Treasurer

Historic Norfolk, the charity that protects and promotes the built heritage of Norfolk, is looking for a new treasurer to join our active board of trustees. A formal accountancy qualification isn’t essential, but you should have demonstrable experience of financial matters and ideally an understanding of the charitable sector. A keen interest in the built environment and heritage is important.

This is a key role that involves overseeing the Trust’s accounts, authorising payments using online banking, liaising with the Trust’s secretary and external accountants, attending quarterly board meetings, preparing and presenting quarterly accounts and presenting annual accounts at the AGM. Historic Norfolk manages three properties that generate income from various sources including weddings, room hire, rent and a natural burial ground, making this an interesting and diverse role that would suit someone committed to helping conserve and care for our heritage buildings.

There’s also the opportunity to get involved in non-finance matters, such as specific projects or taking an interest in a particular building.

The role of the treasurer involves:

• monitoring the financial administration of the charity and reporting to the board of trustees
• overseeing the charity’s financial risk-management process
• board-level liaison with the external auditors
• overseeing and presenting budgets, internal management accounts and annual financial statements to the board of trustees
• approving and authorising payments using online banking
• ensuring that proper accounting records are kept, financial resources are properly invested and economically spent
• liaising with the secretary and other trustees

·      The opportunity to get involved in non-finance matters, such as specific projects or taking an interest in a particular building

Person specification

·     Demonstrable financial experience/expertise

·     Competent IT skills

·     Proven ability to communicate and explain financial information to members of the board and other stakeholders

·     Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship, and the Treasurer role in particular

Time Commitment

Board meetings take place every 3 months, currently on Mondays at 3 or 4pm, either in central Norwich or at one of the Trust’s properties. Payments will need authorising 2-3 times per month and management accounts prepared on a quarterly basis. There may work at other times on specific projects.

About Historic Norfolk

Historic Norfolk is a charity that protects and promotes the built heritage of Norfolk. We seek to achieve this by being a custodian for historically important buildings, a catalyst for building conservation initiatives, working in partnership with others and a champion for conservation through campaigning, fundraising and raising public awareness of our work.

Historic Norfolk was established in 1977, as the Norfolk Historic Buildings Trust, and has been instrumental in saving over 20 historic buildings that might otherwise have been lost.

We are entirely self-financing and the charity is managed by an active volunteer board of trustees with one part-time employee.

 Today we manage five properties, three of which bring in income:

Waxham Great Barn

The longest ancient barn in Norfolk, dating from the late 16th century. The barn is Grade 1 listed and the site is a Scheduled Monument, located within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is owned by Norfolk County council and leased to the Trust. The barn is open to visitors and is available to hire for weddings and other events. We work with an independent company to manage these activities, with incomes split between them and the Trust. One wing of the barn is leased to the Dunes Café who run a busy and popular café on site.

Oulton Chapel, Manse and Burial Ground

Located a few miles from Aylsham Oulton Chapel was a non-conformist chapel built between 1728 and 1731. It is Grade II* listed. It is used for local council meetings and as a polling station and is available to hire for meetings and other events. In 2023 we opened a natural burial ground on the site which is managed by the Aylsham office of Paul Fisher Funeral Services. The chapel is open on the second Sunday of the month from April to October, thanks to the Friends of Oulton Chapel.

The Manse, built in 1784 to accommodate the minister is grade II listed and is privately rented.

Becket's Chapel

Becket's Chapel in Wymondham is a Grade 1 listed building, the earliest parts of which date from the 12th century. It reopened in July 2023 following a programme of restoration and repair by Historic Norfolk, thanks to grant funding of around £700,000. It is available to hire for meetings, receptions and other activities. From May to October each year it is home to Wymondham Arts. Phase1 of the restoration (October 2022 to July 2023) involved repairs to the fabric of the building to make it watertight, structurally sound and in a usable condition. We are now actively planning the second phase of this project, subject to planning and funding.

Wwe also care for Homersfield Bridge and Thurton Lodges.