Voluntary Action South West Surrey

About us

Guildford Opera has been performing opera and operetta since 1971, most recently at the Electric Theatre in Guildford. Working with experienced Music and Stage Directors and performing with talented soloists and an orchestra, we seek to achieve the highest musical and dramatic standards. We attract many young soloists who then go on to successful careers both in the main UK opera houses and internationally.

Role and responsibilities

As a member of the Guildford Opera Company (GOC) Committee, which is formed of the Trustees of the charity and co-opted members of the Company, the Treasurer plays a key role supporting the smooth running of GOC.

The successful candidate will:

• Keep our accounts up to date – by paying invoices, paying cash collections into the bank, carrying out administration for SumUp and PayPal card collections, reimbursing expenses, collecting membership, show and patronage subscriptions, collecting donations as necessary and submitting Gift Aid claims.
• Update and advise the Committee – by preparing updates for Committee meetings and the Annual General Meeting, preparing annual forecasts and production budgets, and advising the Committee on managing our income and expenditure.
• Support the running of the charity – by preparing and submitting accounts to the Charity Commission, arranging the independent examination of our accounts, completing renewal forms and making payments for annual memberships, managing bank account signatories and completing the annual renewal of our insurance.

NB: as we are a membership organisation, the successful candidate will be required to join GOC as an Associate Member (for which the fee can be waived).

Desirable qualities

While not essential, the successful candidate may have one or more of the following:

• Prior experience in a similar role (e.g. charity trustee, company director, school governor)
• Knowledge of the commercial and/or charity arts sectors
• Passion for community theatre/opera

Time commitment

• 2 hours a month for Committee meetings
• Approx 2-4 hours a week for admin, preparing accounts and liaising with the Chair, artistic directors and production team (on a show-by-show basis)
• Attendance at Annual General Meeting

Remuneration

In line with Charity Commission rules and our Constitution, this is an unpaid Trustee role. However, the successful candidate can expect a warm welcome and invitations to all our social events. We are happy to cover reasonable expenses for travel and stationery.

Application process:

If you are interested in this role, please click on the "Fill in an Application Form" button and complete your details.  We will then ask you to submit a CV and short covering letter/personal statement to Marion Hughes, Chair of Guildford Opera. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted to arrange an interview. Appointment is subject to approval by the Trustees and confirmation at the Annual General Meeting (April 2025). The deadline for submitting your application is 31st March 2025. 

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments you may need during the application process and when in post. If this is the case, please don’t hesitate to let us know when you submit your application.