- Deep knowledge and experience of finance leadership in a complex and diversified business;
- Qualified accountant with evidence of continued professional development;
- A commercial approach to exercise of oversight and controls that enables businesses to grow whilst managing risk effectively;
- Ability to connect with and promote the Purpose and Values of The Crown Estate;
- Commercial and business acumen that will make a real contribution to the Board’s business across a range of strategic and operational areas;
- Excellent interpersonal and strategic stakeholder management skills coupled with the ability to work collaboratively with other Board members.
The Crown Estate Audit Chair
Application deadline 16 September 2022

Summary
- Organisation
- The Crown Estate
- Sponsor department
- HM Treasury
- Location
- London
- Sector
- Business, Finance & Skills
- Skills
- Business, Commercial
- Number of vacancies
- 1
- Time commitment
- 20 day(s) per annum
- Remuneration
- £25000 per annum
- Length of term
- 4 years
- Application deadline
- 11pm on 16 September 2022
Timeline for this appointment
-
Opening date
22 June 2022
-
Application deadline
11pm on 16 September 2022
Person specification
Role description
- Agreeing objectives, policies and strategies, and monitoring the performance of the executive management.
- Agreeing and setting the overall strategic direction of the business for implementation through the Group Leadership Team.
- Keeping under review the general progress and long-term development of The Crown Estate in the light of the political, economic and social environments in which it operates.
- Controlling and monitoring the financial state and performance of The Crown Estate (including investment and financial plans), approving the objectives of The Crown Estate and its corporate plan.
- Approving major expenditure and transactions including, for example, acquisitions, disposals and joint ventures.
- Ensuring that The Crown Estate pursues sound and proper policies in relation to:
- Risk management
- Health and safety
- Internal and external audit
- Internal control
- Investment strategy
- Information systems
- Sustainability
- Public relations and communications
- Accounting
- Human resources
- Corporate governance
- Delegating clear responsibility and authority to the Chair, Executive Committees, the Chief Executive, Board members or groups of Board members, Directors, Heads of Department and others.
- Giving approval or support, as appropriate, to the most senior appointments/dismissals and ensuring that adequate career development, succession and remuneration arrangements exist.
- Delegated authorities
The Board has a formal schedule of matters reserved for its decision which include:
- Approving the annual report and accounts.
- Approving the annual budget and strategic plan.
- Agreeing key capital expenditure or disposals.
- Agreeing Corporate, Investment, Finance and Operations strategies.
- Granting or varying authority levels for Board Committees and the Chief Executive.
Certain matters are delegated under agreed terms of reference to committees of the Board. These include: Audit, Remuneration, and Nominations Committees.
Other issues are delegated to the Group Leadership Team, Management Committees and the CEO.
Dating back more than 260 years, The Crown Estate is a unique business with a diverse portfolio that stretches across the country.
It includes some of London’s best places to work, shop and experience, regional retail and leisure destinations, and a substantial rural portfolio.
We manage the seabed and half the foreshore around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and play a fundamental role in the sustainable development of this national asset, including the UK’s world-leading offshore wind sector.
We are also custodians of the Windsor Estate, including the world‑renowned Windsor Great Park.
Established by an Act of Parliament, we are tasked with generating profit for the Treasury for the benefit of the nation’s finances. This has totalled £3bn over the last ten years.
- Robin Budenberg CBE - Chairman, Independent Non-Executive Board Member and First Commissioner
- Dan Labbad – Chief Executive Officer and Second Commissioner
- James Darkins - Independent Non-Executive Board Member
- Juliet Davenport OBE - Independent Non-Executive Board Member
- Paula Hay-Plumb - Independent Non-Executive Board Member
- Dame Karen Jones CBE - Independent Non-Executive Board Member and Senior Independent Board Member.
- Sara Wood - Board Councillor
Application and selection process
Please see the following documents.
Egon Zehnder has been appointed to advise The Crown Estate on this recruitment. The closing date for applications is 23:00hrs on 16 September 2022.
In order to apply you will need to include
- The role title and marked Nese Guner
- A Curriculum Vitae which provides details of your qualifications, employment history, skills and experience;
- A covering letter in which you succinctly address how your skills meet the requirements of the role
- Names of at least two referees who may be contacted at short list stage, i.e. before final interview
- Confirmation from you that you are happy for Egon Zehnder or its client to undertake any necessary background checks, including career, credit and qualifications, or similar at the appropriate stage in the process. No checks will be undertaken without your prior knowledge
- As part of the recruitment process, due diligence reviews will be undertaken, this will include the review of social media that will be taken on candidates as they progress through the appointment process.
- Diversity monitoring information. This allows us to see if there are any unfair barriers to becoming a public appointee and whether there are any changes that we could make to encourage a more diverse field to apply. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be used as part of the selection process and will not be seen by the interview panel.
- Disability Confident – If you want to be considered for the disability confident scheme, please indicate your reply to the forms linked above.
- Reasonable adjustments - requests for reasonable adjustments that you would like to the application process (if applicable).
To apply for this role please send applications:
By email to:
TheCrownEstateApplication@egonzehnder.com
By post to:
Nese Guner
Egon Zehnder
160 Victoria Street
Nova South
SW1E 5LB
London
The Advisory Assessment Panel reserves the right to only consider applications that contain all of the elements listed above, and that arrive before the published deadline for applications.
If you have any questions about the appointments or the process, please contact TheCrownEstateApplication@egonzehnder.com
Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.
The assessment process
Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.
An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.
At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist.
Once the shortlist has been agreed by Ministers, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.
The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The names of all appointable candidates are provided to Ministers. It is then for Ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, Ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.
The Panel’s recommendations will be provided to Ministers in a report which details the assessment method used and the outcome of each interview. They will then be asked to agree on the candidate(s) who should be appointed.
Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.
In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.
There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.
The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards.
You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:
you are disqualified from acting as a company director (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);
have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;
your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.
When you apply, you should declare if:
you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this.
you are subject to a current police investigation.
You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points.
When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)Additional information for candidates
- ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
- making adaptations to interview locations;
- allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
- giving detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
- allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
- making provision for support animals to attend.
Holders of public office are expected to adhere to and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life/the-7-principles-of-public-life--2. These are:
- SELFLESSNESS - Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family or their friends;
- INTEGRITY - Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties;
- OBJECTIVITY - In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit;
- ACCOUNTABILITY - Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office;
- OPENNESS - Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands;
- HONESTY - Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest;
- LEADERSHIP - Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.
- any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government;
- any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or or public statements that you have made;
- and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported;