Role Description for Dorothy House Trustee with a Financial Background
The general duties of all Trustees are (from “The Good Trustee Guide”, NCVO publication):-
- To ensure that the charity complies with its Memorandum and Articles of Association, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
- To ensure that the charity pursues its charitable objects as defined in its Memorandum of Association.
- To ensure the charity applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects, i.e. the charity must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are.
- To contribute actively to the Board of Trustees’ role in giving firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.
- To safeguard the good name and values of the charity.
- To respect the confidential nature of the work of the Trustees and all confidential matters in relation to patients, families, staff, volunteers and donors.
- To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the charity.
- To ensure the financial stability of the charity.
- To protect and manage the property of the charity and to ensure the proper investment of the charity’s funds.
- To appoint the Chief Executive and monitor his or her performance.
In addition to the above statutory duties of all Trustees, each Trustee should use any specific knowledge or experience they have to help the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions. This will involve scrutinising Board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, and providing advice and guidance requested by the Board on new initiatives, or other issues relevant to the area of the charity’s work in which the Trustee has special expertise.
The specific responsibilities of a Trustee withfinancialexperience are:-
- To contribute to or advise on, as appropriate, the charity’s financialand regulatory responsibilities, keeping abreast of changes within finance within our charity sector.
- To liaise with and support the Finance Directorin his role and as a member of the Executive Team, taking a specific interest in the work of the Finance department, including ICT.
- To contribute to, or advise on, as appropriate, any specific projects within their area of expertise.
- To monitor the implementation of the Five Year Strategic Plan, Business Plan and Budget.
- To be a member of the Finance, Investment & ICT Committeeor Audit & Risk Committee (see General Information for Dorothy House Trustees for further information).
- To ensure that accounts are prepared, audited and published in line with law and regulation
- To ensure the board receives appropriate advice to enable it to discharge its functions of ensuring Dorothy House’s long term financial viability and appropriate on-going risk management
Person Specification for Dorothy House Trustee with
Professional Financial experience
General
(adapted from “The Good Trustee Guide”, NCVO publication)
Any Trustee must live and/or work in the Dorothy House geographical area and have:-
- A commitment to palliative care.
- A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.
- Integrity.
- Strategic vision.
- Good, independent judgment.
- An ability to think creatively.
- A willingness to speak their mind.
- An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.
- An ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
- A commitment to extending their knowledge and understanding of the work carried out by the Dorothy House Foundation.
Specific
- To have an appropriate qualification and be a member of a relevantprofessional body.
- To have a background in finance, preferably charity finance, NHS finance, investment, retail, fundraising or other relevant area.
- To have the skills to analyse proposals and examine and communicate their financial consequences
- To have had recent senior level involvement in business planning with responsibility for financial strategy and risk management
March 2018