THE CHARITY FOR CIVIL SERVANTS TREASURER ROLE PURPOSE

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1 THE CHARITY FOR CIVIL SERVANTS TREASURER ROLE PURPOSE The Charity for Civil Servants is a registered charity governed by a Board of Trustees. The Board is responsible for upholding the values of the Charity and guiding its strategic direction. The Charity is seeking a trustee who could take over as Treasurer when the incumbent steps down in 2018 or The Treasurer will be expected to fulfill the role of an effective Trustee as defined by the Charity Commission, whilst overseeing the financial matters of the Charity in line with best practice and in compliance with legal requirements and the Charity s governing document. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES Maintaining an overview of the Charity s financial affairs and ensuring its financial viability. Chairing the Charity s Finance and Audit Committee and reporting back to the Board of trustees. The key roles of the Finance and Audit Committee are: To review the Trustees Annual Report and audited financial statements of the Charity and recommend them to the Board for approval. To review and approve the annual Budget and any Business Plan before submission to the Board. To consider the role of internal audit, and recommend where appropriate the implementation of internal audit processes or the appointment of internal auditors, and to monitor and review outcomes To keep under review the effectiveness of internal controls and risk management systems. Guiding and advising fellow trustees in the Board s formal approval of the annual report and audited accounts. Sitting on the Charity s Investment Committee. The key role of the investment committee is: To oversee the Charity s investment policy and the management of the Charity s investments (valued at over 40m) including the arrangements with the Charity s investment managers. Ensuring the Board is informed about its financial duties and responsibilities. Signing significant financial documents as required including requests for divestments from the investments. Board level liaison with the external auditors. 1

2 The Treasurer will need to develop an effective working relationship with Director of Finance and Corporate Services, who works for the Charity on a full-time basis. This would involve liaison especially in advance of Finance and Audit Committee meetings and in relation to any financial matters going to the Charity Board. In addition, general Trustee responsibilities include: Overseeing the Charity s compliance with regards to all legal and regulatory requirements. Contributing actively to the strategic direction and objectives of the Charity. Safeguarding the good name of the Charity and overseeing its financial stability. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE Financial Skills and Experience Significant financial experience either at Finance Director level or advising significant corporates and/or charities. Able to present financial information to non-financial colleagues in an appropriate manner. Able to interpret financial statements and information and to ask appropriate questions. Experience of internal controls and risk management. Experience of working with internal and external auditors. Core Skills and Experience Empathetic to the values and objectives of The Charity for Civil Servants. Understanding and acceptance of the legal responsibilities of being a charity Trustee. Previous experience of working at Board level, ideally either as a trustee or non-executive director. An understanding of key aspects of governance, including the development of strategic plans and the implications of conflicts of interest. Good communication and interpersonal skills. Good team player, respectful of others opinions and point of view. Strategic vision; Good independent judgement; and Ability to think creatively and the willingness to speak openly. 2

3 Being a Trustee for the Charity of Civil Servants: The Charity for Civil Servants is registered as a charity and a limited company. Consequently, each Trustee is also a Director of the Company and has legal responsibilities as well as potential limited liabilities. More information about the Charity is provided in Appendix 1. Time commitment: Trustees are expected to attend and participate in the following: Four half day Board meetings per year A Trustee away day each year which is another half day usually on the day of a board meeting. In addition, the Treasurer will be expected: To chair the Finance and Audit Committee which meets for around two hours four times a year. To sit on the Investment Committee which has two two-hour meetings per annum with the investment managers and two additional calls/ meetings of no more than an hour To attend the Nominations and Remuneration Committee which meets once a year for 1 to 2 hours The previous Treasurer has also sat as the Employer Representative at the meetings of the Pension Trustees that meet for half a day (occasionally longer) twice a year. Board meeting and Committee meetings are normally held during office hours mainly in Central London but sometimes in Cheam, Surrey, where the Charity s head office is based. Once formally elected on to the Board, it is expected that you will serve a minimum of at least one three-year term. Board members retire by rotation and are eligible for re-election at the end of their three-year term. Trustees can serve a maximum of two terms. If you would be interested in finding out more or discussing the role, please contact Elizabeth Dymond, Director of Finance and Corporate Services on Elizabeth.dymond@foryoubyyou.org.uk. If you would not be able to commit to all the board meetings and committee meetings at this stage would be interested in becoming a co-opted member of the Finance and Audit Committee in the first instance with a view to becoming a trustee and Treasurer in 2019, please also get in touch. This is a voluntary role, however, travel expenses will be reimbursed fully. 3

4 Appendix 1: The Charity for Civil Servants The Charity for Civil Servants is the occupational charity for civil servants and employees of certain organisations associated with the Civil Service. It is at the forefront of its sector. Established in 1886 as the Civil Service Benevolent Fund (which is still its legal title), it was concerned initially with the care of the widows and orphans of civil servants, and until relatively recently was primarily about dependents and their care, and the care of sick and older people. Its portfolio of nursing and other homes was only finally disposed of in Since then it has concerned itself increasingly with serving staff; currently just over two thirds of the help and support provided goes to current civil servants. While it has always provided a range of help and advice as well as financial support, until very recently the emphasis was on grants of cash to meet short term needs. The emphasis is shifting rapidly to a wider range of preventative and support services aimed at helping with a variety of life s problems. The website gives a flavour of what is available. Initially established on a mutual model whereby members contributed in order to receive benefits when needed, it became open to all relevant staff irrespective of contribution in Its current role can best be summarised as supporting all civil servants, past and present, throughout their lives with whatever problems they may have. The Charity has recently gone through a period of considerable change. In addition to a new service model, which is still under development, there was a radical change of governance in 2010 under which what had been a benevolent society became a charitable company limited by guarantee, and a long-established system of appointing and electing a council and committee of management was replaced by a more business-like Board of Trustees, selected to enable the Charity to be well governed and have access to appropriate skills, experience and contacts with the Civil Service. The Chair of the Board has always been a serving permanent secretary, appointed by the Cabinet Office, a tradition that continues. The current Chair is Sue Owen CB, Permanent Secretary of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. In 2012 the decision was taken to re-brand the Benevolent Fund to become the Charity for Civil Servants, making its purpose clearer to today s audiences. At the same time the strap line: for you, by you was adopted to emphasise the way in which the Charity is constituted: civil servants supporting colleagues in need. Because of the inaccurate popular perception of civil servants which ignores the fact that the majority are low paid and not working in Whitehall, there is little point in appealing to the public for funds as, for example, the 4

5 Armed Services, Police and other similar charities can do. Also because the Civil Service is publicly funded, the employer is not able to support the Charity to any significant extent, and there would be obvious potential conflicts of interest in a Civil Service charity seeking major private sector funding. The Charity therefore depends on donations from over 100,000 civil servants past and present for the majority of its income. The Charity s headquarters are in Cheam, where it owns a modern office building. Of its c97 staff, 70 are based in Cheam, the remainder spread throughout the UK undertaking either service delivery or fundraising activities. Annual income is approximately 7m, and there are reserves/investments of some 40m; the Charity is in a good position financially and income is relatively stable. The senior management team consists of the CEO and three directors who manage the functional areas of Help and Advisory Services, Marketing and Audience Engagement, and Finance and Corporate Services. Until a generation ago, the Charity was virtually part of the Civil Service, but as both have evolved in recent years, most of the ties have loosened or disappeared. The relationship between the Civil Service and its only supporting charity is a complex one, ranging from the wide support enjoyed in many areas, to a less enthusiastic base in others. It is some time since the Charity could count on a default position of support at all levels. Many senior civil servants are unaware of the Charity or do not understand what it does, increasingly an issue as senior civil servants are recruited from other sectors. Whitehall-based senior staff do not always recognise the very different position and needs of low paid staff elsewhere. The pattern between departments is also mixed, with some like DWP and HMRC having strong links to the Charity, while in others such as MOD the link has become weaker. The principal challenge facing the Charity is that it can only do its work if potential beneficiaries know about it and the scope of what is available. Reaching the widest possible number of civil servants, serving, former and retired, is critical. At the same time, civil servants will only donate to the Charity if they know about it and are convinced of its actual or potential value to them and their colleagues. The Charity is undertaking a continuous programme of research to ensure its services are relevant and meet the needs of current staff. It is rapidly developing new services in response, and works increasingly with other organisations and charities active in fields such as debt and money advice, mental health and relationship breakdown. A recent development is the introduction of services that are needs blind and open to all irrespective of individual financial circumstances. 5

6 The work of the Charity and its direction of travel are directed and supported by an active Board of Trustees. The twelve-strong Board consists mainly of serving and former senior civil servants. As well as the normal board committees, Finance and Audit, Remuneration and Nominations, Reserves and Investments are overseen by an Investment Committee, which includes two external advisors. In addition, there is a Strategic Steering Group, which acts as a sounding board for various initiatives; the final decision will be a matter for the board. More information about the Charity is available on its website at The 2016 accounts are available at 6