Non Executive Directorships

Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee Non-Executive Directors x5, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

Location: London

Date Posted: 06/10/2023

Closing Date: 06/11/2023

£7500 per annum 15 days/year

About the role

Introduction from the Secretary of State

Charged with cementing the UK’s status as a science and technology superpower by 2030, DSIT is positioning itself as one of the most innovative departments in government.

We want to be fully geared up for success in our ambitions to drive economic growth, create the high-skilled, high-paid jobs of tomorrow, and champion our science sector in pursuing bold discoveries.

The role of our non-executive directors within the audit, risk and assurance committee (ARAC) is essential to our delivering on all of these ambitions. We are looking for non-executives who can offer sound advice, offering a fresh perspective on how our department operates.

To that end, the ARAC committee will ensure that DSIT is properly fulfilling its public duties, exercising sound financial management and using all the tools at our disposal to deliver for the public we serve.

The ARAC committee will keep a close eye on DSIT’s risk management framework. It will scrutinise DSIT’s accounts ahead of audits. And it will advise the department on both its counter-fraud measures and whistle-blowing policies.

We are looking for people from a wide variety of different backgrounds and sectors – drawing on the tremendous talent that exists right British society.

There are five roles in total spanning the public finance, commercial, cyber security, legal and science functions of the department. If you have skills and experience to offer in these areas, we would love to hear from you. There could not be a more exciting time to join DSIT and, working together, we can realise the brightest of futures for science, innovation and technology in the UK.

The Rt Hon Michelle Donelan

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology

Role description

DSIT is seeking to appoint five non-executive directors to its audit, risk and assurance committee (ARAC) including a:

· Public finance and audit expert

· Commercial and delivery expert

· Cyber security expert

· Legal expert

· Science and innovation expert

We are recruiting non-executives to provide advice and bring an external perspective to our department’s work. Note that our non-executive directors do not have ‘executive’ decision-making powers.

The role of the audit, risk and assurance committee (ARAC)

The audit, risk and assurance committee (ARAC) supports the board and the accounting officer (the Permanent Secretary). The committee makes sure that the department delivers its duties and operates in a manner that is financially sound, efficient, and makes effective use of its resources to deliver its mission.

The ARAC reviews the effectiveness of DSIT’s risk management framework and works to ensure the efficient operation of financial and non-financial risk management and governance arrangements. Additionally, the ARAC scrutinises the DSIT accounts ahead of submission for audit, works with external auditors to address the results of the audit and advises DSIT on its anti-fraud and whistle-blowing policies.

The ARAC also have an increasing role in considering new and emerging risks to the department (including emerging cyber risks) and scrutinising the delivery of significant projects.

The committee’s membership includes the chair, the lead non-executive director and five additional non-executive directors. The committee is supported by the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and representatives from the National Audit Office (NAO) and the Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA).

The ARAC sits around six times per year, with members also attending committee meetings of our department’s public bodies. ARAC members are encouraged to join talks and roundtables organised for the committee with subject matter experts. This is to continuously improve the effectiveness of the committee and equip members with insights that can stretch and challenge our executive team.

Person specification

Essential criteria

Your application should demonstrate the below essential criteria, with examples:

· experience of risk, performance and financial management with strong analytical skills with the ability to identify key issues/implication [Lead Criteria]

· proven leadership in large and complex organisations in the private, public or voluntary sectors.

· ability to build and maintain successful relationships as well as provide challenge and inspire confidence with a wide range of stakeholders.

· an understanding of the key challenges faced by the public sector and the ability to bring their experience to bear on these challenges.

· genuine interest in contributing to the effective running of the department and the public bodies which it sponsors.

If there is a significant volume of applications, we will sift on the leading criteria as indicated above.

Role specific criteria

For candidates applying, please indicate which below specialism/s you bring to the role and provide further detail to demonstrate the additional skills and experiences required by that role:

1. Public finance and audit specialist: significant experience of audit, risk, financial management and governance.

2. Commercial and delivery expert: significant commercial experience in leading, or advising on, major projects from initiation, through development and to delivery, using sound evidence to inform decisions.

3. Cyber security expert: significant experience in safeguarding sensitive digital assets and leading teams to improve cyber security systems, procedures and practices in large organisations.

4. Legal expert: significant expertise as a general counsel with broad experience advising executive teams on governance, corporate and constitutional legal matters.

5. Science and innovation expert: significant expertise leading large organisations in the science, research and development, and innovation sectors.

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