Job Description

Charity Trustee Treasurer Opportunity

About Pro Bono Community

Pro Bono Community (“PBC”) is a registered charity that has developed training programmes for students, trainees and lawyers specialising in the practical skills involved in delivering free legal advice and areas of social welfare law. In conjunction with the training, the charity coordinates volunteering placements for those we have trained at Law Centres and other advice agencies. In the future, the charity is seeking to develop its provision of credit-bearing, university modules and become more involved in the delivery of advice.

In addition to receiving fees from law firms and universities, PBC has also received grants from funding organisations including The Legal Education Foundation, City Bridge Trust, Tudor Trust, the National Lottery Community Fund, the Garfield Weston Foundation and the London Community Response Fund.

What we are looking for

PBC is seeking to appoint someone with financial expertise who will join the board of trustees and act as Treasurer.

Trustees’ duties and responsibilities

The board of trustees is responsible for setting the strategy and policies of PBC, and also guides and supports the activities of the Executive Director. Trustee meetings are held every three months or more often, if necessary, currently using video-conferencing but traditionally in central London and commencing in the late afternoon or early evening.

In addition to attending these meetings, trustees are also expected to undertake tasks and responsibilities on an ad hoc basis that are relevant to their own area of expertise and in furtherance of PBC’s charitable objectives.

Main duties of the Treasurer

• Advise trustees on all financial matters, particularly regulatory compliance.
• Oversee and advise on the compilation and agreement of both the trustees’ annual review and the annual report of accounts by the independent examiner.
• Advise fellow trustees on a regular basis of the financial status of the charity and where necessary recommend action.
• Maintain budgetary oversight with the Executive Director.
• Ensure the charity complies with legislative and regulatory requirements with regards to financial matters, and acts within the confines of its governing document and in furtherance of organisational activities contained therein.
• Act in the best interest of the charity, our beneficiaries and future beneficiaries at all times.
• Promote and develop the charity in order for it to grow and maintain its relevance to society.
• Maintain sound financial management of the charity’s resources, ensuring expenditure is in line with the agreed budget and investment activities meet accepted standards and policies.
• Act as a counter-signatory on the charity’s bank payments, cheques and any applications for funds, if appropriate.
• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the charity and its resources, striving for best practice in good governance.
• Maintain absolute confidentiality about all sensitive/confidential information received in the course of trustee’s responsibilities to the charity.

The position is unremunerated but reasonable expenses will be paid.

Further information about PBC is available on our website. Applicants should submit (by email) a short CV and covering note for the attention of the charity's chair Oliver Hyams.