Audit Committee Co-opted Independent Member
Salary: See below
Hours per week: See below
Contract type: See below
Closing date: 01 Sep 2025 12:00
Interview date: W/C 8 Sep 2025
About the role:
Horsham District Council is seeking to appoint an independent member to its Audit Committee until 31 March 2028, renewable for a further term of up to one year (subject to local government reorganisation).
Purpose:
The purpose of the role is to assist the Audit Committee in the exercise of its functions.
The functions of the Audit Committee include:
- Overseeing the implementation of the Global Internal Audit Standards and The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015.
- Reviewing the effectiveness of the Council's system of internal control.
- Reviewing the effectiveness of the Council's system of internal audit and considering quarterly internal audit reports.
- Considering reports of the Council’s external auditors.
- Monitoring the effectiveness of the Council’s Finance Procedure Rules.
- Monitoring the effectiveness of the Council’s risk management arrangements and anti-fraud activities.
- Considering and approving the Council’s Statement of Accounts.
- Considering and approving the Council’s Annual Governance Statement and reviewing any actions required for improvement.
- Considering the robustness of the Council’s Capital Strategy, Investment Strategy and Treasury Management Strategy.
- Considering the borrowing and lending parameters requested by the Chief Finance Officer annually.
As this is an advisory role, you will not have voting rights.
Person specification:
You will have technical expertise and professional experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Accountancy
- Internal audit
- Risk management
- Governance
You will have strong analytical skills and be willing to ask probing questions. You will also be a good communicator.
You will have an interest in the work of the Council and ideally a connection to the Horsham district.
In order to maintain independence, you must not:
- Be, or have been within the last five years, a member, co-opted member or officer of Horsham District Council
- Be a relative or close friend of a member, co-opted member or officer of Horsham District Council
- Have significant business dealings with Horsham District Council
- Be an active member of any political party
Time commitment:
The Audit Committee is scheduled to meet four times a year at the Council offices in Horsham. As an indication, the past and future meeting dates for the 2025/26 municipal year are:
18 June 2025
10 September 2025
26 November 2025
18 March 2026
Meetings start at 5.30pm and generally last no more than 1 hour 30 minutes.
You will also need to allow time to read the agenda papers, which will be published the week before the meeting. Examples of these are available on the Council’s website.
There may also be a requirement to attend additional meetings scheduled on an ad hoc basis, and to respond to occasional emails between meetings.
Meetings are live webcast and recordings of previous meetings are available to watch on the Council’s YouTube channel.
You will be provided with training prior to your first meeting and invited to attend any other suitable training opportunities that may arise.
Remuneration:
You will be paid approximately £850 per annum (subject to annual indexation). Expenses may also be reimbursed in accordance with the Council’s Councillors’ Allowances Scheme.
Application:
Please submit a CV along with a covering letter of no more than 750 words outlining what you would bring to the role to dominic.bradley@horsham.gov.uk by midday on Monday 1 September 2025.
Interviews will take place during the week commencing Monday 8 September 2025.
You will be required to provide details of two referees.
Further information:
For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Dominic Bradley, Director of Resources, on 01403 215300 or dominic.bradley@horsham.gov.uk.
Privacy:
Your information will be used and retained in accordance with the Council’s Privacy Notice.