The University of Manchester Students’ Union (UMSU) is the largest Students’ Union in the country with a track record of providing essential student services and access to a wide range of extra-curricular activities for the last 155 years. It became a registered charity following the 2010 change to granting students’ unions full charitable status that recognises the key part they play in the voluntary and community sector. 
Nowadays, with almost 40,000 student members, 9,000 of whom are international students from 150 countries, UMSU still exists to support and represent all students of the University and on the back of a successful 2013-16 strategic plan the Union is well underway in delivering its new strategic plan up to and beyond 2018.
As well as continuing to develop the overall student services offer, UMSU will be making some huge changes to the way they operate and to the services they deliver so they can maintain their vision for all students to feel part of the Manchester community where they can develop, prepare for their future and make a difference in the world around them.
The Union is entering an exciting phase of its journey, with the investment of over £8million over the next two years in redeveloping the Union building adding space to the already extensive presence on the Oxford Road. In addition to more space, UMSU will be realigning their services to better meet the needs of students with the aim to increase participation and involvement as well as better the experience for all concerned.
The charity is seeking to appoint an external trustee with strong finance and commercial skills that will provide the immediate necessary oversight for the current union building extension programme, and for the longer term to support the trading entities of UMSU. They should have a track record as a chartered accountant, be able to constructively and diplomatically challenge fellow board members and ideally bring the skills to mentor the board and be able to impart crucial financial information coherently and succinctly to the other trustees. Prior experience of a membership organisation would be also be an advantage.
For further information and to apply, visit: https://trustees-unlimited.co.uk/become-a-trustee/5105/trustee-external-university-manchester-students%E2%80%99-union-umsu
Deadline: Monday 13 March 2017