Rainforest Saver Treasurer

Rainforest Saver is seeking an experienced Treasurer to oversee our finances, international payments and annual accounts. You’ll play an important role in a small environmental charity working in Cameroon and Ecuador to protect forests, restore soils and improve livelihoods.

What difference will you make?

A good Treasurer is essential to the success and sustainability of Rainforest Saver. As a small charity, we need to make every pound count, and strong financial management allows us to direct as much of our limited resources as possible towards our work with farmers and communities.

• This role will give someone with financial expertise the opportunity to make a tangible difference to an environmental charity working internationally. Our projects in Cameroon and Ecuador support farmers to adopt Inga Alley Cropping, helping to restore degraded soils, reduce pressure on rainforest, improve agricultural productivity and build more sustainable livelihoods.
• The Treasurer will help ensure that money reaches the people and projects that need it, while also making sure that Rainforest Saver meets its legal and financial responsibilities as a Scottish charity.
• As we are a small and growing organisation, the Treasurer will have the opportunity to do more than simply maintain the accounts. They can help us develop better financial systems, strengthen our financial planning, identify opportunities to use our resources more effectively and contribute to decisions about the future direction of the charity.
• The role also provides an opportunity to become closely involved with the work of an international environmental organisation. We are a small team, and trustees can see the direct connection between the decisions they make and the work taking place on the ground.
• We are particularly keen to find someone who will take an interest in the charity beyond the numbers. The Treasurer will have the opportunity to learn about our projects, meet or communicate with our project teams and farmers, and understand the environmental and social impact that our supporters' donations make possible.
• For someone looking to use their professional financial skills for a worthwhile cause, this is an opportunity to contribute at a level where their expertise can have a real and visible impact.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for an experienced and reliable person with a good understanding of financial management who is willing to use their professional skills to support a small, growing environmental charity.

• The most important requirement is experience in financial management, accounting or a related field. The successful candidate should be comfortable overseeing accounts, monitoring income and expenditure, preparing or reviewing financial reports and accounts, and advising trustees on financial matters. Experience of charity accounts and Scottish charity regulation would be particularly valuable, although we would be happy to consider someone with strong financial experience who is new to the charity sector.
• Experience with Gift Aid, online banking, international payments and financial reporting would be useful. Knowledge of OSCR requirements and the financial responsibilities of Scottish charities would be an advantage.
• However, we are looking for more than someone who can simply manage a spreadsheet. Rainforest Saver is a small organisation, and our trustees are closely involved in the charity's activities. We would like our Treasurer to take an interest in what we do and to understand how our financial decisions affect our projects and the people we work with.
• An interest in environmental issues, sustainable agriculture, international development or community-based projects would therefore be welcome. Our work is currently focused on Cameroon and Ecuador, supporting farmers to use Inga Alley Cropping as a sustainable alternative to farming practices that can contribute to deforestation and soil degradation.
• We value people who are collaborative, practical and willing to contribute ideas. The ability to work independently is important, as is the willingness to communicate with the other trustees and project team members when necessary.
• Previous experience as a charity trustee would be useful but is not essential. We are particularly interested in hearing from someone who has professional financial experience and would like to apply those skills in a meaningful, hands-on voluntary role.
• We welcome applications from people from a wide range of backgrounds. Experience of working internationally or with communities in Africa or Latin America would be an advantage, but is not required.
• Above all, we are looking for someone who is financially competent, dependable and genuinely interested in helping Rainforest Saver develop and become more financially sustainable while continuing to maximise the impact of every pound we raise.