Treasurer

AVID (The Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees) is a national network of visitor groups to people in immigration detention. We are looking for a treasurer who can take the lead in financial governance.What will you be doing? AVID's Board of Trustees have overall legal responsibility for the charity and are responsible for ensuring our finances and resources are well used in line with our strategic priorities. Operational management and implementation is delegated to the Co-Directors. You will be joining a committed board of trustees with a wide range of expertise. You will be joining a committed board of trustees with a wide range of expertise including in fundraising, immigration law, the refugee sector and international development. Term: Three years; optional extension of a further three years. Time commitment: The Board meets quarterly, online, for around 2 hours. Around one-two hours reading time is usually sufficient preparation for a typical meeting, although this may be more if there are particular papers requiring decision to read beforehand. There are three subcommittee's delegated to oversee finance and fundraising; HR and wellbeing; and strategy and policy. The Treasurer is expected to join the Finance and Fundraising Sub-committee which meets quarterly. Board members are expected to assist in the organisation of the annual AGM and to attend other meetings as required. In addition, Board members provide ad-hoc support to the AVID Co-Directors in line with their specific areas of expertise. Key Responsibilities of the Treasurer are to oversee the governance of AVID's financial management with regard to:

• Ensuring legal requirements for producing, signing and filing accounts are met.
• Attending and contributing actively to the Fundraising and Finance subcommittee.
• Supporting the Co-Directors in reviewing the annual budget and budgets relating to specific fundraising applications (The Treasurer is not expected to maintain accounts or prepare budgets which are tasks undertaken by the Co-Director and/or external accountants)
• Working cooperatively with and providing guidance to the Co-Directors and board of trustees on financial management including
+ regular oversight of risks and of opportunities to enhance AVID's financial position. + guidance on evolution of AVID's financial controls and systems. + ensuring adherence to the requirements of our funders. + leading Board and Finance Committee discussion on financial matters.


• Financial management, An understanding and commitment to migrant justice is particularly important and we welcome applications from people with lived experience of detention or of wider hostile environment polices. We have a strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
Your relevant skills and experience could be from working, training, volunteering, interests or life experience. Your experience can be from both in and outside of the UK however we are looking for someone who has some experience of working in the UK. We are looking for:
• Financial and budgeting knowledge and experience, ideally with knowledge of charity finance.
• Ability to think strategically and balance risk and opportunity
• Creativity and openness to change
• Effective team work skills and ability to build positive relationships with board members and staff
• Commitment to the mission and aims of AVID
• Ability to analyse and interpret developments in the external environment
• Understanding of legal obligations of civil society organisations.
• Ability to communicate clearly to the Director, the Board and its Finance Committee a strategic overview of finance, financial control systems, risks and opportunities, with regard to the organisation's strategy.
• Willingness to commit around 4-8 hours a month to the governance of the organisation.
  
  Our thirty-year history of working with local communities and people detained has provided us with insurmountable evidence of the senseless, harmful, and discriminatory nature of detention. Removal of someone's liberty is an extreme measure and its indefinite nature has been described by people detained as "mental torture".
Visitors play a vital role in mitigating the harm that is caused by detention. They meet with people detained to provide emotional support and practical support. However, visiting is not easy. AVID was established in direct response to this need thirty years ago. Over the past three years and a period of change in our area of work, AVID has been taking stock to develop our five-year strategic framework. As a small team, our trustees are an integral to working towards our objectives, holding us accountable and supporting our staff team. "In my eight years with AVID, moving from staff to Co-Director with lived experience of detention, I've seen how a skilled and dedicated board can transform our fight against detention. Their expertise and support have been crucial in driving meaningful change. Joining our board means being part of a collective force that challenges the status quo and truly makes a difference." Gee, Co-Director for Policy and Influencing "As a first time Director two and a half years ago, I remember being extremely nervous presenting at the first board meeting. I needn't have been. The board have been essential to my development and making it possible for me to carry out my role as Co-Director. Having their expertise, encouragement and support has been invaluable." Miranda, Co-Director for Membership and Operations