Chief Finance Officer at the For Baby's Sake Trust, trustee for The Children's University Trust and CFG member, Owen Day, is looking to launch a new Special Interest Group for finance trustees. Here, Owen outlines his vision for other members.
Anyone who has served as a Finance Trustee will recognise the moment: a board agrees that something important needs to be done, someone needs to lead it, and suddenly every face turns towards you. It doesn't matter that your background may be in a specific area - Tax, Audit, or another niche discipline. In the charity world, the assumption often follows: "You're an accountant, so you'll know all about GDPR, mergers, licensing agreements, or Charity VAT… right?"
This experience is almost universal among Finance Trustees. Charity finance is broad, complex and ever-changing, and trustees are regularly asked to step into areas far beyond their professional specialisms.
To help address this, we are partnering with Charity Finance Group (CFG) to launch a dedicated Finance Trustees Special Interest Group. This new community will give Finance Trustees across the CFG network a space to connect, share experiences, and seek guidance from peers who have faced similar challenges — as well as from practitioners who work day-to-day as experts in those very areas.
Our aim is to create a collaborative, welcoming environment that strengthens the sector through shared knowledge. By giving trustees access to a network of like-minded professionals, we hope to increase the impact they can have — not just within their own organisations, but across the wider charity landscape.
Ultimately, we want trustees to feel confident when asked to lead on new or unfamiliar issues. Instead of starting from scratch, they will be able to turn to this group and say: "Let me check with the Finance Trustee group at CFG. Someone there may have advice or experience to share."
Over time, we would love this group to grow into something even broader: a place where policymakers can test assumptions and gather feedback from the sector; where charities can advertise Finance Trustee vacancies; where those considering the role can ask questions and get honest answers; and where passionate Finance Trustees can share why they continue to give back through their volunteering.
Why get involved?
If you're a Finance Trustee, at some point you will be asked to explore an area well outside your existing expertise. This group will be a valuable first port of call — saving time, reducing isolation, and helping you better support your charity whatever comes next.
How to get involved?
If you're interested in joining or contributing, please complete this short form to register your interest.
And if you're not a Finance Trustee yourself (and not interested in becoming one), please do share this with your board or anyone in the finance profession who might be interested in the group. The more people who get involved, the stronger this community will be.