Member & Audit and Risk Assurance Committee Chair

Posting date:	10 October 2025
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	Competitive
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	09 November 2025
Location:	Manchester, M2 3AW
Company:	inploi
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	75748950

Summary

Introduction

The Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport wishes to appoint a new Board member to the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The Board Member will be a registered chartered accountant and will chair the Commission’s Audit and Risk Assurance Committee.

The Commission’s work is highly varied and engages with people and institutions throughout England and Wales. We would particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse candidates in order to ensure that the Board seeks to reflect that diversity.

DCMS is committed to eliminating discrimination and advancing equality of opportunity in its public appointments. We particularly encourage applicants from underrepresented groups, those based outside London and the South-East and applicants who have achieved success through non-traditional educational routes. This ensures that boards of public bodies benefit from a full range of diverse perspectives and are representative of the people they serve.

Appointment description

The Board provides leadership for the Commission’s business and sets the strategic direction of the organisation. It operates collectively, advising on strategic matters, as well as scrutinising and challenging Commission policy and performance, with a view to the long-term health and success of the organisation.

Charity Commission Board members:

• ensure that the Commission effectively fulfils its statutory objectives, general functions and duties and appropriately exercises its legal powers
• set the strategic direction of the Commission; set and agree overall policy and performance targets
• promote the strategy, values and reputation of the Commission
• approve the Commission’s budget and business plans, and set the risk framework and policies within which the Executive operate
• monitor the Executive’s performance against agreed plans and targets
• exercise their role through influence and advice, supporting as well as challenging the executive on performance and the effective management of the Commission
• operate in accordance with governance best practice, including understanding and abiding by the Charity Commission Governance Framework
• ensure they have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the Charity Commission’s business to carry out their duties
• ensure they are familiar with any applicable guidance on the role of public sector non-executive directors and boards that may be issued from time to time by the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury or wider government

In doing so, Board members shall:

• comply at all times with the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies, which includes the Nolan Principles of Public Life
• observe the highest standards of propriety in fulfilling their responsibilities
• act in good faith and in the best interests of the Charity Commission

The Board is supported by three committees, whose chairs and members are largely Board members, working alongside members of the Executive.

The Commission’s Governance Framework is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charity-commission-governance-framework.

The terms of reference for the Commission’s Audit and Risk Assurance Committee are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charity-commission-governance-framework/appendix-5-audit-and-risk-committee-terms-of-reference

Person specification

Essential criteria

In this recruitment round we are seeking candidates who are registered chartered accountants.

Candidates must also be able to demonstrate the following:

• A commitment to the charity sector.
• An understanding of the Charity Commission’s work, including the importance of the effective, independent, proportionate, and impartial regulation of the charity sector.
• Knowledge of charity accounting.
• Strong intellectual and analytical ability, with excellent listening and communication skills.
• Experience in the private, public, and/or not-for-profit sector with a history of operating at board level or equivalent.

Desirable criteria

• An understanding of governance, in particular in relation to risk management, oversight of finance and management information, experience in dealing with external auditors and public sector accounting.
• Experience in business transformation and/or change management.

Application and selection process

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.

Once you are logged into your account, click on 'apply for this role' and follow the on-screen instructions To apply, all candidates are required to provide:

• equality information

• information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues

• a Curriculum Vitae (CV)

• a supporting statement

• a short professional biography (150 words)

Please see the full job advert to know more of the details on the application and selection process.

Calculate your take home pay. Use this service to estimate how much Income Tax and National Insurance you should pay for the current tax year.

Employment could affect your benefits, find out more here. Turn2us Benefits Calculator.