantial relevant financial experience;

• an understanding of charity finance or a strong appreciation of how commercial financial skills, mindset and understanding can translate to charities;

• an understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship;

• the ability to explain complex financial information in an accessible way for Trustees and members of the Society;

• good communication and interpersonal skills to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and act as an ambassador for the Society;

• the highest standards of integrity, probity, ethics and conduct;

• good political, social and economic awareness of the Society’s operating environment;

• objective, independent judgement and strategic vision;

• an ability to think creatively;

• an understanding of the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion and how to apply them in an organisational setting; and

• an ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to take decisions in the best interests of the Hansard Society.

Next steps

For full details about the role, the Hansard Society and the application process, please read the information pack which can be downloaded on our website.