MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES UK



Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) provides life-saving emergency relief and longer-term medical care to some of the most vulnerable and excluded communities around the world. As an independent medical humanitarian organisation, we deliver care based only on need, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, religion or political affiliation.

MSF relies on donations from private individuals and organisations for the majority of its income. This private funding gives MSF the freedom to respond where needs are greatest and to speak out publicly, free from any political interference.

MSF has around 63,000 local and international staff working in over 70 countries, in some of the most challenging places in the world. Our medical humanitarian projects are supported by offices in 44 countries, including the UK and Ireland. These teams recruit staff, organise fundraising, and raise awareness on the humanitarian crises our colleagues are witnessing, as well as running different and diverse support activities. MSF offices are spread across Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa and Australasia.

At MSF UK/IE, we support MSF's operations by building relationships with our supporters, increasing awareness of our work, raising funds, providing specialist medical expertise, ensuring MSF staff have access to relevant higher education programmes, catalysing change on medical humanitarian issues, and recruiting field staff. MSF UK/IE personnel are dynamic, hard-working, enthusiastic and committed to MSF's values and aims. In addition MSF continues to build upon its presence in Ireland to become a widely recognised, accepted and respected humanitarian organisation among Irish audiences, and within the Irish humanitarian and political sector.

Role: MSF UK Trustee - Treasurer to the Board

Duration: 3 Year Term with option for an additional Term

Salary: Not remunerated - reasonable and proper expenses incurred to fulfill trustee business will be reimbursed.

ABOUT THE MSF UK BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The Board of Trustees ensures that MSF UK adheres to MSF’s core principles and values and conducts its business in an effective and efficient manner, with due care and accountability, responsible management of resources, and in compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements.

MSF UK is a charitable company limited by the guarantee of its members who delegate governance responsibilities to the Board of Trustees.

Association members, the company law members of MSF UK, elect the majority of trustees. Most Trustees have a medical background, but Trustees with different backgrounds are also elected, or co-opted to ensure the Board maintains an appropriate mix of skills and experience.

Each Trustee holds office for three years, after which they may stand for re-election or be considered again for co-option, for a total mandate not exceeding six years. Newly appointed Trustees are offered internal and external training on Trustee responsibilities.

Structure:

Association members, the company law members of MSF UK, delegate their governance responsibilities to the Board of Trustees.

Trustees act and justify actions in the best interests of MSF UK, in the best interests of the charity and compliance with the Charity Commission’s guidance.

The chair of the Board leads and coordinates the board’s governance activities, with the support from MSF UK’s Executive Office Team.

ROLE PURPOSE

Acting together in the best interests of MSF UK, Trustees each bring their diverse expertise, experience, and perspectives to fulfil the Board’s governance responsibilities. The Board of Trustees is looking to co-opt Treasurer to guide the board on issues relating to control, risk, and compliance with a focus on business and finance processes.

Your overall purpose will be:

• To monitor the financial administration of MSF UK and report to the Board at regular intervals, in line with best practice, on the robustness of internal controls, management accounting and budgeting.
• To ensure healthy management by the Board of agreed risks by overseeing the maintenance of the MSF UK Risk Register, which is a key tool for the governance of the organisation
• To ensure compliance with the Articles Association of MSF (UK), the Charities Statement of Recommended practice (SORP), and other applicable legislation including Company and Charity law.
• To provide financial advice and guidance to the board on strategic finance and investment issues.

You will be asked to play a leading role on the MSF UK Board’s Audit and Risk committee, chairing the committee, join the Remuneration Committee and our Operational partner’s Audit Committee.

Please download the Trustee Terms of Reference for full details of the role.

KEY SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES REQUIRED

We are looking for candidates with a well-rounded experience of financial management in a complex organisation, most likely in a leadership position. The selected candidate will take on the responsibility of Treasurer to the UK Board.

• Candidates will have a strong financial management background and will have managed or overseen sizeable budgets and operations.
• The ideal candidate will have worked as an auditor, or with auditors as an audit client. We are looking for understanding of statutory and internal audit processes.
• The ideal candidate will likely be a qualified accountant or have qualifications in business, economics, or finance.
• We expect candidates to demonstrate a good understanding of the UK charity sector, but we welcome candidates from other sectors.
• The candidate will need to demonstrate the ability to challenge and question budgets and operational processes.
• Excellent communication skills are essential to work in a multi-cultural, international environment.
• Board experience will be a plus but is not a requirement, the selected candidate will work closely with the out-going Treasurer for a short period and we have an induction programme to welcome new trustees.
• We are not looking for investment expertise (MSF UK invest funds) but we value a strong operational background in a finance team.
• Additional compliance, legal and regulatory competencies are a plus

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We are a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive organisation. MSF UK thrives when everyone feels comfortable bringing their best self to work. We celebrate difference, whilst striving to create an environment where colleagues feel respected and valued for their unique potential. We are committed to our values on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Please read our Equality & Diversity policy for more information.

MSF UK is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from all sections of our diverse community.

Safeguarding

MSF UK/IE is dedicated to safeguarding everyone who comes into contact with the organisation, for whatever reason and however brief. All posts are subject to safer recruitment process which include robust reference requests, scrutiny of employment history and where applicable criminal record and barring checks.

Our safeguarding commitment is underpinned by policies and procedures which encourage and promote safe working practice across the organisation. On joining MSF UK/IE you will be required to attend safeguarding training to ensure responsibility for and maintaining safe working practice and to safeguard our teams, beneficiaries, and communities.

HOW TO APPLY

For more information, candidates are invited to read the 2021 annual report of MSF UK, available on our website, which details the specific work and responsibilities of our UK charity. For information on the movement, please see the 2021 International Activity Report and International Financial Report of the MSF movement, available on www.msf.org.

Please apply on our website by submitting a copy of your CV together with a letter of motivation (please upload as one document) by the closing date.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Recruitment timetable:

• Closing date for applications: 31 March 2023, 11.59pm (BST)
• Interviews: 10 April 2023

Accessibility

We are committed to removing barriers for people with specific accessibility needs. If you need an adjustment to the recruitment process to be considered for the role, please let us know by contacting [email protected]

Examples of adjustments we can make:

• offering you an alternative if you are unable to use our online application system
• providing necessary information, such as the job description or assessment materials, in an alternate format
• allowing you to have someone with you during an interview for example, a Sign Language interpreter.

For further information about the role please contact [email protected]

For questions, issues or further information, please contact [email protected].

We look forward to receiving your application!