The British Pharmacological Society is currently seeking applications for vacancies on its Finance Committee. There are a number of vacancies, each for a three-year term of office from January 2026 to December 2028.
You can learn more about the Finance Committee below. If you are interested in joining the Finance Committee, please view the Finance Committee page on My BPS and submit an application by 1:00pm GMT on Monday, 1 December 2025.
What does the Finance Committee do?
The Finance Committee at the British Pharmacological Society may seem a little mysterious in comparison with committees more directly relevant to members’ areas of primary interest and expertise, so here’s a bit of an insight into what the Committee is really like and the value it adds to the work of the Society.
Those on the Finance Committee gain an understanding of how existing and new Society activities are financed, including the flagship annual Pharmacology meeting, the AJ Clark studentship, the Sir David Jack PhD Scholarship, and educational initiatives such as the Prescribing Safety Assessment.
The Committee is very forward-looking: it reviews budgets, financial forecasts and projections for the next three years. It also encourages new developments and innovation, and considers new proposals carefully to ensure they will proceed successfully. In this regard, the financial strategy is a key output of the Committee to help ensure the Society meets the ambition of its new five-year strategy once this is finalised, while balancing it with resources to safeguard the long-term viability of the Society.
Of course, there are a lot of figures! However, the emphasis is on useful summaries to enable the Committee to “zoom in” on relevant details. Reasons for any unexpected financial performance are sought and provided to ensure accountability and improve forecasting.
The Society currently has £4 million worth of investments, and the Finance Committee is the primary place where important matters such as the investment policy are reviewed, together with the balance between risk and potential reward. It is also where the performance of the Investment Manager is monitored.
Its finance remit means the Committee has access to all areas of the Society’s activities, and this is further reinforced by its wide-ranging scope, including:
- Ensuring that risks faced by the Society are properly identified and managed.
- The overall affordability of staffing arrangements and pensions.
- Impact measurement and reporting (an important area for the Society to develop).
Clearly then, the Committee is not only about financial matters!
Committee members are supported by access to relevant external experts from fields such as:
- Accountancy and audit
- Taxation and VAT
- Investment management
- Legal
What will you gain from joining?
Relevant internal expertise is provided by staff, in particular Amandeep Bhardwaj (Financial Controller) and Mike Poole (Director of Finance, Business and Commercial Operations).
In turn, these advisers, their advice, and all this expertise improve the business skills of those who serve on the Committee. The Honorary Treasurer, Simon Kennedy, chairs the Committee and encourages members, by agreement with them, to focus on particular aspects of the Committee’s work that will meet their individual interests, expertise and areas for development. This also helps to ensure that each item of business is more thoroughly considered, as well as enhancing members’ knowledge and expertise in each area.
Your commitment
The Finance Committee meets three times per year, with each meeting lasting between two and four hours. Two of the meetings are online-only, and one is hybrid (where in-person attendance is encouraged).
How to apply
If you are interested in joining the Finance Committee, please view the Finance Committee page on My BPS and submit an application by 1:00pm GMT on Monday, 1 December 2025.