Treasurer and Trustee - Wrexham Tennis and Padel Centre

Treasurer and Trustee – Wrexham Tennis and Padel Centre

What will you be doing?

We are looking for a new Treasurer to join our Board at an important stage in Wrexham Tennis & Padel Centre’s development.

Several years ago the Centre faced significant financial and operational challenges. At that time our external financial controller stepped forward to become a Trustee and Treasurer as part of the wider effort needed to secure the Centre’s future.

The organisation is now in a very different position. We have strengthened our Board, appointed our first Chief Executive, developed more formal governance arrangements and invested substantially in extending and refurbishing the Centre. That investment has transformed our ability to generate income from tennis, padel and pickleball and materially strengthened our financial position.

The Centre’s tennis, padel and pickleball courts comprise a facility that is the largest indoor venue of its type in Wales and one of the largest in the UK. We hold regional and national tournaments regularly and some international tournaments, including the upcoming Lexus Wrexham Open (https://wrexhamopentennis.com). This tournament brings top ranked female players from across the world to compete for vital world ranking points and $100,000 prize money. Last year, the event was the best attended ITF World Tour W100 indoor event worldwide whilst over 60,000 hours of play were watched via BBC iPlayer.

The previously mentioned Treasurer is now stepping down from the Board but will continue as the Centre’s paid financial controller, reverting to his previous role. We therefore have an opportunity to establish a clearer separation between professional accounting services and independent Board-level financial oversight.

The new Treasurer will help the Board understand and scrutinise the Centre’s financial position, budgets, forecasts, cash flow and financial risks. They will provide constructive challenge to management and professional advisers, help the Board assess the financial implications of major decisions and support the continuing development of strong financial governance.

The Treasurer will also be a member of our Finance & Operations Committee.

This is a governance and strategic oversight role. We are not looking for somebody to undertake routine bookkeeping or prepare the Centre’s accounts.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for someone with strong financial judgement who is comfortable operating at Board level.

You are likely to have significant experience in finance, accountancy, financial management, commercial finance or a senior business role involving substantial financial responsibility.

You should be confident reading and interpreting accounts, budgets, forecasts and management information and able to identify the financial issues and risks that really matter.

Equally important will be your ability to explain financial matters clearly to Trustees from non-financial backgrounds and to provide constructive challenge without becoming involved unnecessarily in day-to-day management.

We are particularly interested in someone who: –

can combine financial discipline with a strategic and commercial outlook;
understands the distinction between governance and management;
is comfortable questioning assumptions and challenging constructively;
can work collaboratively with the Chair, CEO, fellow Trustees and our financial controller;;
brings sound judgement, independence and integrity;
can distinguish important financial risks from unnecessary detail; and
is interested in helping a successful community sports organisation develop sustainably.

A professional accountancy or finance qualification would be highly desirable but is not essential where you can demonstrate substantial relevant senior financial experience.

Previous Trustee or non-executive experience would be useful but is also not essential. We would be very happy to hear from someone considering their first Trustee appointment who has the right financial experience and Board-level potential.

What difference will you make?

WTPC has made a significant transition from a period of financial and operational difficulty to a much stronger and more ambitious organisation.

Major investment in our facilities has substantially increased the Centre’s capacity to generate income from tennis, padel and pickleball. We now have professional executive leadership, a strengthened Board and a growing opportunity to increase participation, community impact and financial sustainability.

The new Treasurer will help ensure that this growth is supported by strong financial governance.

Their contribution will help the Board make well-informed decisions about investment, affordability, reserves, risk and future development. They will provide independent financial challenge and assurance while helping Trustees who do not have a finance background understand the issues that matter.

Just as importantly, this appointment will complete an important part of WTPC’s transition from the exceptional arrangements needed during an earlier period of difficulty to a more conventional and sustainable charity governance structure.

The successful candidate will therefore have the opportunity to make a real contribution to the long-term resilience of a community sports organisation that is becoming increasingly important to tennis, padel and pickleball participation in Wrexham and the surrounding area.