Job Description

Trustee - St George's Hospital Charity

We are looking for a new Trustee who will take on the role of Honorary Treasurer at St George's Hospital Charity.

The Treasurer role is both a strategic position, working with fellow Trustees and the charity Senior Leadership team on developing a financial strategy to support our ambitious growth plans, and also a tactical position, involving oversight of the charity’s finances and financial operations and providing reassurance to the Board.

The Treasurer is Chair of the Finance Sub-Committee, which meets quarterly. This committee provides oversight, constructive challenge and support for the Charity’s Finance and Operations function on behalf of the main Trustee Board, covering investment performance, budgeting and financial reporting, internal and external audit, and aspects of operations including risk register review. Day to day responsibility for financial operations and control is in the hands of the Director of Finance and Operations.

In addition to the four Finance Sub-Committee meetings, there are five meetings of the Board of Trustees each year (including an away day) and the Treasurer also may be invited to join one of the other sub committees.

We are looking for a qualified accountant, preferably with knowledge or experience of investment portfolios who has the ability to work at a strategic level, to advise the Board on the financial implications of its policy objectives and strategic plan, and the ability to work closely with the charity finance team to monitor the charity’s finances and to give advice and guidance when needed.

As with all our Trustees, we would prefer a person who lives in the area served by the Trust and has some connection with St George’s Hospital in Tooting and/or Queen Mary’s Hospital in Roehampton.

As a member of the charity’s Board of Trustees, the Trustee will support appropriate decisions and good governance by the Board.

The role of Trustee includes:

• Ensuring the charity keeps proper accounts.
• Reviewing the charity’s financial performance.
• Reviewing finance and investment policies and strategy.
• Reviewing the robustness and effectiveness of the financial controls in place.
• Liaising through various committees with finance staff, including Finance Director and the charity’s independent auditor.

Knowledge and experience:

• A qualified accountant
• Outstanding record of professional achievement in their field, with a commensurate personal reputation for excellence, with a particular focus on strategic finance, audit and risk, planning and performance. Investment experience is also helpful
• Ideally, experience gained as Trustee or Non-Executive Director in a similarly complex service orientated or influential organisation preferably with charity and/or NHS experience
• Strong understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Trusteeship.
• Appreciation of the nature of risk management at Board level.

Skills and abilities:

• Able to distil complex information and bring a pragmatic approach to its application.
• Highly effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Able to galvanise external relationships and build support for St George’s Hospital Charity.
• Strong ambassadorial and influencing skills – inspires trust and confidence quickly.
• Able to think strategically and work well with/ challenge a finance team

Personal style and behaviour:

• Independent, strategic and creative thinker.
• Driven and self-managing with sharp commercial acumen.
• Collaborative team player.
• Sound judgement and political sense.
• Committed to the values of St George’s Hospital Charity; leads by example in upholding these values and demonstrates the utmost integrity.

Additional duties:

In addition to the above statutory duties, each Trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board reach sound decisions. These may involve scrutinising Board and Committee papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives and other issues in which the trustee has special expertise. A Trustee is required to act reasonably and prudently in all matters relating to St George’s Hospital Charity and must always bear the interest of the charity in mind.

Remuneration:

The role of Trustee is unremunerated.

Time Commitment:

Up to five Board meetings per year, plus at least one Committee membership with four additional meetings per year. Trustees are also expected to attend occasional public or private events, e.g. supporter/fundraising events, strategic planning Board away days and public profile events.

Trustees are required to agree to abide by the Trustees’ Code of Conduct and to declare as appropriate their business interests.

Location of meetings:

St George’s Hospital in Tooting and Queen Mary’s Hospital in Roehampton.

Expenses:

Reasonable out of pocket travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Terms:

Trustees will serve an initial four-year term and be eligible for re-appointment for a further four year term.

To be considered for the role:

To express an interest in the role and to be considered, please submit the following:

• A detailed and up-to-date CV.
• A supporting statement that addresses all criteria in the Person Specification and outlines your motivation for applying.

The closing date for applications for the Trustee role is Friday 7 February 2020.

Interviews will begin on the afternoons of 25 and 26 February 2020.

To download the full job description for this role, please follow the link to our site.