Role description: CLP Treasurer

Download a PDF version of this page here CLP Treasurer e-learning course on Labour Learn CLP Finance Hub

CLP Treasurer

Make campaigning possible by keeping your CLP financially strong and compliant.

As CLP Treasurer, you play a vital role in ensuring your local party has the resources, systems and oversight it needs to campaign effectively and operate within the law. You are the steward of your CLP’s finances — helping to plan ahead, support fundraising, and make sure everything is transparent, accurate and compliant.

This role suits someone who is organised, reliable and comfortable working with numbers, and who wants to support the wider team to deliver successful campaigns.

What success looks like

A strong CLP Treasurer helps create a local party that is:

  • Financially secure – clear budgets, sustainable income and funds available for campaigning
  • Well-run – accurate records, regular reporting and good financial oversight
  • Compliant – all legal and party requirements are met confidently and on time
  • Forward-looking – plans ahead for elections, campaigns and unexpected costs

What you’ll do

Keep finances accurate and compliant

  • Maintain clear and up-to-date financial records throughout the year
  • Ensure donations and loans are properly checked, recorded and reported
  • Prepare and submit annual accounts and required returns on time
  • Act as a key signatory on CLP bank accounts and oversee financial processes
  • Assess if the CLP is liable to pay tax and arrange to do so
This role carries legal responsibilities under electoral law. You don’t need to know everything upfront — detailed guidance, templates and deadlines are provided in the Treasurer Handbook.

Plan and monitor your CLP’s finances

  • Work with officers to set an annual budget, including campaign and election costs
  • Build and maintain a campaign fund for future elections
  • Report regularly to the Executive Committee and General Meeting on financial performance
  • Help the CLP make informed financial decisions

Support fundraising and income generation

  • Work with fundraising officers to set targets and plan activity
  • Support a programme of events and initiatives to raise funds
  • Encourage sustainable income (e.g. regular donations)

Work with branches and officers

  • Keep in regular contact with Branch Treasurers and ensure financial information is shared
  • Support branches to understand their role in financial reporting
  • Work closely with the Chair and other officers to align financial planning with CLP priorities

How you’ll work with others

You’ll be part of a team of officers working together to deliver a strong and active CLP.

  • CLP Chair – shares responsibility for financial oversight and decision-making – is formally the ‘Deputy Registered Treasurer’
  • CLP Secretary and Vice Chair – help ensure records, roles and reporting processes are up to date
  • Fundraising Officers – work together on income generation and events
  • Branch Treasurers – coordinate financial reporting and share information

Top tips to get you started

  • Get organised early – set up a simple system to track income, spending and reporting deadlines
  • Stay up to date – regular updates are much easier than catching up later
  • Ask if unsure – financial rules matter, so don’t hesitate to seek advice
  • Work as a team – you’re not responsible for fundraising alone
  • Think ahead – plan for elections, not just day-to-day spending

Your first 90 days

  • Meet with the Chair and Secretary to understand current finances and priorities
  • Review existing accounts, reporting schedules and bank arrangements
  • Familiarise yourself with the Treasurer Handbook and key deadlines
  • Connect with Branch Treasurers and introduce yourself
  • Begin drafting or reviewing the CLP budget and fundraising plan

Tools, guidance and support

If you need support or advice, you can contact the CLP Support Team on [email protected], the Governance and Legal Unit on [email protected], or your regional office, or Scottish or Welsh Labour.

Other useful email addresses include:

CLP Finance Hub