Appointment details

Audit and Risk Committee Independent Member

Summary

• Organisation: Department for Education Departmental Board
• Sponsor department: Department for Education
• Location: London
• Sectors: Education
• Skills: Audit and Risk
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 9 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £500 per day
• Length of term: 3 years
• Application deadline: Midday on 14 July 2025

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   7 July 2025

2. Application deadline

   Midday on 14 July 2025

3. Sifting date

   25 July 2025

4. Interviews expected to end on

   31 July 2025

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

We work to provide children’s services, education and skills training that ensures opportunity is equal for all, no matter background, family circumstances, or need.

We are the department for opportunity. We work to deliver better life chances for all – breaking the link between background and success. We do this by protecting children and ensuring the delivery of higher standards of education, training and care. We create opportunities for children and learners to achieve and thrive today, so they have the freedom to succeed and flourish tomorrow, strengthening our society, powering our economy, and enabling equality.

We are responsible for:

• teaching and learning for children in the early years and in primary schools
• teaching and learning for young people in secondary schools
• teaching, learning and training for young people and adults in apprenticeships, traineeships and further education
• teaching and learning for young people and adults in higher education
• supporting professionals who work with children, young people and adult learners
• helping disadvantaged children and young people to achieve more
• making sure that local services protect and support children

We are a ministerial department, with an annual budget of over £90billion, supported by 18 agencies and public bodies and non-ministerial departments.

Appointment description

The DfE wishes to recruit an individual to its Audit and Risk Committee who is confident and constructive in their approach, and who can think both broadly and independently. It is essential that they are able to consider issues from a strategic perspective, to support and challenge the executive team in its planning and risk management.

We are committed to enhancing the diversity of our Committee and warmly invite applicants from all backgrounds to apply, including people who are in the early or mid-part of their careers, disabled, female and minority ethnic applicants.

Members will be expected to participate fully in the DfE Audit and Risk Committee’s business, by

• Promoting sound corporate governance within the DfE
•  Reviewing the internal audit strategy, plans, interim and annual reports.
• Assurance on corporate governance, risk management and internal controls
• Evaluating NAO plans, reports and management letters
• Assessing reports from Senior DfE officials on the management of DfE major risks 
• Reviewing DfE Group Accounts and Sector Academy Accounts, and advising the Accounting Officer  draft governance statements, prior to submission to the NAO.

They will ensure they comply with the code of practice for Board members, and the Cabinet Office Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies

Organisation description

DfE’s Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) is a sub-committee of the DfE Board (the Board).  ARC was established to support the Board by providing independent scrutiny and challenge of the Department’s arrangements for governance, risk management and internal control and on the reliability and integrity of assurances used to inform the Governance Statements.  ARC also advises the Permanent Secretary on the structure and presentation of the department’s annual accounts.

The DfE ARC acts as the audit committee for the Teachers’ Pensions Scheme and those Executive Agencies of the Department that do not have a separate audit committee.

ARC will advise the Board and Accounting Officer on the strategic processes for risk, control and governance and the Governance Statement, specifically:

• the adequacy and effectiveness of the Department’s systems for risk management and internal control
• assurances relating to the management of risk and corporate governance requirements for the organisation
• the DfE’s annual governance statement, including advice on the reliability, integrity and scope of assurances used to inform the statement and any significant control issues which should be disclosed
• the accounting policies, the accounts and the annual report of the DfE Group and the Sector Annual Report and Accounts
• the planned activity and results of both internal and external audit, including that within the Executive Agencies
• oversight of the internal audit service provided to the Department by the Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA)
• GIAA’s annual assurance statement, the annual report on risk analysis activities and any control issues identified in National Audit Office (NAO) reports
• the adequacy of management responses to issues identified by GIAA, NAO and other assurance activities
• the effectiveness of the working relationships between Internal Audit, the NAO, the Department, and its agencies; and
• Counter fraud policies, whistle-blowing processes, and arrangements for investigations

ARC is chaired by Stuart McMinnies who sits as a non-executive board member  on the DfE Board.

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website 

Person specification

Essential criteria

Candidates will be asked to present evidence of the following essential criteria throughout the selection process:

1.    Experience in Financial Regulation, Governance, Risk and Control

Candidates will be able to demonstrate experience of operating at a senior level in a business or organisation subject to financial and economic regulation. They will bring a sound understanding of governance, risk management and internal control, underpinned by financial acumen and familiarity with good financial management disciplines. Experience of engaging with audit processes—both internal and external—and contributing to the development of governance statements and financial reporting will be essential.

2.    Understanding of the Education, Care or Skills Sector

Applicants will have prior experience of the education and skills sector, with a demonstrable commitment to promoting education and skills for young people and adults. Familiarity with the operational context of further or higher education, or related care and training environments, will be advantageous.

3.    Management or Board-Level Experience

Candidates will have held high-level management and/or board roles in the public, voluntary or private sectors. They will be able to think strategically and contribute to organisational development, with experience in areas such as process design, programme delivery, systems implementation and performance management.

4.    Communication and Relationship Building Skills

Applicants will possess strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships at senior levels and across organisational boundaries. They will be confident in questioning, debating and challenging constructively, while also listening sensitively and engaging collaboratively. The ability to influence, negotiate and maintain objectivity and integrity will be key.

Additionally, all candidates must show a commitment to the seven principles of public life, together with the willingness and availability to devote the necessary time to understand the business dynamics and context for the DfE’s work.

Desirable criteria

1. financial and accounting
2. commercial/contracting
3. digital and technology

Application and selection process

How to apply

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 of no more than 1000 words
• a short professional biography (150 words)

We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.

You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

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.

Overview of the application process

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 .

Further information about appointments, including tips on applying, can be found on our guidance pages on gov.uk.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

Departmental Official - Jane Cunliffe - DfE Chief Operating Officer

Representative of the board or body - Stuart McMinnies  - ARC Chair and Non-executive board member

Other panel member - Margaret Casely-Hayford - DfE Non-executive board member

None of the panel members have declared any conflicts of interest or political activity

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 corporate.governance@education.gov.uk

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.

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.

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.

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.

Members of the Committee will receive a ‘per meeting’ payment of £500 which should cover all costs in relation to attendance of meetings. No other expenses will be 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 the corporate governance team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at (corporate.governance@education.gov.uk. They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

How to complain to Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA)

If you are not content with the appointing department’s response you may wish to further complain to the Commissioner at publicappointments@csc.gov.uk.Further information on how the Commissioner handles complaints can be found on the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ website https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/regulating-appointments/investigating-complaints/

Data protection

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

Personal data collected as part of this exercise will be processed in accordance with the Department for Education Privacy Notice. You can access the privacy notice here.

Contact details

corporate.governance@education.gov.uk