Job Description

The retirement of a much-valued colleague has created the opportunity for a new person to join our committed and innovative board of Trustees at PoTS UK as a hands-on Treasurer. This will involve working closely with the Chair and Charity Secretary to oversee PoTS UK’s financial affairs at an exciting time of expansion and increasing visibility for the charity. 

Key responsibilities as Treasurer  

The board meets virtually for one hour each month and there is one face to face meeting per year. Key responsibilities include: 

• Working closely with the Chair in relation to PoTS UK’s financial affairs. We are a small team with limited financial expertise. The day-to-day bookkeeping is managed by the Charity Secretary. We are looking for a Treasurer who will be hands-on in guiding the charity and be available to provide advice on an ad hoc basis.

• Monitoring and reporting on the financial health of PoTS UK, including regularly reporting the financial position at trustee meetings (management accounts, cash flow forecasting, fundraising performance etc) and ensuring that PoTS UK has an appropriate reserves policy. Overseeing the production of necessary financial reports/returns, accounts and audits with the support of the Charity Secretary 

• Leading on appointing and liaising with auditors/an independent examiner.

• Liaising with our bookkeeper (Charity Secretary) when needed and supporting the Chair in supervising the bookkeeper’s work.

• Making fellow trustees aware of their financial obligations and taking a lead in interpreting financial data to them.

• Advising on the financial implications of PoTS UK’s strategic and operational plans 

• From time to time supporting the team on the financial aspects of fundraising applications.

• Ensuring effective procedures and controls are maintained and set up when required, including salary payments, payment of pensions, PAYE and NI.

The role requires no more than 2-3hours per week however there are lots of projects that the new Trustee would be welcome to be part of should their time commitment allow. 

Person specification  

We are looking for applicants with experience, knowledge, skills and attributes as follows:

• Up to date knowledge and experience of finance practice relevant to small charities, including the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice.

• Good financial analysis skills.

• Ability to communicate clearly.

• Values enterprising, collaborative and delivery-minded behaviours.

• Integrity, independence of thought and judgement, being prepared when necessary to make unpopular recommendations.

• Ability to work well as a team member.

It is not necessary for the Treasurer to have any financial qualifications. 

Legal and organisational  

By applying for the role, you will be affirming that you are not disqualified by law from acting as a trustee.Trustees are appointed for a term of 3 years and are then eligible for re-appointment.

In addition to Trustees’ legal duties, we ask all Trustees to:

• Advocate for the work of PoTS UK, including in building relationships, networking and fundraising on our behalf; and

• Share our vision and values.

Our Mission 

• To relieve sickness and preserve and protect the good health of those suffering from Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS); 

• To advance the education of the public in all aspects of the syndrome, in particular those involved in the diagnosis, treatment and care of those suffering from PoTS 

• To carry out, or to provide funds to support research into PoTS, its causes, treatment and cure and publish the useful results of such research. 

About Us  

PoTS UK was founded 10 years ago by a group of healthcare professionals with PoTS who recognised the need to increase awareness and improve management of this condition.  

PoTS is an abnormality of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS is in charge of all bodily functions that we don’t have to think about, such as heart rate and blood pressure regulation, digestion, bladder control and stress response. When a healthy person stands up, blood vessels narrow, and heart rate increases slightly to maintain blood supply to the heart and brain. In PoTS, this automatic adjustment to upright posture is not working correctly, resulting in pooling of blood in the lower body, an excessive rise in heart rate, increased adrenalin levels in the blood, and altered blood flow to the brain. Symptoms include profound fatigue, heart palpitations, blackouts, chest pain, gut problems and  bladder problems.   

PoTS UK is widely recognised as the national PoTS charity. We educate and support patients, family, friends and medical professionals within the United Kingdom and beyond about this widely unrecognised and misdiagnosed condition by sharing up to date evidence and resources. We work with healthcare professionals and other charities in the UK and abroad, and advocate for our members by seeking better NHS services, more research, and targeted treatments for people with PoTS. 

Before PoTS UK existed, healthcare professionals worked in isolation. The charity has successfully connected both adult and paediatric clinicians within the UK. We have funded specialists from mainland Europe and N. America to come to the UK to share their research and expertise.  

We are a very small team made up of 4 managing trustees and one part-time employee.Our team are full of energy, enthusiasm and drive and alongside our community, we are determined to deliver our vision. PoTS UK is ‘at the heart of beating PoTS’. We are excited to welcome a new member to the team who will share our passion and join our board of Trustees as a hands-on treasurer, working closely with the Chair and Charity Secretary.