About Us

Independent Chair - Audit, Standards and Statutory Accounts Committee

Salary allowance: £6,000 per annum, plus reasonable expenses in accordance with Council arrangements

Fixed Term 4 Years

Working location:  Richmond upon Thames; some briefings may be held remotely

Other information: This is an Independent, non-voting public appointment; not an employee of the Council. You will be required to work approximately 10 days per annum, including preparation and briefings; four planned formal meetings each year, with an additional meeting if required.

Objective of the role

You will provide visible, impartial and authoritative leadership to the Audit, Standards and Statutory Accounts Committee. You will help the Committee operate effectively, provide robust and evidence-based challenge, reach balanced and proportionate conclusions, and give assurance to Full Council on governance, risk management, internal control, financial reporting, audit and ethical standards.

This is an opportunity to bring an objective, non-political perspective to a prominent public appointment and to support public confidence in the Council’s governance and accountability arrangements.

About the role

As Independent Chair, you will:

• Chair meetings impartially and professionally, ensuring that all Committee members can contribute effectively and that discussions lead to clear conclusions and actions.
• Work with the Vice-Chair and relevant officers to shape focused agendas that reflect the Committee’s terms of reference and assurance priorities.
• Lead review of the Council’s governance framework, Annual Governance Statement, strategic risks and internal control arrangements.
• Maintain oversight of the independence and effectiveness of Internal Audit and the Council’s relationship with its external auditor.
• Lead consideration of the annual Statement of Accounts, external audit findings and the Treasury Management Policy and Strategy.
• Oversee anti-fraud, anti-corruption and whistleblowing arrangements.
• Champion high standards of conduct and probity among elected and co-opted Members, including oversight of the Members’ Code of Conduct and complaints arrangements.
• Ensure clear reporting to Full Council, escalate significant concerns through the appropriate constitutional route and monitor completion of agreed actions.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

You should demonstrate the following essential criteria in your application:

• Significant senior-level experience in audit, accountancy, finance, governance, risk management, regulation, assurance or organisational leadership.
• Experience of chairing a board, committee or comparable governance forum.
• Experience of providing constructive challenge to senior leaders and reaching balanced, evidence-based judgements.
• A strong understanding of corporate governance, risk management, internal control, internal and external audit, and financial reporting or assurance.
• Authoritative and inclusive chairing skills, with the ability to manage differing views and maintain focus on the issues that matter.
• The ability to understand complex written and financial information, identify salient issues and ask clear, incisive questions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, sound judgement and political awareness, together with high standards of integrity, objectivity, discretion, fairness and confidentiality.
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, public service, accountability and probity.

Independence and Eligibility

The successful candidate must be, and be seen to be, independent of the Council’s political and management arrangements. The appointee must not be an elected Member, officer or employee of the Council. Relevant interests must be declared and appropriately managed. The appointee must be able to attend meetings, briefings, induction and relevant development activity.

Application and Selection

Please apply to this role, you will be requested to provide an up-to-date CV and a supporting statement (no more than two sides of A4) explaining how you meet the essential criteria and what you would bring to the role.

Closing Date: 23rd September 2026

Shortlisting Date: 25th September 2026

Interview Date: W/C 28 September 2026

We may close this vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. 

We are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.  

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. This campaign is anonymised.

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). 

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.   

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils