Appointment details

Non-Executive Member – Audit and Risk Assurance Committee

Summary
About the appointment
Person specification
Application and selection process
Additional information for candidates

Summary

Organisation: HMRC Departmental Board
Sponsor department: HM Revenue & Customs
Location: Various
Sectors: Property
Skills: Accountancy, Audit and Risk, Business, Change Management, Commercial, Communication, Media, Marketing, Human Resources, Technology / Digital, Legal, Major Projects, Procurement, Regulation
Number of vacancies: 1
Time commitment: 10 day(s) per annum
Remuneration: £4,500 per annum
Length of term: Three years (with a possibility to renew the term at the end of the three years up to a maximum total of six years)
Application deadline: 11am on 23 July 2024

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Timeline for this appointment

Opening date

4 July 2024
Application deadline

11am on 23 July 2024
Sifting date

23 July 2024
Interviews expected to end on

4 October 2024

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

The VOA is an executive agency of His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC). We provide valuation and property advice to support taxation and benefits.

The VOA is seeking to appoint a Non-Executive Member for its Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC). ARAC’s remit is to advise and support the Accounting Officer and Board on their responsibilities for issues of risk, control, and governance by reviewing the comprehensiveness of assurances and reviewing the reliability and integrity of those assurances.

Introduction from the Chair

Thank you for your interest in the role of Non-Executive Member of the VOA.

This is a critical time for the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). We are driving the biggest transformation in our recent history. The next few years will be critical as we reshape ourselves to provide our services in a more customer-focused and digitally enabled way. This is to be achieved against the backdrop of increased demand for our services. These are exciting times to join as we enter new territory and challenge ourselves to continue to deliver improved services for our customers.

It is essential that the VOA has access to a wide range of skills and experience during what will be a period of fundamental change for the Agency and all who rely on its services. We are now seeking to appoint a Non-Executive Member to the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee to contribute to the development and delivery of the Agency’s strategy. For this role, we are particularly interested in candidates who can bring strong senior leadership experience at executive or Board level. We are seeking someone who can use their considerable professional experience to help us deliver on our priorities for our customers.

We are open to a variety of backgrounds and are looking for a range and breadth of experience on our Audit and Risk Assurance Committee. Key areas of priority for us include Experience and awareness of corporate governance, risk management and assurance in the public sector, ideally central government, or an Arm’s Length Body. Experience of reviewing and scrutinising financial statement, with a financial qualification or senior financial management experience essential and an appreciation of how central government operates, strategic leadership capabilities and knowledge of transforming an organisation at scale, ideally in a customer-facing context. A collaborative style coupled with an ability to work constructively as a member of a diverse team, valuing diversity and equality of opportunity across the Agency, will be essential.

If the challenge of change attracts and you are confident that you can bring value whilst contributing on a national scale, we look forward to hearing from you.

Appointment description

The Non-Executive Members of ARAC support the Board by reviewing the assurances provided regarding the Agency’s internal controls risk management framework and governance.

The role of the Committee includes advising the Accounting Officer and Board on:

The strategic processes for risk control and governance and the Governance Statement.
Reports received from Internal Audit and risks from those reports.
Adequacy of identification and management of strategic risks.
The planned activity, effectiveness and results of both internal and external audit.
Capacity and capability of Internal Audit to deliver its Audit plan.
Assurances relating to the management of risk and corporate governance requirements for the Agency.
The accounting policies, the accounts, and the annual report of the Agency, including the process for review of the accounts prior to submission for audit, levels of error identified and management’s letter of representation to the National Audit Office.
Adequacy of management response to issues identified by audit activity, including external audit’s management letter.
Anti-fraud policies and lessons learnt from any significant fraud/irregular activity, whistleblowing processes and arrangements for special investigations.
Significant issues identified by Internal Audit, National Audit Office and the Board and require Executive Directors to provide an account of action being taken to address these issues.
Implications of new and revised accountabilities/accounting issues on governance and risk management.
Major areas of risk through undertaking periodic “deep dives” into specific themes/topics.

Organisation description

The VOA provides crucial property valuations and advice to Government and local authorities in England, Wales, and Scotland to support taxation and benefits, enabling the collection of around £62 billion revenue in local taxation alone. The VOA employs more than 3,800 people in over 35 locations across Britain.

The Agency’s strategic objectives are to:

Provide trusted property valuations efficiently.
Deliver an excellent customer experience.
Be a great place to work.

Board composition

The Audit and Risk Assurance Committee is chaired by a Non-Executive Director. In addition to the Chair, its membership consists of another Non-Executive Director and two Non-Executive Members, with regular invitees being Internal Audit, National Audit Office, the Agency’s Accounting Officer and Chief People and Finance Officer.

Person specification

Essential criteria

Recent experience of operating at a senior level within the public sector, either as an executive or non-executive, with an appreciation of how central government operates.
Experience and awareness of corporate governance, risk management and assurance in the public sector, ideally central government, or an Arm’s Length Body.
Experience of reviewing and scrutinising financial statement, with a financial qualification or senior financial management experience essential.
Highly developed interpersonal and influencing skills. Able to build effective relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders at senior levels.
A collaborative style, able to work constructively as a member of a diverse team valuing diversity and equality of opportunity across the Agency.
Ability to absorb complex information quickly, use sound judgement and able to cope with ambiguity.

Desirable criteria

Experience and awareness of the impact of policy, legislative or regulatory change on an organisation, including operational implementation.
A track record of delivery, or overseeing the delivery of, programmes of change and growth in a public sector context.

All candidates are expected to adhere to the Seven Principles of Public Life (the ‘Nolan Principles’).

The successful candidate will be expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies in their role as a Non-Executive Member of the VOA.

Application and selection process

How to apply

To apply for the Non-Executive Member position, please follow these instructions and submit your application no later than 5PM Friday 2 August 2024.

Please apply using the following link:

https://www.gatenbysanderson.com/job/GSe113488/Non-Executive-Member-ARAC/

You will need to supply the following:

A CV (no longer than two pages) setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements;
A statement of suitability (no longer than two pages) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, particularly addressing the essential criteria listed in the person specification;
Details of two referees (referees will not be contacted before final interviews without your express permission) as the successful candidate will be subject to final references before an appointment can be formally offered.

Overview of the application process

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:

GatenbySanderson will acknowledge your application.
A diverse panel will assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out above.
Shortlisted candidates will have the opportunity to talk to one of the selection panel prior to the final interview to learn more about the role and the organisation. Further details around this will be given after the shortlist meeting.
The final interviews will be held at 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf.
The Panel’s recommendations will be provided to HMRC’s Permanent Secretary 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 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.

Successful candidates should be aware that the VOA will include checks into previous tax compliance before appointment. Due diligence will also be carried out on shortlisted candidates.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

The selection panel will include Jonathan Russell (Chief Executive) and Terry Babbs (Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Board). The panel will also include an independent representative from HMRC.

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. For competitions recruiting non-executive members of a board (apart from the Chair), the panel will usually include a representative from the public body concerned.

AAP’s perform a number of functions, including agreeing an assessment strategy with ministers, undertaking sifting, carrying out interviews in line with the advertised criteria and deciding objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending to ministers which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the minister to decide who to appoint to the role.

Eligibility criteria

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)

If you need further advice, please contact GatenbySanderson in the first instance:

Orla Brennan, Researcher: orla.brennan@gatenbysanderson.com

Tracy Wicik, Delivery Consultant, Central Government: tracy.wicik@gatenbysanderson.com

Julie Myers, Partner, Central Government: julie.myers@gatenbysanderson.com

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks in line with the Civil Service guidelines. Additional Security Clearance may also be required for certain roles. However, where this applies, candidates will be notified during the appointment process. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve and this is an important part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Advisory Assessment Panel who review applications against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability. The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application. By ‘essential criteria', we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert. When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of common changes are:

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 additional 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.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

If you feel that you may need a reasonable adjustment to be made, or you would like to discuss your requirements in more detail, please contact GatenbySanderson:

Orla Brennan - orla.brennan@gatenbysanderson.com

Tracy Wicik, Delivery Consultant - tracy.wicik@gatenbysanderson.com

Julie Myers, Partner - julie.myers@gatenbysanderson.com

Principles of public life

The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder.

1. Selflessness

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

2. Integrity

Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

3. Objectivity

Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

4. Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

5. Openness

Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

6. Honesty

Holders of public office should be truthful.

7. Leadership

Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Board Members will have access to confidential information that is subject to the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (CRCA). The Member will be required to sign a declaration of confidentiality in accordance with CRCA.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully:

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 public statements that you have made;
and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported;

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies.

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of Ministers. Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. There is no automatic presumption of reappointment; each case should be considered on its own merits, taking into account a number of factors including, but not restricted to, the diversity of the current board and its balance of skills and experience. In most cases, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or ten years in any one post.

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

Remuneration for this role is treated as employment income and will be subject to tax and National Insurance contributions, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business, in line with the travel and subsistence policy and rates for the organisation to which you are applying. However these payments are taxable as earnings and will be subject to tax and national insurance, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.

Please contact VOA HR Resourcing Team if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at Resourcingteam@voa.gov.uk. They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

Data protection

The Cabinet Office will use your data in line with our privacy policy.

In line with GDPR, it is asked that you do NOT send us any information that can identify children or any of your Sensitive Personal Data (racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning health or sex life and sexual orientation, genetic and / or biometric data) in your CV and application documentation. Following this notice, any inclusion of your Sensitive Personal Data in your CV/application documentation will be understood by us as your express consent to process this information going forward. Please also remember to not mention anyone’s information or details (e.g., referees) who have not previously agreed to their inclusion.

Contact details

If you have any questions about the roles or would like to discuss the post further, please contact: