Have I done the right thing by volunteering to be treasurer for PSA? Come tell me your experiences, tips etc

[LolaBaby75]

So I went along to a meeting thinking I could meet other parents, give something back to the community by helping out at some fundraising events etc but I accidently put myself forward as the Treasurer as nobody else did and eyes all turned to me. I have no experience at all but I was told this doesnt matter. I have a full-time job with long hours but I was told it ammounts to only a couple of hours' work a year, which, if true, I obviously can manage. However, I've asked what it involves but I didn't get a clear answer so I'm still none the wiser. So I guess what I'm asking is can anyone give me an idea what it is actually like and how much work is actually involved for someone like me with no accounting experience at all. Is this something I will regret or is it what I'm looking for - I literally have no idea

oh dear! It won't be a couple of hours a year that I can guarantee! I don't know anything specific (other than the treasurer of a community group I was involved with had two large box files of paperwork generate each year to deal with). I hope you're good a keeping meticulous records and love a spreadsheet!

There are I think online guides to how PTAs work which I'm sure others will link to.

Thanks Titchy. I wish they would be honest what the work-load really is so I know what to expect at least. I felt a little ambushed. I am ok with numbers though, just clueless as to what the role involves

Its a whole load of hard work and ifit doesn't meet very exacting standards you can be referred for investigation. It happened to a friend of mine.

@Shehasadiamondinthesky that sounds worrying and a little stressful!

It shouldn’t be that stressful! If you can do spreadsheets in excel and are vaguely organised you should be fine…
Keep the spreadsheets of payments and receipts up to date, make sure you have the paperwork to back up entries and make sure you get the accounts filed in time!
Depending on how your PTA works the treasurer may be in charge of getting floats etc for events and things as well. Our treasurers usually had full time jobs as well.
It will help if the previous treasurer has got good spreadsheets etc set up already.

Its more than a couple of hours a year

The finances all have to be balanced and can be audited
All accounts have to go through you
You need to be present at meetings where finances are discussed, even when talking about spending money on the float for tuckshop at a disco for eg
You have to physically go to the bank and pay in/ withdraw money for various things
You are the named person on the bank card etc

It could be about 3-4 hours a month or more, depending on how active your pta is.

I’m a PTA treasurer. It is more than a couple of hours a year, maybe averages out around an hour a month. My duties involve

• Attending all PTA meetings
• Attending all PTA events
• Organising floats before events
• Cashing up after events and banking said cash
• Preparing annual accounts, filing with charity commission and preparing a treasurers statement for AGM.

Our chairwoman sometimes asks me to help in pre-event organisation, ie making posters, going round local businesses to bed for freebies, but I often say no as I’m too busy. If you’ve a big enough committee you shouldn’t have to do too much x

It depends how active the PSA is.

For any events, you would be responsible for:

• making up float tubs
• overseeing money at event if present
• paying out expenses
• counting and banking

Yearly you would have to provide annual accounts to the AGM, and lodge a summary of income and outgoings with the charity commission.

If you run any lottery or raffles you will need to register with the LA
and provide a return of accounts to them too.

If you do it but say you'll do nothing else it is OK provided you can count and do basic spreadsheets. Unless of course the PSA is very active!