The first Citizens Advice opened in Salford in September 1939, established in the aftermath of the Second World War and provided, amongst other initiatives, a casework service for families in need. Since then, it has continued to grow as a frontline service, finding innovative solutions to the advice needs of its community through free, confidential and independent advice and information services. The aims of the Citizens Advice service are to provide the advice people need for the problems they face, and to improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives. 

Citizens Advice Salford is a charity, dependent on a workforce of paid staff and over 80 trained volunteers. It operates over four permanent sites in Salford, Eccles and Walkden and over 15 outreach locations in the city, which it is continually reviewing to ensure it is reaching the people most in need of its services. It also provides advice via email and phone. It is a member of National Citizens Advice which provides the extensive information system it uses to advise clients and set standards for advice, training, equal opportunities and accessibility in its offices. Its core funding is from the Salford City Council and the Salford Clinical Commissioning Group. This helps support its generalist advice service which gives advice on a wide range of subjects such as: benefits, work, debt and money, consumer, family, housing, law and courts, immigration and health. It also receives funding from other major contributors which helps run its specialist advice projects.

Citizens Advice Salford has ambitious aims to continue to deliver extraordinary services and improve the impact it has in the local communities of Salford and the surrounding areas in Greater Manchester. Part of this challenge is to keep up with the increase in the demands for its services due to the current economic crisis, a large portion of which is to ensure it makes full use of its funding and identify opportunities and appropriate revenue streams. Citizens Advice Salford is keen to generate partnerships with local authorities, central government and trusts, in order to achieve its social mission and continue to deliver high impact services.

Each individual member of the Trustee Board has a responsibility to contribute to the discharging of the board’s duties. They can do this by:

• Maintaining an awareness of the business of the bureau
• Taking responsibility for their own learning and development
• Regularly attending, preparing for and taking a full part in meetings
• Actively contributing to setting policy and strategic direction, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance and acting in the best interests of the board
• Monitoring whether the service complies with its governing document, whether it meets Citizens Advice standards and how well the advice needs of the local community are being met
• Monitoring the financial position of the bureau and ensuring that it operates within its means and objects, and that there are clear lines of accountability for day-to-day financial management
• Supporting the development of the bureau through participation in agreed projects
• Actively seeking to further the strategic objectives of the bureau, and acting in the best interests of the bureau at all times
• Maintaining confidentiality about any sensitive / confidential information received in the course of duties as a Treasurer 

Citizens Advice Salford is looking to appoint a Treasurer who will be responsible for maintaining an overview of the charity's financial affairs. 

They will report on matters relating to the Trust's financial viability and risk management, including its adherence in these areas to good practice, and legal requirements. The Treasurer will advise the Board on how to carry out its financial responsibilities, and will lead the Board as it carries out its duties to ensure due diligence, and that proper accounting records are kept. The Treasurer will also work closely with the executive team to ensure that CAB Salford continues to expand its reach while ensuring financial stability. The Treasurer, alongside other Trustees, will serve as a steward of the organisation's resources and will be responsible for the Trust's strategy, operations, adherence to law and regulation, and financial management.

Citizens Advice Salford is looking for someone with financial and accounting expertise to become its new Treasurer. The successful candidate will be a senior finance expert with a solid understanding of financial, risk and corporate governance systems, gained by serving at a senior level in a UK-based organisation or charity. 

They will have the ability to advise and monitor the financial / accounting health of Citizens Advice Salford. Candidates will have a strong alignment with the vision and mission of the charity, and will be passionate towards its social mission. Citizens Advice Salford is open to receiving applications from those seeking their first non-executive role, as long as as they have the ability to work collaboratively at a strategic level, foster constructive relationships, and has the relevant financial acumen to perform the duties of the Treasurer. 

Whilst not a requirement, Citizens Advice Salford would be interested in hearing from candidates who have previous experience working with charities. 

For more information, please see here.

This role is unremunerated, but pre-agreed reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed. The time commitment for this role consists of six Board meetings per year (every two months, for two hours, roughly between 4-6pm), a maximum of four Finance sub-Committee meetings, and ad hoc engagement prior to these meetings, such as overseeing finance reports, reviewing budgets and funding applications. These meetings run on a hybrid approach where the Treasurer may attend either in-person, or virtually, although Citizens Advice Salford will expect roughly half of these meetings to be attended in person. This position runs for a three-year term, with the option to renew for a further three years, subject to Board approval. 

As roughly half of the meetings will be attended in person, the successful candidate will be UK-based. Being located either in Salford, or within Greater Manchester, would be ideal, but is not essential for this appointment. 

Citizens Advice Salford welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where diverse candidates can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.