Call for Applications: Treasurer of the Oxfam International Board

Background

Oxfam is part of a global movement for social justice. We use our power and privilege to open spaces for those with whom we share vision and values; and work with people and communities before, during and after crisis to create a world that is just and sustainable. Together, we fight inequality to end poverty and injustice.

Oxfam International (OI) is a global confederation, currently with 22 independent member organisations (‘Affiliates’). We are registered as a ‘Stichting’ (Foundation) in the Netherlands, as a foreign company limited by guarantee in the UK and under a host country agreement with the government of Kenya with staff and advocacy offices distributed across the world. The global confederation is united by a common vision and mission and works together to deliver Oxfam’s Global Strategic Framework. For more information, visit www.oxfam.org.

The Oxfam International Board is composed of independent members with no concurrent or recent affiliation with the Oxfam confederation, and non-independent members from Oxfam Affiliates. It is composed of 11 members, 5 of whom – including the Board Chair – are ‘independent,’ i.e. do not have any concurrent affiliation with Oxfam International. The working language of the OI Board is English. The current members’ bios are available here.

The OI Board plays a critical role in ensuring effective global governance for Oxfam. It provides oversight, strategic foresight, and informed insight to strengthen the organization’s governance framework. Specifically, the Board oversees global strategy and risk management, and the operations of the Oxfam International Secretariat; develops globally applicable policies; recommends the admission, suspension, or removal of Affiliates; and makes decisions regarding the allocation of agreed Affiliate contributions. To enable the delivery of its mandate, the Board has set up 3 Committees: Strategy Implementation and Oversight; Finance, Risk and Audit; and Governance and Nominations. The Treasurer is responsible for Chairing the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee.

For more information about our governance, please visit the Oxfam International website.

The role

The Treasurer of OI [hereafter “the Treasurer”] is a voluntary role (non-remunerated) with eligible expenses reimbursed in line with OI financial policies. 

Appointment and Term

The Treasurer is appointed by the OI Board subject to approval by the OI Assembly. The Treasurer may serve up to two terms of three years each. 

Time commitment

The Treasurer of the OI Board is expected to have sufficient time available to execute the roles and responsibilities of this specific role. 

This will require chairing all meetings of the Finance, Risk & Audit Committee (FRAC), attendance at full Board meetings, and may require attendance at meetings of other committees of the Board, as needed. The Board meets once every quarter, with meeting dates agreed well in advance as part of an annual Board calendar. 

Travel for Board meetings might be required occasionally. However, most global governance meetings are held virtually as part of Oxfam’s commitment to reduce both cost and its environmental footprint.  

The Treasurer may be requested to participate in other ad hoc/temporary or substantive advisory committees or working groups as established by the OI Board. 

The OI Treasurer is also expected to devote adequate time outside of Board meetings to build and nurture strong working relationships with other members of the OI Board, with the OI Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer and (as required) with other key Confederation stakeholders. The level of effort expected is on average 3-4 days per month.

Candidate Profile

OI seeks to appoint a Treasurer who will offer financial, risk and audit strategic leadership, and critical guidance in line with good practice and in accordance with governing documents and legal requirements.

The Treasurer will demonstrate a sound understanding of the not-for-profit sector and a deep commitment to Oxfam's vision, mission and values. They will have an understanding of OI’s continuation to transform itself to remain relevant, resilient and impactful into the future by being locally rooted, globally balanced and achieving impact as one Oxfam. The Treasurer will advise on the financial and risk implications of the Confederation’s strategic plans, decisions and future models.

The Treasurer will act as a trusted source of support and counsel to other Board members and the OI Executive Director. They will be expected to hold the highest standards of transparency, accountability, ethics and performance. The Treasurer will have demonstrated their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, in conjunction with a commitment to creating lasting impact driven by the values of social justice.

For more information on the candidate profile please read the brief below.