Royal Society of Literature — Treasurer

The Royal Society of Literature is seeking a new Treasurer to join its Council and Finance and HR Committee. The new Treasurer will be an experienced finance professional, with a background in accounting, financial management or fund management, and will have previous charity Trustee experience. (Deadline: 11 April)

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About

The Royal Society of Literature (RSL) is one of the oldest learned societies in the UK, and Britain’s charity for the advancement of literature. Founded in 1820 ‘to excite literary talent and reward literary merit’, it continues to meet these ideals, most recently with the launch of the RSL 200 five-year festival celebrating the best writing - past, present and future - across the UK. The RSL is a registered charity governed by the Charity Commission and its Royal Charter.

With its Fellowship of around 700 distinguished writers at our core, the RSL acts as a voice for the value of literature, engages the public in literature, and honours and encourages great writers at all stages of their careers. It believes that Literature Matters, and across our public events, publications, awards and prizes and outreach programmes, it celebrates the transformative power of literature to shape society and to change an individual life.

In November 2020, the RSL launched its five-year 200th birthday festival, RSL 200. Over the coming years, the RSL 200 will explore, interrogate and reimagine the UK’s literary landscape as it celebrates the best in British writing, past, present, and future. Through the festival, the RSL will continue to share literature with the greatest number of people possible across the UK and beyond, showing the power of literature to shape society and to change an individual life through new and continuing programmes.


Role specification

The Royal Society of Literature is led by its Council of Fellows and Honorary Fellows, chaired by Daljit Nagra. Council members are Trustees of the organisation, and are advised by the Finance and HR Committee, which draws additional expertise in finance, fundraising, legal and human resources management, as well as providing additional insight into best practice for the Society’s governance.

The Treasurer sits on both the Council and on the Finance and HR Committee. The Committee is led by Daljit Nagra and the RSL Treasurer (currently Colin Chisholm, a former Investment Director at Rathbones Investment Management). An important part of the role of Treasurer is to work with the RSL Chair, Director and team in building the financial resources of the organisation, ensuring that charity continues to support generations of readers and writers.

The main responsibilities of the Treasurer include:

  • Overseeing the RSL’s financial activities and financial reporting (supplied by the RSL Finance subcontractors and RSL Director). This includes advising on financial governance, guiding the Council and working with the executive team on all aspects of the RSL’s financial management
  • Reviewing the RSL annual budget and supporting the RSL Director in monitoring adherence to the budget
  • Ensuring the RSL’s funds – including investments – are appropriately managed, including annual meetings with the RSL’s investment fund managers
  • Assisting in risk assessment when actioning financial decision making, in compliance with relevant legislation
  • Sitting on the Finance and HR Committee
  • Ensuring that the RSL continues to have appropriate financial systems and controls in place
  • Supporting and take an active role in fundraising for the Society

Person specification

[The new Treasurer will be an experienced finance professional. They will have at least seven years of experience working as an accountant, financial or fund manager, and will hold the appropriate professional qualifications for their function. This may have been gained in any sector. Importantly, they will be excellent at communicating financial information to the other Trustees on the Council.

Candidates will be familiar with preparing charity accounts and with the management of charity funds. As such, they will have previous experience working with charities in a non-executive capacity. However, they do not need to have held the role of Treasurer previously. They will also appreciate the nature of small charity governance, though their direct experience may have been gained in a charity of any size.

At an exciting time for fundraising at the RSL, the new Treasurer will be excited to support these endeavours. Professional experience with fundraising is not necessary, but candidates should demonstrate their enthusiasm and ability to bring new ideas, networks and introductions to aid fundraising. They will be able to take on an ambassadorial role to further this work.

Candidates should also demonstrate their interest in, and affinity for, literature, and / or literacy and its education.


Board composition

The full composition of the Council can be viewed here


Terms of appointment

This role is unremunerated. The time commitment for the role varies based on events and ad hoc engagements, but at a minimum involves attending quarterly Council meetings, quarterly Finance and HR Committee meetings, and an AGM. Currently Council and Committee meetings are held virtually, while the AGM takes place in-person in London, in October or November. Travel expenses would be reimbursed as necessary.

The appointment is for a four-year term, which can be renewed once at the discretion of the Council.


Location

UK


Diversity

The Royal Society of Literature is led by an ethos of respect and compassion for each other and the communities it works with, and these values are reflected in everything it does. It believes literature is for everyone, people of all ethnicities, gender identities, disabilities, cultures, religions / beliefs, sexual orientations or ages. It has a queer / female-led team that is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. It prizes integrity, creativity and thoughtfulness. As such, it encourage applications from people under-represented in the creative industries, particularly candidates from the global majority, and disabled candidates. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process.

The RSL support reasonable adjustments and will work with candidates to meet the demands of the role, making adaptations where necessary. If you require information in a different format or have any questions regarding accessibility – in relation to the application process or the role – please get in touch below.


The deadline for consideration is 11 April 2023.

If you would like to register your initial interest in this role, please fill in the form below.

Please note that registering your interest via this microsite does not constitute a formal application for the role. If it would be worth submitting an application, a member of the Nurole team will be directly in touch ahead of the deadline to let you know and invite you to apply through the Nurole platform.