Bring your financial expertise and join the Board of ACRE to support rural communities across England to thrive.
Who we are
Action with Communities in Rural England, known as ACRE is the national charity for rural communities. It champions thriving, sustainable and inclusive rural communities that have the services and resources they need to secure equitable outcomes for everyone.
Ten million people live in the English countryside; many communities face significant and persistent challenges, including access to affordable housing, transport and communications connectivity, public services, isolation and loneliness, energy costs and the transition to net zero.
ACRE works through a national network of 37 independent member charities, which are embedded in local rural communities across England. Together, ACRE and its members campaign for change, enable local action and improve support for people most in need.
The organisation has a distinctive national voice and works closely with government, funders and partners to ensure rural communities are heard and understood. In 2024/25, ACRE distributed significant government funding through its network and directly to rural communities, including support for rural housing enablers and village halls.
ACRE is seeking a new Treasurer to join its Board and help strengthen the financial resilience of a national charity working for thriving, inclusive and sustainable rural communities.
This is an exciting time to join ACRE. The organisation has launched its 2025 to 2030 strategy. This sets out to develop a bolder voice and speak up more loudly for rural communities. ACRE will choose where to focus its efforts, prioritising issues where it can achieve the greatest outcomes and build the most momentum. They will pilot new ways of working with the network, make better use of collective power to maximise impact, and test new ways to support those in greatest need. The Treasurer will play a key role in ensuring ACRE has the financial insight, oversight and resilience needed to deliver that ambition.
About the role
You will join the Board as both a Trustee and a Treasurer of ACRE. You will act as the Board’s lead on financial oversight, chair the Finance Sub-Committee and provide guidance on budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and sound financial management.
ACRE has a Finance Lead in place and the Treasurer will provide strategic advice, constructive challenge and support to the Chief Executive, Finance lead and Board. You will also contribute more broadly as a Trustee, helping to oversee the delivery of ACRE’s strategy, support its charitable objectives, represent the interests of rural communities and act as an ambassador for the organisation.
The Board is looking for someone who can operate at both strategic and practical levels: someone who can chair a finance committee confidently, translate financial information for non-finance colleagues, and offer informed advice on specific issues when needed.
Who we are looking for
We are looking for a qualified finance professional who can bring sound judgement, strategic financial insight and a genuine interest in the issues affecting rural communities.
You may have developed your experience in the commercial, public, charity or wider not-for-profit sectors. Previous charity governance experience would be helpful, whether as a trustee, non-executive or senior executive.
You will bring experience of providing strategic financial advice, supporting budget setting and financial planning, and engaging with audit and external audit providers. You will also be comfortable offering proportionate support and challenge to senior colleagues, including the Finance lead and Chief Executive.
You do not need to have worked in rural policy or community development before, but you will need to understand why rural communities matter and why ACRE’s mission is important.
The successful candidate will be able to think strategically, exercise independent judgement and work collaboratively as part of a board. They will be a constructive and respectful contributor, able to challenge in the right way and support a positive, thoughtful and collegiate board culture.
ACRE is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, traditions and ways of life.
Time commitment and location
The expected time commitment is about one day per month, though this will vary throughout the year. There may be slightly more around key points in the financial cycle, such as the budget and accounts.
The Board usually meets quarterly. The Board meets four times each year: two online and two in person as overnight meetings, usually starting on a Friday lunchtime and finishing on Saturday lunchtime.
The Treasurer will also chair the Finance Sub-Committee, which meets three times a year online and will join the Officers’ Group, which includes the Chair, two Vice Chairs and Chief Executive/Company Secretary. The Officers’ Group provides an additional source of advice to the Chief Executive between Board meetings and meets around Board planning and wider strategic matters.
The ACRE team is home-based. In-person meetings are held in different locations in central England.
This is a rewarding opportunity to support ACRE, strengthen its financial model, increase its resilience and deliver lasting positive change for rural communities across England.
To view the role description and person specification, please go to the ‘How to Apply’ tab above, fill in your details and download the candidate pack.
For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Jennifer Horan | jennifer@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07519 070497
ACRE is a registered charity in England and Wales (No. 1061568).
About us
Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) is the national charity for rural communities. For over 40 years, ACRE has been the leading voice championing thriving, sustainable and inclusive rural communities, that have the services and resources they need to secure equitable outcomes for everyone.
ACRE works closely with its network of 37 independent member charities who work with communities in rural areas across England. Together they campaign for change, enable local action, and improve support for people most in need. ACRE engages with government and other national partners to explore the issues affecting rural communities and identify solutions so that no one is disadvantaged by where they live. It combines national influence with deep local insight to help communities overcome challenges and realise their potential.
While rural England is often perceived as prosperous and idyllic, the reality is far more complex. Ten million people live in rural communities, many of whom face significant barriers relating to affordable housing, transport, digital connectivity, access to public services, social isolation and the transition to a net zero economy. In addition, there is great untapped potential. Research has estimated that with the right policies, rural economies could achieve significantly increased productivity and growth and create an additional £9-£19 billion a year in taxes (Reigniting Rural Futures, Pragmatix Advisory May 2024).
ACRE exists to ensure these issues are recognised and addressed by policymakers, funders and decision-makers. Through research, advocacy, partnership working and community development, the organisation works to ensure that no one is disadvantaged because of where they live.
ACRE’s newly launched five-year strategy, Rural Ambition: Enabling Communities to Thrive, sets out an ambitious vision for the future. By 2030, ACRE aims to have improved the quality of life for rural communities and supported those facing the greatest need. The organisation will achieve this through three interconnected priorities: campaigning for rural communities, enabling local action and unlocking support, investment and opportunities for growth. Central to this ambition is a commitment to creating a resilient and financially sustainable organisation that can maximise its impact for years to come.
The charity works closely with government departments, national partners and funders, whilst drawing on the expertise and reach of its member network to deliver practical support on the ground. In 2024/25 alone, ACRE distributed more than £4 million of funding through programmes supporting affordable rural housing, community buildings and local initiatives. Through this work, the organisation helps communities build resilience, secure investment, strengthen local services and create opportunities for residents to shape their own future.
At a time when rural communities face significant challenges and unprecedented opportunities, ACRE is uniquely positioned to drive positive change. Its combination of national influence, trusted partnerships, local knowledge and community-centred values makes it an organisation where dedicated trustees can make a meaningful and lasting contribution to rural life across England.
Thank you for your interest in this role. Please download the Role Description and Person Specification.
To formally apply, please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally maximum 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outlines your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivation in applying for this position.
Please include your home address, contact email and mobile.
Please ensure that your application is emailed to response@peridotpartners.co.uk, inserting “Application: ACRE — Treasurer” into the subject field. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 2-3 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please contact our admin team.
For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Jennifer Horan | jennifer@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07519 070497
As a sector-leading executive search consultancy, we know the importance of creating recruitment processes that are fair, inclusive and free from bias. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a process that values differences.
If you require any job information in an alternative format (e.g. large print), please contact the lead consultant. Please also let us know if you would like to submit your application in an alternative format.
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Recruitment selection processes are based on evidence of competence stated in the person specification and in relation to our values.
Timetable
Closing date: Monday 5th October 2026
Candidates informed of outcome: By Monday 12th October 2026
Interviews (online): Friday 23rd October 2026
We are in the process of confirming interview dates. Once confirmed, we will update the site and contact those who have applied.
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Peridot and ACRE are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions. We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout, and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.
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