More Than Just “Doing the Money”
Being Treasurer means being responsible for every financial decision within the association. As Jorrit simply puts it: “If money is involved, you are literally involved in anything.” From managing the bank account and paying invoices to overseeing the full financial administration, the Treasurer quite literally has a hand in everything.
In practice this means: working daily with accounting software, keeping track of incoming and outgoing payments, and constantly checking whether budgets still align with reality. It is not just about paying bills. It is about knowing what can be spent on events, how much margin there is, and whether external stakeholders are paid on time. Numbers are your language, and precision becomes your standard.
Building the Budget From Day One
At the start of the board year, the Treasurer drafts the annual budget. That might sound intimidating, especially if you are new to the role. Luckily, you do not start from scratch. The process begins alongside the previous Treasurer, going through last year’s numbers together and translating those insights into a new financial plan.
Of course, every board has its own ambitions. Maybe you want to organise a larger event, invest more in a specific target group, or shift priorities slightly. The budget reflects those choices.
Behind the Scenes: Invoices, Software and Structure
A large part of the role consists of financial administration. Invoices come in, invoices go out. Payments are made through the bank, and every single transaction is carefully recorded in accounting software. The software handles many calculations automatically, which makes the process more efficient, but that does not mean it runs on autopilot.
Consistency is key. Emails must be answered, payments must be checked, and mistakes must be corrected. Especially when preparing semi-annual or annual reports, it becomes clear how important it is to start early. This is where accountability and transparency become more than just buzzwords. You quickly realise that clear communication is essential. “You must always respond to emails, always check your messages,” he explains. “You’re responsible for everything.”
Balancing Ambition and Stability
One of the most interesting aspects of the role is balancing financial stability with ambitious ideas. Big events often come with big price tags. The Treasurer looks at what truly adds value for students. Sometimes that means investing more in elements that matter most, while cutting costs on things that are less noticeable. It is not about saying “no” to ambition; it is about making sure ambition is sustainable.
Interestingly, he does not experience financial decisions as overwhelmingly stressful. “It’s usually just a yes or no,” he says. “Maybe it feels big, but in the end it’s a decision you make in two or three minutes.” The impact may be significant, but confidence grows over time.
A Central Role Within the Board
Working as Treasurer does not mean working alone. On the contrary, you collaborate with the entire board on a daily basis. “Everyone needs money,” he says with a smile. “Every event needs money, every promotion needs money.” That makes the role deeply integrated into everything the board does.
However, the role goes beyond financial decisions alone. As a board member, the Treasurer also votes on general board matters, strategic choices and organisational decisions that have nothing to do with budgets. Broader decisions are made collectively. In that sense, the position is not only controlling, but also advisory and strategic within the entire direction of MARUG.
At the same time, the board remains a close group. You make serious decisions together, but you also spend your days working, laughing and sometimes disagreeing. Learning to handle discussions professionally is part of the process. “You learn to communicate in a professional way, even if you have arguments,” he reflects.
Personal Growth You Do Not Expect
Interestingly, the biggest development this Treasurer experienced was not purely financial. Although the role revolves around numbers, the biggest development turned out to be personal rather than technical. “Almost in every way, I’ve grown,” he says. The real growth lies in communication, responsibility and time management.
You learn to be precise in your communication, especially with external stakeholders and committees. You learn to respond on time, to manage expectations and to stay calm when things go wrong. Because they will go wrong sometimes. That is when you truly learn how to handle responsibility.
Confirming a Future in Finance
For this Treasurer, the board year has confirmed an interest in pursuing a Master’s in Finance. The role provides practical experience that is difficult to gain as a student otherwise. It adds professional exposure, real responsibility and tangible decision-making experience to your CV.
For students who are still unsure about applying for the board, his advice is simple: “Just do it.” Not only because of the financial experience, but because of the personal development. “There’s an infinite list of what you learn,” he says. “You develop yourself in a way that’s not so easy to do otherwise.”
One Sentence to Describe It All
If he had to describe the Treasurer experience in one sentence, it would be this: “it is a great way to develop yourself and prepare for the professional world.”
Behind every successful event at MARUG, there is someone making sure the numbers make sense. And as it turns out, that responsibility might just be one of the most rewarding experiences of a board year.
The Treasurer position for the upcoming board year will become available soon, with the application deadline on March 22.