Branch Treasurer

The Branch Treasurer ensures the branch has the funds it needs as well as helping the CLP to build the financial resources it needs to run effective campaigns by setting budgets and fundraising targets.

This guidance is designed to give an overview of your role and a summary of your responsibilities throughout the year. However if you do have any questions then the Governance and Legal Unit are on hand to help out. Email them at legal_queries@labour.org.uk and they will be happy to assist.

Key Responsibilities and tasks

It is really important that as the Branch treasurer you keep an accurate record of the Branch accounts throughout the year. Not only will this ensure you maintain a good grasp of the finances but it will also make it easier for you to give the CLP Treasurer the information they need at the end of the year.

A few points to note:

• The Party’s financial year runs from 1 January to 31 December – not AGM to AGM
• Keep your records up to date so you can make regular reports – at least quarterly and ideally monthly – to your Branch meeting and to your Branch executive or fellow officers
• The Treasurer should be a signatory on all bank accounts held by the Branch and receive the bank statements. The Branch signatories on the bank accounts should be 3 or 4 current officers with 2 signatures being required on cheques etc.
• The Annual Accounts should be prepared and approved by the Branch meeting in the first quarter of the following year and forwarded to the CLP Treasurer.
• Branches are part of the CLP so the CLP Treasurer must also report any donations or loans of more than £500 made to a Branch. They also need to include total branch income and expenditure in the CLP’s annual accounts, so be sure to keep in regular contact with the CLP Treasurer.

Activity

As the Branch Treasurer it is important to have a plan. You’ll need a budget for the year including campaigns and elections so that everyone is clear how much money is needed. You’ll also need a fundraising plan. Work with fellow officers to set targets and a schedule of events and activities which can range from encouraging members to make regular donations by direct debit to curry evenings or quizzes.

In your regular reports to the branch make sure you keep members informed of how you are doing measured against the budget.

Useful links and contacts

As well as the Governance and Legal Team, there are many other contacts and resources to assist you in your role. Keep up to date with our latest campaigns, find out more about Campaign Technology, find resources for role holders and check our online training offer at www.labour.org.uk/resources. You can also purchase and download membership recruitment and campaign materials from the Campaign Shop.

For useful guides and resources on membership engagement and how to use Organise to full effect, visit http://help.labour.org.uk, and if you need support or advice, you can contact your national or regional office.

Training resources are available at https://achieve.labour.org.uk.