Trustee (Finance Lead)

Bramber Bakehouse is a charity working alongside women who've experienced abuse, exploitation and displacement. We want women to have a healthy, meaningful lives, despite their past circumstances. We are looking for a highly-skilled Trustee, with finance experience, to support us in our mission.

Over the next three years we plan to enhance our financial sustainability. This will enable us to grow our service delivery, meeting increasing demand for women to access safe, trauma-informed support and care.

The Board of Trustees meet six times a year: four early-evening meetings and two weekend away-days, based in Brighton. Trustees are given a full induction, receive training opportunities and can claim reasonable expenses to enable them to carry out their duties.

Main Tasks

• Reflect the organisation's vision and values, strategy and policies
• Work closely with the board to formulate and review the strategic aims of the organisation
• Ensure the policy and practices of the organisation are in keeping with its aims
• Ensure that the organisation functions within the legal and financial requirements of a charity and company limited by guarantee
• Use resources effectively and efficiently
• Ensure best practice is developed and applied
• Monitor and evaluate the performance of the organisation
• Take part in training sessions
• Contribute specific skills, interests and contacts
• Fulfil other duties as required from time to time by the Board of Trustees

Trustee with Finance Experience - Your Role

The overall role is to maintain an overview of the organisation's affairs, ensure its financial viability and ensure proper financial records and procedures are maintained. This includes being accountable to the Chair and Trustees and being open to investigation, discussion and resolution.

In addition to the general responsibilities of a trustee (see above), duties will include the following:

• Work alongside the CEO to oversee, approve and present budgets, accounts and financial statements
• Chair the Finance Committee meetings (meetings take place once a month for 1.5 hours)
• Be assured that the financial resources of the organisation meet its present and future needs
• Ensure the charity has an appropriate reserves policy
• Working alongside the CEO, Finance Officer and Chair, present financial reports to the Board of Trustees
• Ensure appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place
• Liaise with any paid staff and volunteers relating to financial matters
• Advise on the financial implications of the organisation's strategic plans
• Ensure the charity has an appropriate investment policy, if and when applicable
• Ensure there is no conflict between any investment held and the aims and objectives of the charity
• Ensure the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by funders and the relevant statutory bodies, for example the Charity Commission and/or Companies House
• Work alongside the Accountant and Independent Examiner to ensure the accounts are scrutinised in the manner required, with any recommendations implemented
• Keep the board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities
• Contribute to the fundraising strategy of the organisation
• Make a formal presentation of the accounts at the annual general meeting (AGM), drawing attention to important points in a coherent and easily understandable way

Skills, attributes and experience

• Commitment to the organisation and the needs of female survivors
• Fully qualified chartered accountant / financial qualifications and experience
• Some experience of charity finance, fundraising and pension schemes
• Ability to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences
• Willingness to speak one's mind and listen to others
• Strategic vision Sound, independent judgement
• Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort
• Ability to work effectively within a team
• Good communication and people management skills
• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Trusteeship
• Experience in the social enterprise space is an advantage.

We aim to achieve equity, diversity and inclusion at every level of our workforce. We believe organisational diversity matters and we will be more accountable and better able to assess the needs of the women we support if we have a good range of perspectives within our team.

To apply for this role, please visit
If you have any questions, please email