Unit+Treasurer

Responsible to: the unit board/committee
Your job as Unit Treasurer is to have overall financial management for your unit and provide the unit's Board with information to enable them to make sound financial decisions.

Your Unit Finances
Coastguard New Zealand pays the cost of providing units with the use of the Xero on-line accounting programme. Southern Region has produces a user The regional manager provides a 'help desk' for Treasurers to train and support them.



[[file:Treasurers Guide to the Galaxy Feb2014.pdf|Coastguard Southern Region's Treasurers 'Guide to the Galaxy' 2014]]
This guide covers what we believe you need to know to be an effective treasurer for your unit. Please let us know if there is something else you want included for future updates.

Grants
Coastguard units can either apply to local trusts for grants to cover their operational costs or ask for assistance from their regional office or the Coastguard New Zealand's Regional Support Fundraiser, Joanne Kyriazopoulos email Joanne

Coastguard New Zealand funds the purchase of essential operating equipment for unit with funding from Lottery Grants Board and the services level agreement. The Coastguard On-line Procurement System is password protected as only authorised members of the unit are able to order items. Go to [|COPS] See the

Volunteer Expenses
Southern Region does not wish our volunteers to be 'out of pocket' for extra expenses relating to their training etc. The regional board has determined for what and when the region and units should reimburse our volunteers. See regional policy on Volunteer reimbursement and the

Reporting to your unit board
Treasurers should provide their units boards with a written monthly report using one of the many financial reports in Xero. It is important that they monitor the income and expenditure against your financial plan for the year, that is your budget. This will remind you of the fundraising and grant applications that need to happen, as well as making sure your spending is not exceeding what you can afford. Remember often your bank balance is made up of grants for a particular purpose. That funding can only be spent for the purpose for which it was given.

Maritime NZ Safety Charges
Maritime New Zealand makes a safety charge for all commercial vessels. Southern Region has some funding available at present to reimburse units for this. Unit Treasurers should email a copy of the invoice they have paid to the Regional Manager seeking reimbursement.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Charities Register Reporting
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All Coastguard units should be registered with the [|Charities Register] managed by the Department of Internal Affairs. Units are required to complete an Annual Return and submit this to the Register. This can be done online with Log In and Password details. Log into your page Check with the regional office for reporting dates or on your page in the register. Search the Charities Register For assistance with this contact the Regional Manager.