BDEF (Bristol Disability Equality Forum) is looking for a new Treasurer to join our Board of Trustees.
This is an opportunity to help provide strong financial oversight, support good decision-making, and make sure our funds are used well and safely.
The Treasurer takes the lead on financial matters, but all Trustees share the responsibility for running the charity well, acting in its best interests, and following the law and our governing rules.
We're looking for someone with some financial experience who is committed to good governance, can offer helpful advice and challenge constructively at Board meetings.
Strategic contribution:
- Support the Board in setting BDEF’s strategic direction by making sure that plans are realistic, affordable and sustainable, based on financial analysis and oversight of risk.
Financial oversight:
- Make sure the Board gets clear, timely, and relevant financial reports - including budgets, management accounts, cashflow information and annual accounts - to support effective decision making.
- Help make sure our accounting records, reporting and annual accounts meet the rules set by the Charity Commission, our funders, and our own governing document.
- Lead on reviewing our financial policies and the checks we have in place to keep funds safe, and recommend improvements where needed.
- Oversee arrangements for someone independent to carry out audits as required and help the Board act on anything they recommend.
Assets, reserves and investments:
- Support the Board in ensuring BDEF has appropriate policies for reserves, investments and the management of financial assets.
- Support the Board in deciding how much money to keep in reserve and how to manage it safely.
- Support the monitoring of our investments, reserves, liquidity and cash flow, so the Board can assess BDEF’s financial resilience and ability to meet our commitments.
- Help make sure BDEF’s funds, assets and other resources are properly recorded, protected, used only for the organisation’s purposes, and managed in line with agreed controls.
What the role involves:
- Oversee the preparation of budgets, management and annual accounts, and other financial reports, and present these to the Board.
- Help make sure our accounting records are accurate and that money is spent responsibly, lawfully and in line with our purposes, policies and agreed budgets.
- Help develop, review and implement our financial policies including on reserves, delegated authority, spending limits, checks on how money is used and, where relevant, risk management.
Key duties:
- Chair the finance subcommittee and report back to the Board.
- Liaise, where appropriate, with BDEF’s independent examiner, auditor, and any other financial advisers.
- Help the Board monitor BDEF’s financial position, financial risks, and longer-term financial sustainability.
- Help the Board ensure that BDEF has the right checks and processes in place, that they are reviewed regularly, and that we follow them consistently.
- Advise the Board on the financial implications of big decisions, strategic plans and major commitments.
- Work with the relevant staff to prepare, review and approve our annual accounts on time.
- Where needed, act as an authorised signatory for payments, banking arrangements, or funding applications.
- Help make sure BDEF's resources are used efficiently and effectively, in line with our charitable aims.
- Support fundraising oversight by helping the Board understand the financial implications and any risks.
- Assist with skills development of fellow trustees and delegate tasks where appropriate.
Time commitment:
• Attendance at monthly Board meetings
• Attendance at monthly finance subcommittee meetings (potential for less frequency over time)
• Preparation for meetings
• Have reasonable availability for finance-related discussions between meetings.
What we're looking for
- Enough financial experience to support effective oversight of budgets, accounts, and financial reports.
- An accountancy or finance qualification would be useful but isn't essential if you have the right experience and sound judgement.
- Experience with charity finance, accounting or governance would be helpful but isn't required.
- The ability to analyse financial information, question assumptions, and assess the financial implications of proposals and decisions.
- The ability to explain financial matters clearly to fellow Trustees and other stakeholders.
- Good independent judgement, integrity, and the confidence to challenge constructively when needed.
- A commitment to BDEF's aims, enough time to give to the role, and a willingness to work collaboratively with other Trustees, staff, and volunteers while managing conflicts of interest appropriately.
Criteria:
To apply to become a Trustee for BDEF you need to be...
- A Disabled person over the age of 18. You can self-identify yourself as a Disabled person. You do not need any proof from anyone else.
- As this treasurer role is very specific, if we are unable to find a Disabled person we may consider applications from non-Disabled allies who are committed to promoting Disability Equality in their networks and relationships.
- You must live or work in Bristol or the surrounding area.
- You must be able to show you understand the challenges and barriers faced by Disabled people.
- You can work as part of a team.
If you meet some but not all of these points, we'd still encourage you to apply.
We value diverse experience and are happy to talk through the role with you.
How to apply:
If you're interested in this role, please complete our online application form here.
Deadline is 5pm 31st October 2026.
We will also accept applications in the forms of written word, voice recording and/or video if writing an application form isn’t the best format for you. Application packs are also available in accessible formats.
If you need a word version of the application form or need to submit in an alternative format, please contact BDEF at info@bristoldef.org.uk or 0117 914 0528