A Charity Trustee plays a crucial role in the governance and financial oversight of a charity. The role is often a voluntary one, which Chartered Accountants may take in order to gain leadership experience, apply their skills in a new sector, or give back to their community.
Qualities/skills needed:
- Commitment to the charity’s mission
- Enthusiasm for the role
- Financial acumen
Typical tasks:
- Participating in board meetings, keeping the board informed on its financial duties and responsibilities
- Reviewing policies, plans and budgets
- Monitoring the charity’s financial performance
- Approving annual budgets and financial statements
- Ensuring the charity complies with legal and regulatory requirements
- Liaise with professional advisors such as auditors
Articles & features
ICAEW's
Charity Community supports finance professionals in their roles as charity advisers, finance leaders and volunteers.
2024-25 CPD course for charity trustees now available
ICAEW members who volunteer as charity trustees must complete training each year that is specific to those duties, under ICAEW's CPD regulations. The Charity Community provides you with many cost-free CPD options, including our annual CPD course for charity trustees. Find out what we cover on the 2024-25 course, where to find it and how this differs from our Trustee Training Modules.
Supporting charity trustees with CPD
Accountants sharing their expertise as charity trustees need to understand the latest developments in charity accounting and governance. Find out more about ICAEW’s range of freely accessible CPD resources, including articles, webinars and online training.
Ensure that your trustee decisions are legal
This article provides a guide on how to navigate decision-making within charities. From understanding how the charity’s legal structure and governing document impact decision-making, to documenting decisions in compliance with charity regulation and law, this guide aims to equip you with the knowledge necessary to make informed and legally sound decisions.
Recruiting charity trustees – top tips for crafting a successful recruitment ad
Recruiting trustees is a crucial task for charities, as board members play a pivotal role in guiding the organisation, shaping its strategy and ensuring its mission is fulfilled effectively. However, many charities are hampered by board vacancies, so it’s never been more important to make your advertised role stand out from the crowd.
Banking for charities
Demand for charity services continues to grow. Be it the cost-of-living crisis, rising mental health challenges or our ageing populations, charities are finding themselves under increasing pressure to deliver more for less. Given the challenges they currently face in doing vitally important work, you’d hope that accessing banking services would be straightforward for them. However, it’s becoming increasingly challenging for charity trustees to do so. But why?
eBooks
The ICAEW Library & Information Service provides full text access to a selection of key business and reference eBooks from leading publishers. eBooks are available to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users. If you are unable to access an eBook, please see our Help and support advice or contact library@icaew.com.
Exclusive
Charity law and governance: a practical guide
Guidance on the legal and regulatory framework within which both registered and unregistered charities in England and Wales operate.
Exclusive
How to run a charity (2nd edition)
This guide offers practical support and advice to anyone involved in the management and administration of charities
Exclusive
Companies limited by guarantee
A guide to the incorporation and structure of a company limited by guarantee (CLG), as well as its managerial functions.
Exclusive
Nonprofit financial planning made easy
Guide to financial management for charities.
Exclusive
Cash flow solution: the nonprofit board member's guide to financial success
Outlines an approach to budgeting for charities, where cash flow is emphasised, rather than balancing assets and liabilities.
