News
Treasurer Training 2012 Provisional Dates.
Posted: 31 January 2012
For information and action: Dates have provisionally been set for three Treasurer training sessions between March and May.
Please visit the volunteer news page for full details:
http://www.ramblers.org.uk/Volunteer/News/Training+for+new+Treasurers+2012
Treasurer training 2012
Posted: 9 January 2012
For information and action: Treasurer training sessions are due to take place in spring 2012.
Please visit the volunteer news page for full details:
http://www.ramblers.org.uk/Volunteer/News/Treasurer+Training+2012
Electronic cashbook
Posted: 4 October 2011
For information: An electronic cashbook is now available to download from our Treasurer webpage.
The cashbook is provided in Microsoft Excel format (.xls). You can download it below - instructions and a completed example are also provided.
Area and Group annual returns 2010/11
Posted: 26 August 2011
For information and action: Annual return packs for 2010/11 have been distributed to Area and Group Treasurers.
Packs were sent by email, via our Area Treasurers. A number of packs were also sent in hard copy on request. Group submission deadline: 21st October 2011, Area submission deadline: 4th November 2011. If you do not receive your pack soon, please contact us at areagroupfinance@ramblers.org.uk.
Updates to Treasurer guidance
Posted: 23 August 2011
For information: The guidance for Treasurers has been updated.
The most significant changes are:
- Advice on materiality and annual timetable added to introduction (FIN002)
- More advice on the handover to a new Treasurer (FIN004)
- New ‘reserves policy’ for Areas and Groups (FIN007)
- More advice on Unity Trust bank’s customer forms and internet banking (FIN008)
- Clarification of the ‘gross accounting basis’ and removed requirement for independent examiner to provide their postal address on their statement (FIN010)
- Clarified ‘claim and donate back’ system for expenses (FIN012)
- More advice on claiming expenses (FIN014)
- Clarified that this factsheet relates to external grant funding (FIN015)
- Updated ‘affiliated organisations’ factsheet in response to feedback.
Annual return timetable 2010/11
Posted: 4 August 2011
For information: Timetable for the 2010/11 annual return process for Areas and Groups
Late August 2011: Annual returns distributed, via Areas
21st October 2011: Deadline for Group returns to Area
4th November 2011: Deadline for Area and Group returns to central office
Nov 2011 – Jan 2012: Consolidation of returns and statutory external audit
February 2012: Audited balances communicated to Area Treasurers
Affiliated organisations
Posted: 23 June 2011
For information: We have published a list of organisations to which the Ramblers affiliates centrally, and those which affiliate to the Ramblers. This will inform Areas and Groups in deciding whether any local affiliations are necessary. Please see the ‘affiliated organisations’ section below.
Area and Group budgeting packs for 2011-12
Posted: 2 June 2011.
For information and action: Budgeting packs have been sent out to Areas.
Please visit the volunteer news page for full details:
http://www.ramblers.org.uk/Volunteer/News/Area+and+Group+budgeting+packs+for+2011-12
Area and Group budgeting timetable 2011-12
Posted: 16 May 2011.
For information and action: The timetable has been set for the 2011/12 Area and Group budgeting process.
Please visit the volunteer news page for full details: http://www.ramblers.org.uk/Volunteer/News/Area+and+Group+budgeting+timetable+2011-12
Reserves review 2011
Posted: 23 March 2011
For information and action: The results of our annual review of Area and Group reserves have been sent to Area Treasurers.
Area Treasurers were contacted by email on 22nd March with the results of our review of Area and Group reserves as at 30th September 2010. Area Treasurers were asked to consider our findings, discuss ongoing funding requirements with Group Treasurers where necessary and provide any responses by 15th April. This review takes place annually in order to ensure that charitable funds are being allocated appropriately.
Extra training session for new Treasurers: 14th May 2011
Posted: 7 March 2011.
For information and action: An additional training session for new Treasurers has provisionally been arranged for Saturday 14th May 2011 at Ramblers central office.
Please visit the volunteer news page for full details:
http://www.ramblers.org.uk/Volunteer/News/Extra+training+session+for+new+Treasurers
Treasurer guidance update: approving invoices
Posted: 16 February 2011
For information: Factsheet 'FIN009 - Bookkeeping' has been updated to incorporate a recommendation from our external auditors. In the section 'authorisation of purchases' we have added that Treasurers should sign and date invoices before payment, and retain these as evidence of review and approval.
Closing balances as at 30th September 2010
Posted: 16 February 2011
For information and action: Area Treasurers were contacted by email on 15th February in order to confirm the closing balances for their Area and Groups as at 30th September 2010. Any discrepancies should be discussed with the Finance Officer (Areas and Groups).
Training for new Treasurers 2011
Posted: 14 February 2011.
For information and action: Dates have provisionally been set for three Treasurer training sessions during March and April.
Please visit the volunteer news page for full details:
http://www.ramblers.org.uk/Volunteer/News/Training+for+new+Treasurers+2011
Newly updated Treasurer guidance now available!
The new ‘Guidance for Treasurers’ has been placed on the Treasurer webpage. This guidance replaces the previous Treasurer Handbook (v4 2007).
Major changes include a revised format (online factsheets rather than a printed handbook), new sections and updates to reflect current practice and regulatory requirements. Overall, the new guidance is more concise and more accessible than previous versions.
If you have any feedback on the new guidance, please contact the Finance Officer (Areas and Groups) at areagroupfinance@ramblers.org.uk.
(New resource - posted 2 November 2010)
Good Ideas on using funds effectively
At General Council, volunteers shared their good ideas on how to get better value from scarce Area and Group resources. Click here (News - posted 18th June 2010)
New resource: Electronic and manual cashbook
The electronic annual return form now includes a cashbook for recording all of your Area/Group transactions throughout the year. The main sections of the annual return are then completed automatically. Please give it a try! (Microsoft Excel required). The annual return form is available by request to areagroupfinance@ramblers.org.uk. If you prefer to work on paper, a new manual cashbook is now available on the Treasurer's webpage or by request to the Finance Officer (Areas and Groups). (New resource - posted 20 October 2009)
Guidance for Treasurers
Treasurer guidance is now in a factsheet format - you may choose to download all guidance at once (3 zipped files), or download/view each factsheet individually. All factsheets are in the pdf file format.
Download all Guidance for Treasurers: Zip 1 Zip 2 Zip 3
Download/view individual factsheets:
FIN001 - Title and contents
FIN002 - Introduction
FIN003 - Area and Group finance: overview
FIN004 - The role of Treasurer
FIN005 - Area Treasurer role description
FIN006 - Group Treasurer role description
FIN007 - Funding and reserves
FIN008 - Unity Trust banking
FIN009 - Bookkeeping
FIN010 - Accounts and the annual return
FIN011 - Use of charitable funds
FIN012 - Using funds effectively
FIN013 - Tax issues
FIN014 - Volunteer expenses
FIN015 - External grant funding
FIN016 - Displaying charity details
Volunteer expenses
See FIN014 for guidance on volunteer expenses.
A template expenses form is available for download.
Electronic cashbook
An electronic cashbook is integrated into the annual return to central office, which is distributed annually. The cashbook is also available to download below, along with a completed example and instructions:
Electronic cashbook (xls)
Electronic cashbook - example (xls)
Instructions for completing the electronic cashbook (pdf)
Manual cashbook
A manual cashbook is also available for those preferring to work on paper:
Manual cashbook (Excel version)
Manual cashbook (pdf version)
These cashbooks are designed to be printed rather than completed electronically. Instructions are included. Hard copies are also available on request.
Affiliated organisations
A list of organisations to which the Ramblers affiliates centrally, and those which affiliate to the Ramblers, can be found here. The purpose of this document is to inform Areas and Groups in deciding whether any local affiliations are necessary.
Contact us
If you have any queries or need advice about your role as a Treasurer please contact the Finance Officer (Areas and Groups): areagroupfinance@ramblers.org.uk.
Last updated: 31 January 2012.
