Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) is the officially recognised registered charity supporting Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH). It connects givers and causes, supporting projects and facilities which are beyond the boundaries of NHS funding to achieve the highest possible standards and outcomes in patient experience, clinical care, research and education.

ACT is the only registered charity dedicated to supporting innovation in patient care across Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; specifically at Addenbrooke's and the Rosie Hospitals. Whether it is treatment for an emergency, acute condition, pregnancy, or long term illness, it believes that every patient deserves the highest quality of care available.

Thanks to the immensely generous support of its donors, ACT make projects happen sooner or to a greater degree than might have otherwise been possible. Charitable donations fund high-tech equipment, specialist staff, extra comforts and vital research to find potential cures and help save lives locally, nationally and worldwide.

The role of Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust’s Board of Trustees is to govern the organisation in line with its mission, aims and charitable objectives, and to provide overall policy direction. Trustees are responsible for:

• Developing and continuously reviewing, debating and discussing, in collaboration with the Chief Executive and the SMT, the strategic direction for the charity including its vision, mission, values, aims, ethics and strategic plans
  
• Guiding the charity in achieving its aims in the most efficient and effective manner
• Monitoring and evaluating the progress of the charity against its strategic aims, objectives and financial targets
• Taking ultimate responsibility for setting key policies and criteria, including for grant-making, financial and investment strategies
• Ensuring that the policies, plans and budgets of the charity are consistent with its strategic aims and approve any significant change

In addition, the Finance Trustee has a number of accountabilities alongside statutory Trustee duties:

• Maintaining an overview and advising on the organisation’s financial affairs and strategy, ensuring its financial viability and that proper financial records and procedures are maintained
• Chairing the Finance and General Purposes Committee, facilitating discussion at committee meetings, ensuring appropriate decisions are made and implemented
• Ensuring that meetings of the Finance and General Purposes committee are conducted efficiently and effectively and reported to the trustee  Board; ensuring that agenda/reports are timely and sufficient; encouraging all members to contribute constructively to deliberations and to assure access to appropriate professional advice
• Advising on the organisation’s reserves policy and other financial polices, on the financial implications of the organisation’s strategic and operational plans, and on the fundraising and investment strategies of the organisation
• Ensuring the safeguarding of the assets of the charity via appropriate policy and process
• Liaising with the Chief Executive, Director of Finance and other designated staff about financial matters to ensure that appropriate financial procedures and controls are in place.
• Being available to the Chief Executive and Director of Finance, making time to listen, giving constructive advice, providing support and guidance around all financial matters of the charity

Specific additional duties may be assigned or requested of the treasurer from time to time by the chairman and may include:

• Membership of/chairman of a committee
• Representing the organisation to external bodies where appropriate
• Dealing with urgent financial decisions in between set trustee board meetings in collaboration with, or in the absence of, the chairman (delegated decisions will be taken to full trustee board meetings or appropriate committee meetings for ratification)

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust is looking for someone with senior-level financial expertise to become its new Treasurer. The successful candidate will have a solid understanding of financial, risk and corporate governance systems, gained by serving at a senior level in a UK-based organisation or charity, and will ideally have experience in accounting / be a qualified accountant. They will have the ability to advise and monitor the financial /accounting health of ACT.

Candidates will also have a strong alignment with the vision and mission of the charity. The charity is open to receiving applications from those seeking their first Treasurer role, as long as they have the ability to work collaboratively at a strategic level and foster constructive relationships.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate:

• Empathy with the vision, values and aspirations of the charity
• Current or recent experience of trustee board level decision making and leadership in a successful, well respected public, private or voluntary sector organisation of scale and complexity
• A strong but inclusive leadership style which encourages challenge and debate
• Previous experience of chairing audit or finance committees
• Previous experience overseeing financial strategy and oversight, including audit and financial controls
• Knowledge of legal and other regulations relating to financial concerns particularly: audit and accounting rules, tax, and related processes
• An ability to quickly gain a good understanding of the public healthcare sector
• Commitment to equality of opportunity, valuing diversity and widening participation
• A high level of personal integrity
• Strategic vision, sound judgement and decision making, both in relation to people and issues
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to relate to a wide range of different people and constituencies, both inside and outside the charity
• The ability to provide support and easily understandable advice, particularly in relation to financial issues
• The ability to draw support from a wide range of external networks and contacts in order to further the charity’s aims and objectives
• Perceptive and sensitive to people issues, a good listener who is able to win “hearts and minds”
• Goal focused, positive and resilient, with the drive and determination to support the delivery of lasting results in a high-profile role
• The availability to devote sufficient time and energy to the role

 The full composition of the Board can be viewed here.

The role is non-executive, voluntary and is for a four year term, which can be renewed up to ten years at the Board’s discretion.

The estimated annual time requirement is approximately 12 days per year. The Board meets four times each year at Addenbrooke's and meetings are approximately two hours. The Finance Trustee will also be asked to Chair meetings of the Investment Committee, which meets twice a year, and the Finance and General Purposes Committee, which meets four times a year. Committee meetings can be held either online or in person. Board meetings take place in the afternoon into the evening, and committee meeting times can be flexible based on the convenience of the members.

UK - South East (Cambridge)