Self-nominations sought for the position of BGS Deputy Honorary Treasurer

Nominations are invited for the role of Deputy Honorary Treasurer, to take office from the AGM in November 2023, when the current post holder becomes Honorary Treasurer.

We are recruiting a new Deputy Honorary Treasurer for the BGS, to work with Dr Elizabeth (Liz) Lawn as she steps up from the deputy role to become Hon Treasurer in November 2023. The Hon Treasurer works with the President and Board to lead BGS financial and governance strategy and policies. As Deputy Hon Treasurer you would spend three years learning the ropes and working with the Hon Treasurer before you take over as Hon Treasurer in November 2026.

During the three years as Deputy Hon Treasurer, you will work closely with the Hon Treasurer, the BGS Chief Executive and the BGS Director of Business Support (a qualified accountant) to set financial priorities for the BGS and ensure that our policies and strategies regarding budgeting and financial control, risk management, human resources and information technology reflect the strategic aims of BGS and the priorities of the membership. This also gives a three year lead-in period working with the Hon Treasurer to learn about chairing the Finance and General Purposes Committee (Finance Committee) and about charity governance by participating in BGS Board meetings.

The Hon Treasurer role provides the opportunity to participate with the senior officers of the BGS in shaping the direction of the organisation so that our work has maximum impact. If you have leadership ambitions, it offers the chance to build your strategic and influencing skills within a supportive environment. The Hon Treasurer role and the preceding Deputy role. is a fantastic learning ground for leadership and governance skills. Please read on to understand its scope.

Please nominate yourself for the Deputy Honorary Treasurer role if you are:

  • Passionate about the aims of the BGS and committed to improving the healthcare of older people.
  • A healthcare professional working with older people and a BGS member.
  • Keen to influence BGS finances, human resources, IT, governance, and general matters.
  • Interested in developing your financial, governance and managerial skills.
  • Able to commit time and energy to the role (3 years as Deputy, then 3 years as Hon Treasurer).

The role will be supported by the Society’s experienced salaried staff, particularly the Director of Business Support, who is a qualified accountant. Additionally, the finance committee benefits from a co-opted non BGS committee member who is also a qualified accountant. No previous financial experience is required, though it would be a bonus. The role is about bringing sound judgement and insight to the finance committee; helping to lead the committee’s responsibility of scrutinising the work of the BGS staff by asking pertinent and searching questions to help the BGS develop budgets, manage its finances, maintain a sustainable income model and ensure good charity governance.

Duties

  • The Deputy will support the Hon Treasurer and take on a share of his/her responsibilities, to be mutually agreed. The duties of the Hon Treasurer are:
  • To act as one of the most senior officers of the BGS.
  • To advise the Board on recommendations agreed by the Finance Committee, including presenting the annual audited accounts.
  • To contribute with the other senior officers to the Society’s strategic planning and direction as a member of the BGS Trustee Board (The Deputy attends the BGS Trustee Board as a non-voting officer, and supports the Hon Treasurer on financial, human resource, governance and general matters).
  • To present the Annual Statutory Accounts and other finance matters to the BGS AGM.
  • To act as a director of B.G.S. (Trading) Ltd., our wholly owned trading arm, including chairing B.G.S. (Trading) Ltd AGM and presenting the Annual Statutory Accounts to the B.G.S. (Trading) Ltd AGM. (The trading company’s affairs are overseen by the Finance Committee).
  • To chair the Finance Committee.
  • To work with the CEO and Director of Business Support to develop the governance and financial affairs of BGS and ensuring they are legal, constitutional and within accepted accounting practices.
  • To provide guidance to the BGS Chief Executive and Director of Business Support
  • To approve expenditure in accordance with the Delegated Financial Authorisation Policy
  • Other activities as they arise: usually involving brief emails or phone calls with Director of Business Support for example regarding approval to open new bank accounts.

Term

The Deputy Honorary Treasurer will serve for three years, taking office at the AGM in November 2023. When the Honorary Treasurer demits (November 2026), the Deputy Honorary Treasurer will automatically take over as Honorary Treasurer and serve in that role for a further three years (to November 2029).

Time commitment

Both the Deputy and the Honorary Treasurer attend:

  • The BGS Trustee Board (4 meetings a year).
  • The BGS Finance and General Purposes Committee (4 meetings a year).

The time commitment for the Deputy Hon Treasurer will vary but should only very rarely exceed eight hours a month. Once the Deputy takes over as Hon Treasurer, the time commitment will grow by around 2-3 days per annum, spread unevenly.

Both are voluntary, unpaid roles, although travel costs and other expenses will be covered (in accordance with the BGS expenses policy).

Induction

You can expect a full induction and will be offered training if required. You will receive a comprehensive induction pack and will meet with key officers and staff to become familiar with the Society’s policies and practice, its aims and activities, management, and governance, and also what is expected of the charity under charity law and company law.

How to apply

Self-nominations are invited, in the form of a CV and a covering statement of no more than 2 pages setting out how you would approach the Deputy Hon Treasurer role and future Hon Treasurer role and what you bring. The closing date for self-nominations is 5.00 pm on Thursday 20 July 2023. Please send your email to Mark Stewart: m [dot] stewart [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk.

If more than one self-nomination is received, an election by BGS members will be held from mid-July to the end of August.

The current Hon Treasurer, Sarah Goldberg, or Deputy Hon Treasurer, Liz Lawn, would be happy to speak to possible candidates. Please contact Mark Stewart to arrange this.