Trustee - Finance at Jet Age Museum

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

TRUSTEE - FINANCE

ROLE:

Jet Age Museum engages with people in Gloucestershire and beyond to foster and inspire interest in the aviation history of the County from the earliest days of flight, through the birth of the Jet Age to the modern aerospace industry of today. We are a family friendly community museum run exclusively by volunteers and registered as a charity and a company more formally known as the Gloucestershire Aviation Collection. The Museum’s aim is to preserve our rich aviation heritage and inspire the future of aviation in the County. 

The role of the Trustee - Finance is to oversee the financial affairs of the Gloucestershire Aviation Collection Charity and its public facing activities at Jet Age Museum. The role involves working closely with fellow trustees, the volunteer Finance Manager and the Museum’s Accounting Advisors/Statutory Accounts Examiners in particular, to ensure that accounting standards required by statutory bodies are met.   

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Attending Board meetings to regularly report on the state of the Charity’s finances and recommending actions as required to address any concerns.

Flagging any current or potential future charity financial issues when they arise.

Leading on the preparation of annual budgets for all areas of the Museum involving other trustee champions and the appropriate managers in the process. 

Presenting the final draft budget to the Trustees during August each year ensuring sufficient time to publish the approved budget in time for the new financial year – from 1 September.

Preparing the annual Trustees’ Financial and other Delegations Framework Document for Board approval and distribution to all budget holders by 1 September.

Working with our accounting advisers/statutory accounts examiners to prepare our annual accounts for acceptance by the Board and reporting to Companies House before the due deadlines.   

Reporting to the Charity membership on the state of the Museum’s finances at the General Meeting held each year and proposing the appointment of the accounting advisers/account examiners for each year.

Preparing a forward look at the financial situation for the current FY and beyond for Forward Plan updates.

Reviewing the best investment and fundraising opportunities for the Charity to propose to the Board.

Seeking legal advice on any Charity financial matters requiring such advice.

Conducting an annual review of our insurance requirements before policy renewal date to ensure best value for money. 

Maintaining good working relationship with the Finance team at Gloucestershire Airport Limited (our landlords) following the sale of the Airport by its local authority owners to a private consortium (Autumn 2025).    

Working closely with the volunteer Finance Manager and their team, offering advice and support as required. (Note, we are currently not tax or VAT registered and the team uses Xero accounting software for daily record keeping). 

Preparing/updating the Roles and Responsibilities document for the Finance Manager for Board approval and approving similar documents for the Finance team prepared by the Finance Manager.  

Recommending to the Board for approval the trustees, managers other volunteers that should have delegated powers to operate the Xero accounting system and our bank and investment accounts.  

SKILLS/INTERESTS NEEDED:

A background in finance and accounting with experience in financial planning, budgeting, reporting at Board and department levels and liaison with accounts examiners* and statutory bodies. *Jet Age Museum is too small for formal audits. 

Experience in the charitable sector would an advantage but is not essential.  

An interest in heritage and aviation is desirable but not essential. 

TRAINING OFFERED:

Internal Board member training is provided as well as formal Museum Induction as a new volunteer and the opportunity to take part in external training courses provided by Museum Development South West and other providers. 

TIME COMMITMENT SUGGESTED: As negotiated with the Board.    

LOCATION: At the Museum and from home as required/agreed with the Board. 

MAIN POINT OF CONTACT/SUPERVISOR: Chair of the Board of Trustees. 

August 2025