Put your financial skills to work protecting Wellington's natural environment.

Are you good with numbers, comfortable with spreadsheets and interested in making things work better? Would you like to use your skills to make a difference to conservation in Wellington?

The Wellington Natural Heritage Trust (WNHT) is looking for a volunteer Treasurer or Trainee Treasurer to help manage our finances and find smarter, simpler ways of doing things.

This flexible role requires around two hours a week on average, with most weeks involving just an hour of routine work. You don't need to be a qualified accountant: financial aptitude, initiative and a willingness to learn are equally valuable.

About us

WNHT is a registered charity dedicated to protecting and restoring Wellington's natural environment. Established in 1999, the Trust manages Long Gully Bush Reserve, 107 hectares of regenerating native forest immediately west of Zealandia. It is the largest area of protected private land in Wellington city and provides important habitat for native wildlife.

We aim to direct as much of our resources as possible towards conservation.

What you'll be doing

You'll help ensure our finances are accurate, organised and efficiently managed. Responsibilities include:

• Maintaining financial records and reconciling bank transactions.
• Managing payments, donations and receipts.
• Preparing budgets, quarterly financial reports and annual accounts.
• Tracking grants and conservation project expenditure.
• Assisting with GST returns and charity reporting.
• Finding ways to simplify and streamline financial processes.

We're especially interested in someone who enjoys improving how things work. We don't currently use a dedicated accounting system, so there's scope to introduce practical digital tools, better processes and simple automation. The goal is to reduce administration and free up resources for conservation.

Two ways to get involved

Treasurer (Board role)

If you have financial management or accounting experience, you could join our Board of Trustees as Treasurer, overseeing finances, reporting to the Board and contributing to governance and planning.

Trainee Treasurer (non-Board role)

If you're developing your financial skills, you could work alongside our current Treasurer, with mentoring, guidance and support. Responsibilities would grow with your experience and confidence. This is a chance to learn charity finance and potentially progress to the Treasurer role.

What we're looking for

Ideally, you'll bring:

• Basic knowledge of bookkeeping, accounting or financial administration.
• Confidence with spreadsheets and everyday digital tools.
• Organisation, attention to detail and sound judgement.
• An interest in improving processes and solving problems.
• Reliability, integrity and a willingness to take responsibility.
• An interest in conservation and protecting nature.

Experience with accounting software, budgeting, GST, grants or charities would be useful but isn't essential. Attitude and initiative matter as much as qualifications, particularly for the trainee role. We welcome students, early-career professionals, experienced finance people and retirees.

What you'll get out of it

• Meaningful impact: Support the restoration of important Wellington native forest.
• Flexibility: Around two hours a week on average, often less.
• Practical experience: Build financial management, reporting and governance skills.
• Mentoring: Learn from an experienced Treasurer in the trainee role.
• Room to innovate: Develop smarter, simpler systems that will last.
• Great people: Work with committed conservation-minded volunteers.

Time commitment

This is an unpaid volunteer role. Most weeks involve around an hour of routine financial administration, with busier periods for budgets, reports and annual accounts. Work can be fitted around employment, study, retirement or other commitments. The Treasurer attends Board meetings; the Trainee Treasurer does not need to.

The difference you'll make

By keeping our finances running smoothly, you'll support hands-on work conserving native bush, protecting wildlife and improving biodiversity. You don't need to be out planting trees or setting traps to make a real difference: financial and organisational skills are valuable too.

Interested? We'd love to hear from you.

Please get in touch with Mark Wilcox, Treasurer, at [email protected] with a brief introduction, CV, and whether you're interested in the Treasurer or Trainee Treasurer role.

Help us spend less time on administration and more time looking after nature.