Independent Co-Opted Member and Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee

Woking Borough Council is seeking to appoint an Independent Co-Opted Member and Independent Co-Opted Chair to serve on its Audit and Governance Committee.  The Committee is responsible for overseeing internal and external audit arrangements, reviewing and scrutinising financial statements, and reviewing and assessing the risk management of the authority. 

The Independent Co-Opted Member and Chair will be appointed for an initial period of up to four years and would be expected to have a strong knowledge of financial management, possibly with a background in audit or finance in public services or the not-for-profit sector.

Anyone interested in these roles will ideally have the following appropriate skills, experiences and competencies to meet the key responsibilities and commitments of the role:

• Able and willing to devote the necessary time to the role.
• Up to date knowledge, skills, and a depth of experience in the fields of audit, accounting, risk management and performance management.
• Experience gained working in a large, or public sector, organisation.
• Understanding of the complexity of issues surrounding audit and risk management in local government. 
• Operates consistently and without bias.
• Supports appropriate behaviours and challenges opinions and advice where appropriate, separating major issues from minor ones.
• Able to contribute proactively and proportionately and apply independent thought.
• Works sensitively with people both inside and outside the Committee.
• Listens to and balances advice.
• Must not be a serving local government Officer or Councillor.
• Must have no personal, legal or contractual relationship with Woking Borough Council (including employees or Members or former staff), or any other relationship / activity which might represent a conflict of interest.

In addition, the Independent Co-Opted Member in the Chair role will have these additional responsibilities:

• Chairing both scheduled and extraordinary Audit and Governance Committee meetings and attending Chair’s briefings and ad-hoc all committee Chairs’ forums.
• Undertake a pivotal coordinating role in setting the Committee’s annual work programme.

Remuneration

The level of remuneration for an Independent Co-Opted Member is £750 per annum, increasing to £1,500 per annum for the Independent Co-Opted Member in the Chair role. The municipal year runs from May to April and payment will be pro-rated for start dates part way through the cycle.   

Additional Information

The job advert closes at 23.59 on Sunday 4 August.

Interviews will take place week commencing Monday 12 August. Date to be confirmed.

Contact Details

If you have any questions or would like to arrange an informal discussion about either of the roles, please contact Gareth John, Director of Legal and Democratic Services, by email at gareth.john@woking.gov.uk.