Appointment details

Non-Executive Member – Audit and Risk Assurance Committee

Summary

• Organisation: Departmental Audit and Risk Assurance Committee
• Sponsor department: Department for Work and Pensions
• Location: London
• Sectors: Finance and Audit
• Skills: Accountancy, Audit and Risk, Business, Commercial, Regulation
• Number of vacancies: 2
• Time commitment: 15 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £15,000 per annum
• Length of term: 3 years
• Application deadline: 1pm on 8 June 2026

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   22 May 2026

2. Application deadline

   1pm on 8 June 2026

3. Sifting date

   16 June 2026

4. Interviews expected to end on

   29 June 2026

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is seeking to appoint up to two Non-Executive Members to the Departmental Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (DARAC). 

Appointment description

DARAC provides independent oversight of financial reporting, risk management, and control frameworks. The Department spend on pensions and benefits (AME) in 2026 – 27 is expected to be around £330bn and DEL is expected to be around £16.5bn, with the inclusion of the skills portfolio. DWP is also responsible for 15 Arms-Length Bodies and agencies. 

The Department relies heavily on DARAC to challenge, assure and strengthen its approach, ensuring that risks are understood, accountability is clear, and that the Department continues to operate with transparency, integrity, and strong financial discipline. 

The committee plays a key role in supporting the wider Departmental Board and generally meets five times a year. 

New committee members will have the expertise, skills, and ambition to contribute to DWP’s continuing development. They will report to the Chair of DARAC, who will report back to Departmental Board, which is chaired by the Secretary of State.

Key Responsibilities of a Non-Executive Member on DARAC: 

• To act as an independent advisor, challenging the department on its audit and risk management processes. 
• To advise on the adequacy and efficacy of governance, risk, control, and related assurance processes. 
• To make recommendations to the senior team on potential risks and vulnerabilities and support the department to improve. 

Board composition

Departmental Audit and Risk Assurance Committee members

• Charlie Steel, non-executive board member
• Taalib Shaah, non-executive board member
• Sally Cheshire CBE, non-executive
• Ian Wilson, non-executive
• Richard Newsome, non-executive
• Gayle Sparks, non-executive 

A range of senior DWP leaders with appropriate responsibilities, GIAA colleagues and representatives from National Audit Office also attend.

Person specification

Essential criteria

Lead essential criteria  

• Experience operating at a senior leadership level (Executive Team member or equivalent) within a large, complex organisation, combined with substantial experience serving as a member of an Audit and Risk Committee in an organisation of significant scale (typically 10,000+ employees) and proven demonstration of impact and influence.  

Additional essential criteria 

• Expertise in one or more of the following: 
• Cyber security and information governance 
• Management of large organisations that are directly customer facing and managing complex transactions. 
• Accounting, audit, and risk management in a large, complex environment with a recognised qualification in finance and audit

• Effective decision-making skills with the ability to critically analyse a wide range of information quickly and across a range of topics.  
• Confident and effective communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to listen, accept challenge, and constructively challenge others with clarity and respect.  
• Collaborative with senior leaders and staff across the wider organisation with an understanding of how to support the strategic priorities of the department. 
• Working knowledge of risk management, including the identification, assessment, and mitigation of risks, alongside experience of best‑practice approaches to audit and risk management across private, public, or third‑sector organisations. 

If a large volume of applications is received, we may use the Lead Criteria to conduct the initial sift.

The Department of Work and Pensions values and promotes diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community. The boards of public bodies should reflect the population they are there to serve. Boards also benefit from fresh perspectives, and we are always keen to encourage candidates new to public appointments to consider applying for roles. 

Application and selection process

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

Charlie Steel – Public Body Representative

Chair

Charlie Steel has no political activity to declare.

Sean Pearce – Departmental Official

Sean Pearce has no political activity to declare.

Sally Cheshire – Independent Panel Member

Sally Cheshire has no political activity to declare.

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 dwpneds@dwp.gov.uk

Additional information for candidates

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).