ODA vacancy for position of Treasurer (trustee)

Offa’s Dyke Association (Charitable Incorporated Organisation No: 1203068)

Trustee vacancy

Role title: Treasurer (Trustee)

Salary: Voluntary

Role Location: Offa’s Dyke Centre, Knighton

(Remote working – occasional in-person attendance)

Accountable to: Chairman of Board of Trustees, Board of Trustees

Role Overview:

The Offa’s Dyke Association (ODA) is a small but respected membership-based charity of some 55 years standing. Having recently made the exciting leap into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), we now stand at a pivotal moment in our evolution.We are looking for an exceptional person to take on the role of Treasurer to help facilitate the next stages of our strategic plan and enable further growth and development. The successful candidate will have experience in book-keeping, finance and administrative procedure. A keen interest in conservation and heritage is desirable, given the position’s unique responsibilities relating to an historic monument.
Person Specification

Experience of working with financial management.

Awareness and knowledge of the not-for-profit / charitable sectors.

Good communication skills. Able to explain financial information to key stakeholders.
Proficiency with digital administrative tools such as Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365.

Proven ability to work in small teams to deliver agreed objectives in a defined time period.Desirable: Working knowledge of accountancy software / tools. Experience in the charity sector would be of particular interest.

About the ODA:

The CIO’s charitable object: To promote for the public benefit, in the border counties region of England and Wales, the conservation, preservation, protection and understanding of Offa’s Dyke and similar or linked sites and structures of archaeological or historical interest.

The ODA was founded in 1969 as a pressure group to encourage government and local authorities to establish the Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail on the ground. Only fifty percent of Offa’s Dyke is coincident with Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail. The ODA is the only organisation, government or otherwise, to be concerned with the entirety of the monument in both England and Wales.

We care passionately about our shared heritage and strive to conserve the important cultural artefacts which represent this. Today, the ODA operates the free-to-enter Offa’s Dyke Centre in Knighton with interpretive displays on Offa’s and Wat’s Dykes. Sitting alongside Cadw and Historic England, the ODA is a member of the Offa’s Dyke Conservation Project and operates its own conservation fund.

In May 2023 a new Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) was created which replaced the original, unincorporated charity of the same name. The merger of the two charities has been lodged with the Charity Commission’s register of merged charities.

The ODA is in an historic moment of change. Following our merger, we are planning to relaunch the organisation into the future. We are appointing, for the first time, a salaried professional grade Development Officer to drive the charity’s development and facilitate first-class engagement with local communities. We plan to expand our education and outreach work, contribute to the monument’s research agenda, and as part of our growing conservation work establish a volunteer wardening scheme for Offa’s Dyke.

In order to make this transition as effectively as possible, we are listing for new trustees and calling for any expression of interest from those who may wish to become involved with the organisation.

Key tasks of the Treasurer (Trustee)

The Treasurer (Trustee) will oversee the monitoring of the CIO’s finances on behalf of the board of trustees, in collaboration with the CIO Chairman and Secretary. Specific tasks include:

• Ensuring appropriate systems are in place for budgeting, financial control and reporting;
• Overseeing and monitoring procedures to reduce the risk of fraud;
• Keeping all trustees properly informed about the state of the organisation’s finances;
• Paying invoices due from the ODA’s online banking account;
• Ensuring accounts and other financial reports are produced in the required form and on time as required by other bodies (such as the Charity Commission);
• Overseeing communications with the ODA’s current book keeper and with Cymryd Rhan(see below)
• Monitor the overarching strategic management of the organisation’s financial resources, and report to the CEO and the board.
• Oversee the charity’s financial risk-management process and report financial health to the board of trustees at regular intervals.

• Ensure all strategic plans are financially appraised and budgets are aligned to both short-term and long-term objectives each year and on-going.
• Suggest alternative scenarios while evaluating strategic plans as part of the risk management process and as part of performance and reporting scenarios.
• Advise on the financial implications of the charity’s strategic plans.
• Other tasks as defined by the ODA Chair and Trustees.

Main Duties of a Trustee (as listed by the Charity Commission)

• Ensure the charity is carrying out its purposes to the public benefit
• Comply with the charity governing document and the law
• Act in the charity’s best interests
• Manage the charity’s resources responsibly
• Act with reasonable care and skill
• Ensure the charity is accountable
• Dedication to the charity’s cause and objectives and willing to act as the charity’s

ambassador to external bodies, individuals, charities and companies.

Existing financial arrangements

The ODA’s monthly payroll is undertaken by a local firm of chartered accountants. Our current bookkeeper is a former ODA trustee who oversees invoicing and payments using the Kashflow software system. The ODA management accounts are produced by a Wales-based charity, Cymryd Rhan. 

For further information email David McGlade, Chairman ODA CIO at oda@offasdyke.org.uk

7^th September 2024