Finance Board Member

The Organisation:

Brothers of Charity Services Ireland is a company limited by guarantee (CLG) and provides a variety of residential, day, respite, assessment, and clinical of services and supports for people with intellectual disabilities/autism and their families.

Our mission is to engage with people of goodwill in building a better world for those in danger of being marginalised. We are committed to working with people with an intellectual disability/autism to claim their rightful place as valued and equal citizens. In keeping with our Ethos, we work to provide individualised supports and services based on the needs and choices of each person.

The Brothers of Charity Services Ireland is a Section 38 organisation and provides supports to 6500 people and employs 5,500 staff operating from 650 locations, with an annual budget of €350m.

The organisation is currently owned by the Congregation of the Brothers of Charity but is transitioning to an independent charity. From January 2026 it will be known as CORLANN.

Website: Brothers of Charity Services Ireland

The Role:

Brothers of Charity Services Ireland is seeking a new board member with considerable Finance experience. The successful candidate will also join the Finance Committee.

As the organisation grows this will be an excellent time to join the board, for those who have an interest in providing support at a strategic level to those with an intellectual disability.

Responsibilities include the following:

• Input to the strategic direction, contributing with insight, oversight, and experience.
• Advise and guide the board on all financial matters.
• Evaluate and monitor the adequacy of finance and governance policies and procedures and ensure the organisation is compliant with best practice principles.

Skills and experience required:

• Financial expertise: Either a qualified accountant or someone with a professional background in financial services at a senior level.
• Financial management and oversight: ability to interpret financial reports, budgets, and forecasts and to advise on the financial implications of proposals made to the board.
• Audit and risk management: understanding of internal controls, risk frameworks, and compliance.
• Strategic planning: experience of aligning financial decisions with long-term organisational goals.
• Previous charity board experience in Ireland is desirable, in particular experience of a Section 38 organisation.
• Excellent communication skills to engage effectively with a range of stakeholders, including the CEO, Chairperson, and fellow board members.
• The successful candidate must be able to dedicate sufficient time for board meetings and to carry out their duties as a board member.
• An understanding of and commitment to our mission and values and an affinity with the disability community.

Ideally, the successful candidate will be based in the southeast of Ireland (ie Waterford, South Tipperary, Kilkenny, and Wexford).

Charities Regulator’s General Duties of a Charity Trustee

• Comply with the charity’s governing document.
• Ensure that the charity is complying with its charitable purpose for the public benefit.
• Act in the best interest of the charity.
• Act with reasonable care and skill.
• Manage the assets of your charity.

Board Meetings:

There are five board meetings a year. Board meetings are typically held on a Tuesday (10am–4pm) and rotate around the Brothers of Charity Services Ireland offices, in the west and south of Ireland. Typically, the board visits service locations and meets service user advocates prior to each board meeting, therefore a full day should be allocated for each board meeting.

Scheduled meetings for 2026 are: Jan 20 / Mar 10 / May 19 / Sept 08 / Nov 17.

Committee Meetings:

There are five committees: Finance Committee; Remunerations Committee; Quality & Safeguarding Committee; Risk Committee and the Nominations Committee.

The successful candidate will join the Finance Committee.

Committee meetings take place one week before the board meetings, are held via Microsoft Teams and last 1-3 hours.