Vacancy for a downright excellent Treasurer – application deadline extended to midnight Tuesday 12th February

Downright Excellent (DEx) is seeking a dynamic Treasurer Trustee to join the governing Board and lead on financial matters. The Treasurer will mainly work from home on average 2 – 3 hours per week but Board meetings are held bi-monthly near Mansion House tube station. Closing date for applications is midnight Tuesday 12th February. Interviews from 5pm on Tuesday 19th February.

Background:Our amazing and passionate Treasurer has been with Downright Excellent (DEx) for 5 years and helped the organisation grow significantly; he is now moving on. He says ‘DEx has been a fantastic developmental experience with friendly, knowledgeable colleagues and a great mission’. Our Treasurer will retire and handover to the successful applicant on March 28th at the next Board meeting. This gives the incoming and outgoing Treasurers plenty of time to discuss the business and current systems before that date.

DEx was started in 2005 by a few parents with very young children with Down syndrome (DS) and became a charity in 2007. DEx meets on Fridays and Saturdays at The Sundial Centre, E2. 115 families come to DEx for highly specialised Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, intensive educational programmes and a range of supporting activities. We receive no mainstream funding but rely on constant fundraising to meet expenses. All DEx Trustees are committed to sustaining the organisation and bettering the lives of as many children with DS as they can. Our vision is to be a centre of excellence for all children with DS in London and to develop materials, methods and research to share widely.

Treasure/Trustee Role Description The Treasurer takes the lead in overseeing the financial affairs of the organisation. The Treasurer will assist other trustees to perform their financial duties by interpreting and explaining accounting requirements, ensuring that the Board receives reports containing the information trustees need in an 'easy to understand' format, and helping trustees guide any other professional advisers they have appointed. The DEx Treasurer is supported by the financial adviser/bookkeeper, the DEx Manager, and the DEx Administrator.

In addition, the newly appointed Treasurer in 2019 will be expected to play an active part in developing a robust fundraising strategy and in assisting income generation. The Big Lottery Fund’s current significant grant contribution will cease in March 2020 and a major fundraising push was launched in 2018. (The full role description is available upon request).

Desired personal and professional qualities and experience: o Commitment to the organisation and its purposeo Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort (average 2 – 2.5 hrs per week).o Strategic vision and ability to think creatively o Sound independent judgement o Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of

trusteeship o Ability to work effectively as a member of a team o Interest in the non-financial aspects of the organisation

o Relevant financial qualifications and experience o Some experience of charity finance and fundraising or an interest in learning these

rapidly. o The skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences o Preparedness to make unpopular recommendations to the board o Willingness to be available to staff for advice and enquiries on an ad hoc basis

DEx application process:Please email annreynard@btopenworld.com for an application pack. Closing date for applications is midnight Tuesday 12th Feb.

We will shortlist and notify all applicants of the result by Thursday 14th FebInterviews will be held between 5 – 8pm on Tuesday 19th Feb near Mansion House tube station.

Very many thanks for your attention and we look forward to your application.