The Treasurer is a key member of the SOC Council and serves as a trustee of the Charity, with all the associated duties and responsibilities. 

• Elected at the November AGM for an initial two-year term, with re-election every two years.
• Provides financial advice and guidance to staff and branch officials as needed.
• Attends Council and Management Committee meetings (each held four times per year) and presents a written financial update at each.
• Convenes and chairs Finance Committee meetings (3–4 per year), reporting recommendations to Council.
• Attends the Club’s AGM (usually in November) to present the End-of-Year Accounts.
• Meets with Brewin Dolphin (SOC’s investment managers) at least annually to review investments and assess risk levels.
• Works with Council to maintain and update SOC’s Investment Policy, including setting reserve levels.
• Regularly liaises with the Finance Officer to ensure smooth financial operations.
• May be consulted on HR issues and trustee induction.
• Out-of-pocket expenses incurred on SOC business are reimbursed.
• The SOC Council has collective responsibility for the Club’s finances.
• The Finance Committee oversees financial strategy and budgeting, meeting 3–4 times a year. It consists of the Treasurer, the Finance Officer, and two other members.
• SOC’s financial year runs from April to March.
• SOC uses Xero for bookkeeping, holds accounts with the Royal Bank of Scotland, and has investments managed by Brewin Dolphin.
• Two staff members, the Treasurer, and a past President (from the Lothian branch) currently have signatory responsibility, with protocols ensuring that transactions over a specified amount require two signatures.
• The Finance Officer manages day-to-day accounting and banking procedures.
• The Treasurer provides financial updates and forecasts to the Council and the Management Committee at each meeting, working closely with the Finance Officer.
• The Treasurer, Finance Officer, and Independent Financial Examiner (currently Whitelaw Wells) oversee the end-of-year financial process, culminating in the submission of the independently examined accounts to OSCR.
• The Club’s core income sources include membership subscriptions, events, sales, commission from artwork sales, and legacies. Legacy income is highly variable, requiring careful financial planning.
• SOC branches maintain some financial independence but provide annual financial summaries to SOC.