PEER is seeking to appoint a Treasurer to join its Board of Trustees. The ideal candidate will be a qualified accountant with experience of the Charities SORP as well as have an interest in the visual arts and/or community engagement projects. They will join this acclaimed small-scale arts organisation at a key moment in its development and contribute to its long-term growth and stability.
About PEER
PEER has been a key component of the London art ecology for nearly two decades and has been an Arts Council England’s National Portfolio organisation since 2010. Initially best known for its offsite projects with artists such as Martin Creed, Breda Beban, Mike Nelson, Bob and Roberta Smith, Anthony McCall, Yuko Shiraishi and John Frankland, in the past several years, PEER has become embedded in its immediate community of Hoxton and has utilised its public-facing position on the local high street in outstanding projects with artists such as Stuart Brisley, John Smith, Karin Ruggaber, Danh Vo, Fiona Banner and Andrea Zimmerman.
After an ambitious capital development project that concluded in April 2016, PEER reopened its radically improved galleries with work by Turner Prize nominee Angela de la Cruz. Extensive re-landscaping to the public realm area at the front created the Hoxton Public Space with commissions by Turner Prize winner Chris Ofili and London Fieldworks – confirming the gallery’s importance as focus for and of the local community. Since its re-launch, PEER’s programme has presented acclaimed exhibitions of work by Emma Hart & Jonathan Baldock, Jimmy Robert and most recently Catherine Story. From April 2018 PEER will receive an uplift in its annual Arts Council grant from £52k p/a to £85k p/a, expected to result in annual turnover of around £180 to £190k per annum. This will enable the organisation to expand its work with local audiences in particular, and grow its profile more widely across London, the UK and beyond.
About the role of Treasurer at PEER
The Treasurer will work closely with the Director, the part-time bookkeeper and the Board to have oversight and control of the organisation's finances. The Treasurer would be expected to attend the quarterly board meetings, which are typically held in March, June, September and December. In addition to this, it is anticipated that the Treasurer would commit approximately three to four hours of their time in advance of each board meeting to work with the Director and bookkeeper to review and approve the quarterly management accounts. During spring and summer, they would also be expected to be available to work with the Director and bookkeeper in the preparation of the Annual Accounts, and for Arts Council England financial reporting. In addition, the Treasurer would be available to offer ad-hoc advice on financial matters relating to the organisation, though this is not expected to result in any material time commitment on their part.
The Treasurer will be responsible for:
- Liaising with the Director about financial matters;
- Overseeing, approving and presenting budgets, accounts, financial statements and reports for internal and external audiences;
- Making sure that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place;
- Ensuring that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by funders and the relevant statutory bodies, e.g. The Charity Commission and/or the registrar of companies;
- Ensuring that the accounts are audited in the manner prescribed, and that any recommendations of the auditors are implemented;
- Making a formal presentation of the accounts at the annual general meeting and drawing attention to important points in a coherent and easily understandable way;
- Making sure that the organisation complies with any relevant finance legislation and keeping the Board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities;
- Safeguarding the financial resources of the organisation such that they meet its present and future needs;
- Monitoring the organisation's investment activity and ensuring its consistency with the organisation's policies and legal responsibilities;
- Advising on the financial implications of the organisation's strategic plans, including advising on and contributing to the fundraising strategy
Together with the Director and the Board of Trustees, the Treasurer will:
- Determine Mission and Strategy – actively take part in setting the organisation’s direction and determining how it will get there through the annual planning process and the business plan/strategic plan.
- Demonstrate Accountability – agree to be held to account for the actions of the organisation and to hold those who carry out the work (staff and/or volunteers) to account.
- Look after the committee – contribute to committee renewal by participating in the recruitment and induction of new trustees. Contribute to effective decision making and information sharing processes, positive group dynamics, and take part in reflection, learning and development as necessary.
- Safeguard assets – act as custodian of all of the organisation’s assets, ensuring that assets are used appropriately and constitutionally. Ensuring that there are sufficient assets for the organisations survival.
- Promote the organisation – The Treasurer will be an ambassador for the organisation, represent the organisation and link the organisation to its stakeholders, such as members, the community, funders etc.
- Help with the recruitment process - Contribute to the recruitment, selection and supervision of staff as appropriate.
Management Committee Members should:
Have an interest and commitment to the organisation and its aims in championing the visual arts for and with the community, including those that are local, national and international. Be willing to devote necessary time and effort and share expertise. Understand or be willing to learn the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.
How to apply:
To apply please send an up-to-date CV together with a supporting statement explaining how your skills and experience match the requirements of the role to Julia Lancaster: Julia@peeruk.org with the subject heading: TREASURER TRUSTEE
Please also provide the names, positions, organisations and telephone contact numbers of two referees. References will only be taken once your permission has been granted.
You are also invited to complete and return a diversity monitoring form, which can be downloaded by clicking on the link below. The information on the form will be treated as confidential, and only used for statistical purposes. The form will not be treated as part of the application.
Closing Date: 5pm on 30 March 2018.
Equal Opportunities Form
