Staying Financially Organised & In Control
Barrington United Bowling Club
The Treasurer's chair sat empty - and no one was putting their hand up to fill it.
THE CHALLENAGE
In 2025, Barrington United Bowling Club found itself facing a challenge that many community clubs will recognise. The club needed a Treasurer, but despite their best efforts, couldn't find a volunteer willing to take on the role. Like many sporting organisations, they were finding that people wanted to help, but fewer had the time to commit to key committee positions.
"That's when I was asked to step in."
STEPPING IN
Initially, my role was to take responsibility for the club's finances and make sure the committee had the information it needed to make good decisions. One of the first projects was moving the club's accounts to Xero, which gave far better visibility of the club's financial position and streamlined a number of admin tasks. I also worked with the committee to engage a new accountant and establish clearer reporting processes, making it easier to budget, monitor performance, and plan for future projects.
GROWING THE ROLE
Since then, my role has grown to be much more than simply looking after the books. Today I attend committee meetings, prepare monthly financial reports, develop annual budgets, monitor cashflow, and help the committee understand the financial implications of the decisions they make. I've also worked with them to review room hire fees, membership subscriptions, and other income streams - keeping the club financially sustainable while continuing to provide value for members.
BEYOND THE BOOKS
As is often the case in community sport, one task tends to lead to another. Alongside the Treasurer responsibilities, I now assist with funding applications and accountability reports, support governance and planning discussions, provide backup for the Club Secretary, and help with many of the admin jobs essential to keeping the club running. That's included helping raise funds for an accessible bathroom upgrade, supporting long-term financial planning, and helping the committee weigh up future opportunities and priorities.
THE REAL DIFFERENCE
What's made the biggest difference isn't any single project or process. It's giving the committee confidence that the financial and administrative side of the club is being looked after so they can spend less time worrying about reports, budgets, and compliance, and more time focusing on members, competitions, and the club's future.
THE OUTCOME - AT A GLANCE
What that support has delivered for the club
