Treasurer Vacancy
June 2026
Introduction
South Square Centre is seeking a treasurer to join our board of trustees, supporting the organisation through our next period of growth and development. We are looking for an experienced accountant or bookkeeper who can support this unique and exciting charity through 2 days per month time commitment.
About Us
Established 1982, Thornton & Allerton Community Association (TACA) is dedicated to improving quality of life for residents of Thornton & Allerton through the preservation and programming of South Square Centre, a unique Grade II listed venue for arts, heritage and community. South Square is home to three contemporary art exhibition spaces, 14 studio spaces for artists & small businesses, history archive, framers, café and bar, and community garden.
South Square believes in delivering change through creativity. We are an established visual arts anchor organisation for the district, and the only cultural venue in semi-rural Bradford West. We have championed a community-embedded approach to placemaking, demonstrating how bringing artists into communities can help facilitate communities to bring about positive change on an individual and collective level.
The centre hosts community events and activities for all ages, including an ongoing workshop and outreach programme and provides community spaces available to hire.
South Square Centre is owned and operated by Thornton & Allerton Community Association. We are a registered charity (Charity No.1122128) with a board of trustees. We are located at South Square, Thornton Road, BD13 3LD just 5 miles west of Bradford City Centre.
Current position
In 2020-2023 we completed a 3-year heritage programme funded by National Heritage Lottery Fund which funded the transformation of the building through a £1.3m capital refurbishment programme. In conjunction we completed a Community Asset Transfer of the building from Bradford Council securing a 99-year lease.
Through this period the centre underwent extensive development including increased staff capacity, growth and organisational development. Since 2023 we been awarded over £300k in funding and grown our revenue to £250k per year.
In 2025, we celebrated Bradford being City of Culture, through an ambitious project to celebrate the visual arts across Bradford through ‘OUR TURN: Bradford Visual Arts Festival’ a Turner Prize fringe festival offering opportunities to grassroots and emerging visual artists, which featured 44 exhibitions or events, and reached an audience of 21,000.
Following a successful city of culture year, the centre is looking to secure its future through increasing sustainability and long-term fundraising prospects so that we can continue to develop and grow our impact.
Our achievements over the last 5 years:
- £1.3m raised for capital redevelopment, inc £700k from National Lottery Heritage Fund
- 101 windows replaced, a new roof, insulation, updated electricity and fire safety measures, new accessible bathrooms installed, and accessible ground floor gallery space
- Welcome 20,000 visitors per year in the past 12 months
- Over 1976 people engaged in outreach programme.
- Over 3531 people participated in activities on site, online and out in the community.
Developing your skills
Being a trustee is a fantastic opportunity. Not only do you get to meet and work alongside a variety of people, but you will also get the opportunity to develop new skills and knowledge. It is a rewarding opportunity in which you can get back what you put in.
Being a trustee at South Square you will:
• Play a role in our strategic leadership and governance
• Your experience with us will enable you to develop your skills and knowledge
• Your time with us may open up other trustee opportunities or paid roles
Treasurer Role Profile
We are currently seeking expressions of interest from individuals who would like to take up the role of Treasurer, supporting the organisations financial controls, legal compliance and proper record keeping. The Treasurer will work alongside the Director to support the financial health of the charity, reviewing management accounts and advising the Director.
We would be particularly interested in hearing from individuals in Bradford or West Yorkshire who are/have;
- Experience of finance, financial controls, and business management
- Experience in working as an accountant, bookkeeper or business manager
- Understanding of best practice for preparing management accounts
- Strong attention to detail
- Able to commit to 2 days per month reviewing management accounts and high value transactions
We hold board meetings every 8 weeks online & in person at South Square (BD13). We are looking for people who are interested in becoming active trustees, who can advocate for the organisation, attend South Square events, and are committed to taking on the responsibilities of becoming a charity trustee.
Diversity & Inclusion
We know the value that bringing more individuals with lived experience can bring to our board of trustees. It is known that diverse boards make better decisions, which results in better outcomes and greater stability for organisations. We would like our board to be more representative of the communities that we support.
This is why we are actively seeking to recruit a diverse group of trustees. We are flexible and understand everyone has different needs, so we will always try to find ways to accommodate them. Don’t underestimate what you can bring to the role. Whether your experience is from your personal or professional life, you’ll be able to share your skills, knowledge, and experience with us to help people across the Bradford district.
Time Commitment
South Square board of trustees meet six times a year on Wednesdays 6.30-8pm. At least 3 of the meetings will take place in person at South Square Centre in Thornton.
In between meetings board members are expected to take up some duties relevant to their area of expertise and subgroups where necessary. Meetings or calls with the director to discuss specific issues are expected and to work closely with the director as and when needed and be involved in their performance management if necessary. Board members are expected to attend an annual strategic away day and required extra-ordinary meetings which may arise.
Most roles within the organisation are covered by a paid staff team or freelance consultants. We have freelance accountancy support and HR support provided. Our trustees act as a voluntary advisory board to support the paid employees and make key decisions on how the charity is run.
Trustees are expected to commit to a minimum of 2 years and maximum of 5 years.
Remuneration
This position is unremunerated; however, reasonable expenses will be covered.
Eligibility
The law places certain restrictions on becoming a charity trustee. For example, you cannot be under the age of 18, previously have been removed from trusteeship by a charity by a Court or the Charity Commission, disqualified under the Company Director’s Disqualification Act 1986, or been convicted of an offence involving deception or dishonesty (unless the conviction is spent). If you are in any doubt about your eligibility, visit the Charity Commission website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/confirmation-of-charity-trustee-eligibility
How to apply
Please submit an expression of interest to Alice Withers [email protected] this should include;
- Your Name and Contact Details
- A CV, if you have one, or an outline of your previous professional and personal experience.
- Please tell us why you would like to become the treasurer of South Square Centre, and what you think you could bring to our board of trustees (max 500 words)
Deadlines for expressions of interest in the role is 31st July 2026.
Following this you may be invited to shadow a board meeting before the invitation to take up the role is confirmed.
We are hosting an open day drop-in at South Square on Saturday 18th July to provide an opportunity for prospective trustees to meet our current board of trustees and tour the centre. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to [email protected].
We would warmly encourage you to reach out to us ahead of applying to learn a bit more about the role and get to know the organisation. Please email Alice to speak informally or arrange a visit to the centre.