The Position

The Treasurer to the Board plays a crucial role in ensuring sound financial management, transparency, and compliance, safeguarding the organisation’s financial health and integrity.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about sustainability and environmental issues, with strong financial management skills, a strategic mindset, attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively with the Board and staff. This is a voluntary role for a person who would like to make a significant contribution to GS’s future success.

Key Accountabilities

Financial Oversight:

• Oversee and present budgets, accounts, and financial statements to the Board, ensuring clarity and transparency in all financial matters.
• Monitor financial performance against the approved budget, highlighting variances and recommending corrective actions as needed.
• Work with the CEO and staff to prepare the annual operating budget and present it for Board approval.
• Report regularly to the Board and members on the organisation’s financial status, including at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Annual Audit:

• Oversee the annual audit process, liaising with external auditors and ensuring that audit recommendations are implemented.

Compliance and Governance:

• Ensure that all statutory financial and tax-related documents are completed accurately and submitted on time, maintaining compliance with relevant legislation and the requirements of regulators such as the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and Consumer Affairs Victoria.
• Ensure the development, implementation, and periodic review of financial policies and procedures to protect the organisation from fraud, misappropriation, and financial mismanagement.
• Maintain appropriate accounting procedures and internal controls, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of all financial records.

Board and Member Support:

• Facilitate the financial literacy of fellow Board members by providing guidance and professional development opportunities as needed.
• Translate complex financial information into accessible terms for non-financial stakeholders.
• Participate in strategic planning to ensure financial strategies align with Geelong Sustainability’s mission and long-term goals.

Other Duties:

• Serve as a financial liaison between the Board, staff, members, and external stakeholders.
• Represent the organisation at relevant events and meetings as required.

Other Accountabilities

• Support Geelong Sustainability’s vision and strategy in all communications.
• Attendance at all Board meetings.
• Membership of the Audit, Finance and Risk Subcommittee.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with internal and external stakeholders across digital, phone, written and in-person communications.

Key Selection Criteria

• Commitment to the values of Geelong Sustainability and a willingness to contribute to its vision and mission.
• Relevant qualifications and/or demonstrated experience in finance, accounting, or related fields (formal qualifications highly desirable, but not essential).
• Strong understanding of financial management in the not-for-profit sector.
• High standards of integrity, ethics, and transparency.
• Ability to communicate financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders effectively.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated experience working independently and at the direction of a Board, delivering work to the required standard and timeframes and showing initiative and a proactive approach to task prioritisation, execution, and problem-solving.
• Discreet and able to manage sensitive information and confidentiality.
• Experience in a Treasurer role on the Board of a similar scale organisation (highly desirable)
• Resident of Australia.

Other attributes

• Knowledge and experience in a not-for-profit setting.
• Digital literacy, particularly familiarity with accounting software and financial reporting tools.
• Willingness to work and attend meetings outside normal office hours.

Position details

• This is a volunteer position.
• Attendance at Board meetings will be outside normal business hours – usually beginning at 5.30 – 7:30pm on the third Wednesday of the month.
• The successful candidate will be appointed to a Casual Vacancy on the Board until the next AGM (October 2025) with options to extend for a 2-year term.

A position description is attached.

To talk further about the position, call Geelong Sustainability’s Chairperson, David Spear on 0427 524 215.

The successful candidate will be required to successfully pass a Nationally coordinated Criminal History Check prior to commencement.