Could you help make a difference to the lives of children in North Somerset?

We need your finance and accounting skills to support us in running Home-Start North Somerset, the leading family support charity.

We offer free, confidential support, friendship and practical help to parents. We’re there for parents when they need us most: we support them through challenging times, whether through isolation, anxiety, coping with multiple births, disability, illness or just feeling overwhelmed.

We aim to make a difference by helping parents feel less alone and to develop the confidence to enjoy parenting.  Consequently, the children have a better chance to enjoy their childhood. 

You will be helping set our strategic direction, as well as leading the financial oversight of the charity, including

• oversight of bookkeeping
• ensuring that staff are paid appropriately
• budgeting and forecasting annual spend
• provision of financial reporting to the board of trustees
• ensuring that applicable taxes are paid appropriately
• supporting fundraising activities including preparing budgets for grant applications

You will join a small, committed Board of Trustees with considerable management and social care experience. Our administrator will do most of the bookkeeping work with your oversight as necessary. 

Our trustees work closely with staff to ensure the safe and sustainable running of the organisation.  The Board has responsibility for 5 part-time staff, including a Senior Organiser who manages the rest of the team. Normally the Board meets every six weeks and we currently have three sub committees which meet in between.

Essential:

• demonstrable experience of financial management
• competent use of IT skills and ability to produce reports as necessary
• proven ability to communicate and explain financial information to stakeholders who do not have a financial background
• an interest in the organisation's cause and objectives

Desirable:

• qualified accountant with demonstrated legal awareness and knowledge
• knowledge and experience of charity fundraising and finance practices
• willing to act as the charity's ambassador to external bodies, funders and companies
• we are a small group of Trustees and welcome help across any of our activities, meeting volunteers, fundraising events, attending staff meetings.  This is not essential but will probably enhance the enjoyment of the role.

Ideally a candidate would have an interest or experience in small charity work, parenting, family support and/or children under 5, but we welcome those with transferable skills gained in another sector. Our current trustees come from a variety of backgrounds, but all have in common a passion for making a positive difference to local families’ lives.

We would prefer someone with knowledge of North Somerset and preferably living within easy reach of the area.