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Accessibility | Skip to Search | Skip to Navigation Menu | Skip to Members Sign InRole of Management Committees
The Management Committee is the group of people ultimately accountable for the activities of a charity or voluntary organisation.
It makes decisions about the overall purpose and direction of the organisation; ensure that money and property are properly used (and managed) to meet the aims and objectives of the organisation; ensure that the organisation does everything within the law and abides by the organisation’s governing document; and, finally, ensure that staff and volunteers best carry out the organisation’s services.
The role of the voluntary Management Committee is therefore a vital one within the community and voluntary sector.
Usually the day-to-day management of the organisation will be delegated to paid staff or to volunteers, although the Management Committees of smaller organisations are often much more actively involved.
Overview of roles and responsibilities
Management Committees are also frequently referred to as Boards of Trustees, Governing Bodies, or Executive Committees.
The Management Committee plays an important role in the organisation as both leaders and decision-makers. Their overall responsibilities can be summarised under five key headings:
Vision and Leadership
The Management Committee ensures that everything the organisation does supports its vision, purpose and aims. They establish the fundamental values, the ethical principles and strategic direction in which the organisation operates.
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Accountability and Legal Liability
The Management Committee must account for everything the organisation does, including its spending and activities. The Management Committee is accountable to the membership of the organisation and other key stakeholders such as funders and donors. The Management Committee monitors and evaluates all areas of the organisation’s performance.
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Keeping it Legal
The Management Committee ensures compliance with all relevant legal and regulatory requirements and seeks guidance around any uncertainties. Everything the Management Committee and the organisation do must also be in line with its governing document, e.g. constitution or memorandum and articles of association.
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There are nearly 34,000 individuals involved on Management Committees in Northern Ireland, many of which are on more than one Management Committee, and the majority of which volunteer in their own time (Committee Matters, 2003).
Financial Management
The Management Committee ensures that all money, property and resources are properly used, managed and accounted for. In order to be accountable, suitable systems must be in place and kept up to date.
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Managing Staff and Volunteers
In organisations that employ staff, the Management Committee is essentially the employer. They must ensure that appropriate policies and procedures are in place for staff and for volunteers, and that both are properly managed and supported. The Management Committee, usually represented by the Chairperson, also directly line manage the most senior staff member (the Chief Officer).
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| Topics covered: | Role of Members |
| Honorary Officers | |
| Sub-committees | |
| Committee/Staff Relations |
