Treasurer and Trustee - Volunteer

• Financial qualifications and experience.
• Some experience of charity governance, finance, fundraising, and pension schemes.
• The skills to analyze proposals and examine their financial consequences.
• Being prepared to make unpopular recommendations to the Board.
• A good knowledge of financial regulations and risk mitigation.
• Willingness to be available to staff for advice and enquiries on an ad hoc basis and support/help to promote and possibly attend events.

What Will You Be Doing?

Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation is guided and governed by a small, dedicated Board of Trustees who bring a blend of veterinary expertise, fundraising experience, financial knowledge, and communications skills.

We are positioned as a grant-giving charity in the UK but we have been instrumental in founding and supporting an elephant center and mobile outreach veterinary service in southern Thailand working closely with our sister charity STEF Thailand. As a young but growing UK charity with an ambitious mission, our Trustees are hands-on and deeply involved in both governance and operational support.

This close-knit structure allows us to respond quickly to emerging needs, particularly those arising from our veterinary, education, and research work in Thailand, but it also means we are at a stage where strengthening our UK governance and financial systems is essential for sustainable growth.

The Board currently includes practising veterinarians, some with direct experience of elephant care, alongside Trustees with backgrounds in charity fundraising, finance, human resources, conservation, business, and organizational development. This mix gives us strong insight into frontline needs and donor expectations, but like many developing charities, we face the challenge of balancing day-to-day delivery with the strategic planning required to build long-term resilience and income growth.

As demand for free veterinary care continues to rise, we are increasingly aware that our ability to expand our impact depends on more structured financial and strategic oversight, robust reporting, and improved forward planning.

Our biggest organizational challenges center on financial sustainability, governance maturity, and the need to transition from a reactive operational model to one that is more strategic and future-focused. We are working to strengthen our internal processes, improve budgeting discipline, and ensure that our financial information supports confident decision-making.

With income streams still developing and operational demands growing, the Board recognizes that strong financial leadership is critical to navigating this next phase.

The Role of the Treasurer

This is where our new Treasurer will play a transformative role. We are seeking a Trustee who can lead our financial governance and help shape the systems that will underpin our future growth. The Treasurer will chair our Finance & Risk function, oversee financial reporting to the Board, and work closely with fellow Trustees to ensure our budgeting, forecasting, and compliance processes are robust and fit for purpose.

You will help us build clarity around financial performance, strengthen our risk management approach, and support the Board in making informed strategic decisions.

Beyond the technical responsibilities, this role offers the opportunity to make a direct and meaningful contribution to elephant welfare in southern Thailand. By helping us establish stronger financial foundations, you will be enabling our veterinary team to reach more sick and injured elephants, expand our preventative care work, and invest in the long-term health of these extraordinary animals.

The Treasurer’s leadership will influence how far our impact can grow and how confidently we can plan for the future.

For a trustee who enjoys shaping systems, strengthening governance, and supporting mission-driven organizations at pivotal moments, this role offers both challenge and genuine purpose.