Job Description

Would you like to be involved in making the decisions regarding the direction of Samaritans? Could you be our Honorary Treasurer for the Charity?

Samaritans Vision is that fewer people die by suicide.  We work to achieve this vision by making it our mission to alleviate emotional distress and reduce the incidence of suicide feelings and suicidal behaviour. 

We are currently seeking an Honorary Treasurer to join our current Board of Trustees to oversee the financial matters of the charity as well as be part of a committed governing team ensuring the effective administration of the organisation. The purpose of the Honorary Treasurer role is to help ensure the financial sustainability of the Charity and report to the Board of Trustees at regular intervals about the financial health of the organisation, in line with good practice, and in accordance with the Charity’s governing documents and legal requirements. The Honorary Treasurer will work closely with the Director of Finance, Planning and Performance to ensure that Trustee Board have sound information to inform decisions and that the Charity’s finances are managed in an effective and efficient manner.

In particular, applicants must have financial qualifications, extensive strategic experience in financial matters, and experience of charity finance, fundraising and investments.

The main duties of a Trustee of Central Charity include:

• promoting and developing the Charity for it to increase its efficiency, effectiveness and relevance to society.
• making sure that the Charity and its representatives function properly within the legal and regulatory framework of the sector and in line with the organisation’s governing documents and accepted best practice.
• carrying out the duties of Trustees in a way that adds to public confidence and trust in the Charity.
• making sure that that policy development takes account of the views of the Council of Samaritans.

Our Trustees play a vital role in keeping Samaritans relevant to the needs of our callers, making the best use of our volunteers’ time and energy, and helping us meet our legal obligations. But what could being a Trustee offer you? The benefits of being a Trustee:

• Making a real difference to people struggling to cope – people rely on Samaritans every day of the year at significant times in their lives. Decisions made by the Trustee Board have a direct impact on who our service reaches, as well as how it is delivered.
• Making sure our volunteers are fully supported – being a Trustee allows you to examine and improve the tools and processes in place to help volunteers deliver our service, as well as making sure that volunteers are properly appreciated for their contributions.
• Influencing a major charity – whatever your involvement in Samaritans to date, you will have a view on what we do well and what could be improved. Being a Trustee provides a unique opportunity to shape the organisation.
• Making the most of your existing skills – if you are an expert in a particular area, there is often no greater satisfaction than fully utilising your experience for a charitable purpose and knowing that a particular decision is of a higher quality thanks to your involvement.
• Personal development – being a Trustee is a challenging and rewarding experience, and no matter what your achievements to date, there will always be something to stretch you that little bit further. Samaritans values difference and diversity and is keen to encourage applications from all sections of society.