Vacancy: Treasurer, Board of the Trustees (voluntary position)

The Pirate Castle is a distinctive gateway to the waterways. As Camden’s community boating charity, we’ve been flying the flag for opportunity and adventure on the Regent’s Canal for over 50 years.

Canoeing, kayaking and canal boating are core to our work and we strive to tackle disadvantage, challenge exclusion and support the more vulnerable members of our community through all that we do. With a focus on children, SEND groups of all ages and people facing wider hardship, our free and heavily subsidised activities improve health and wellbeing, nurture life and social skills and bring people together through active participation - regardless of their ability or personal circumstances.

Together with our staff, British Canoeing-accredited freelance instructors and amazing team of volunteer boat skippers and crew, we offer training and skills development in paddle sport, canal boat handling and community boat management - along with more leisurely, social and therapeutic community activities from our unique canal side setting.

Our iconic, characterful and fully-accessible multi-use community spaces are available to hire for community and private / corporate events – activity sessions, kids’ parties, celebrations concerts, meetings, conferences, rehearsals, team building days and more. Income raised through private hire of our venue, paddlesport sessions and canal boat trips/training helps cover our Charity's running costs and provision of free / affordable activities on the canal for local children, disability groups and communities most in need.

Requirements and Role Summary

We are currently recruiting a Treasurer to join our Board of Trustees from early spring 2024.

The ideal candidate should have a strong background in financial analysis or accounting, ideally with professional accountancy qualifications. Previous experience in a Treasury role would be advantageous.

Specifically, the Treasurer will be responsible for

• working with the General Manager (an employee), the contracted bookkeeper and the Chair of the Board to monitor and oversee the Charity's finances, including reporting to trustees
• overseeing the production of the annual accounts, working with the bookkeeper and our retained external accountancy firm to prepare finalise and file our statutory accounts.

The Charity is currently in a sound financial position. As a Trustee of The Pirate Castle you will also be involved in overseeing the Charity's strategic management and governance, along with providing support and guidance to the General Manager when required.

We hold up to 8 evening trustee meetings per annum, usually on a Tuesday 6.45 – 8.15pm. Most meetings are held virtually, though at least two each year are held at the Charity's canal side premises in Camden.

Interested candidates should apply with a covering letter and CV (or summary of relevant experience) to: tim@thepiratecastle.org with “Application for Treasurer” in the subject line by 29 February 2024, though earlier applications are encouraged.

The successful candidate will spend an induction day at the Charity with the onsite team to understand how it operates.

This is a voluntary role. Travel expenses are reimbursable. The Charity is structured as a company limited by guarantee and has Directors and Officers insurance in place.

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