Trustee vacancy – Treasurer – Museum of East Dorset

Background

The Priest’s House Museum Trust is seeking a new Trustee to join its Board in the position as Treasurer. The Trust trades as the Museum of East Dorset, an award-winning independent museum located in the centre of Wimborne Minster. We serve communities across East Dorset, providing a wide range of exhibitions, events, outreach activities and learning programmes.

The Museum of East Dorset, which incorporates an Information Centre, has recently undergone a major £1.8m refurbishment programme supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The works have transformed our visitor offer and will enable us to reach out, support and engage with our wider community, improving our ability to deliver our charitable aims and objectives, and offering enjoyment, learning and inspiration to visitors of all ages.

The role

The role of Treasurer is to monitor the financial administration of both The Priest’s House Museum Trust and its trading arm East Dorset TIC Ltd (the entities) and to ensure that financial reporting to the Board of Trustees at regular intervals, regarding the state of financial health of both entities, is in line with best practice, and in compliance with the governing documents and legal requirements. The Treasurer will be an ‘ex-officio’ member of the Executive Committee.

Previous experience as a Treasurer, or as Finance Director, will be a requirement for this position.

The main duties and responsibilities of the Treasurer include:

• Overseeing and presenting budgets, internal management accounts and annual financial statements to the Board of Trustees (note – the Director is accountable for delivering the financial results; the Treasurer is responsible for ensuring the reporting is accurate and timely and in accordance with charity law)
• Leading in the Board’s duty to ensure that proper accounting records are kept, financial resources are properly controlled, invested and economically spent, in line with good governance, legal and regulatory requirements
• Leading in the development and implementation of financial reserves, cost management and investment policies
• Liaising with the appropriate member of staff responsible for the financial activities of the organisation
• Chairing the Resources Committee in line with standing orders and terms of reference and reporting back to the board of trustees
• Monitoring and advising on the financial viability of both entities
• Overseeing the implementation and monitoring of specific financial controls and adherence to systems
• Advising on the financial implications of the entities’ strategic plans
• Overseeing the entities financial risk management
• Acting as an approver or counter signatory on large payments (e.g. payroll) and important applications to funders
• Liaison with the external auditors (or independent examiners) regarding the scope of their work and any finding they make.

The Treasurer will also act as liaison with the auditors (or external examiners) of the Priest’s House Museum Collections Trust in the preparation of the annual financial statements of that entity.

The role of a Trustee is non-executive, providing a rewarding opportunity to use your own expertise and experience to support and shape the museum’s future. We are looking for Trustees who are diplomatic, computer-literate, able to present ideas and challenge points in a convivial manner, and who can get on with other Trustees, staff and volunteers.

The Trust is keen to diversify its Board and welcomes applications from all ages and backgrounds, including those who may not have previously served as a Trustee. Induction and access to appropriate on-line training will be provided. Applicants may be from outside the East Dorset area, although Trustees must be available to attend four board meetings each year, to sit on at least one committee, and to support museum events through attendance and ad hoc volunteering.

Additional information

Number of meetings per annum/time commitment: Average of 7-10 hours per month (attendance at 4 board meetings per year, and sits on 2 committees)

Daytime or evening meetings: Daytime

Closing date for applications:       End of April 2023

Contact details or web link for applicants to find out more: director@museumofeastdorset.co.uk

Organisation website: https://museumofeastdorset.co.uk/