The term of this Office is five years with the possibility to be re-elected for a second five-year term.
This is a senior position and requires significant commitment in terms of time and intellect. An annual stipend is provided, details of which can be obtained from the Executive Director.
Council delegates management and oversight of the Society’s financial matters to the Treasurer. The relevant extract from the Byelaws (revised 2025), copied below sets out the role.
Ideally the incumbent should:
• Have experience of managing budgets and providing strategic assessment of organisational finances to the management board, and of developing future strategic financial plans.
• Have significant general management experience (at Head of Department level)
The position requires a time commitment of at least two full working days per week plus significant (almost daily) email engagement with RAS staff, publishers, other committees (e.g. RAS, Fellowship panel etc.)
In addition, the Treasurer chairs the Finance Committee, Grants panels and the Publication Management Committee and attends many other meetings.
Section VI of the Byelaws (revised 2025) - The Council
23.5.11 Election to the offices of President and Treasurer shall be by simple majority or by such other voting method as the Council shall from time to time determine. Should only one nomination of an eligible candidate be received, that candidate shall be deemed to be elected.
- The Council may set a limit on sums of money which may be authorised by the Treasurer and the Executive Director for specific items above the agreed budgets without express approval by the Council. No sums of money in excess of such limit shall be paid without a resolution of the Council, recorded in the minutes. Notwithstanding the limit, the Council may delegate the Treasurer to agree with the Society’s publisher for expenditure necessary for the in-year management of the publications, for example to maintain short publication times, provided the Treasurer reports on these financial matters to Council as provided in Byelaw 55.
- The accounts of the Society shall be inspected annually by professional auditors.
- A Treasurer whom the Council has deemed to have grossly neglected or misconducted their duties shall be removed from the post.