Audit Assurance and Enterprise Risk Committee Expert

Audit Assurance and Enterprise Risk Committee Expert

Application closing date: 18th May 2025 at 23:59

Interviews will take place Week Commencing: 19th and 26th of May 2025.

Homes England was established by Government to increase the supply of quality homes, improve affordability and help create stronger, more liveable places. More than that, it was created to change people’s lives. 

In the current challenging market, Homes England’s role has, perhaps, never been so important. We are working to galvanise a housing-led recovery and help fulfil the Government’s housing and regeneration aspirations, connecting with other ambitious organisations and using our resources to work strategically across the country to create jobs, homes, and long-term partnerships in places.

To add resilience to our governance during a period of change we wish to appoint a Financially Qualified Independent Expert for our Audit, Assurance and Enterprise Risk Committee for a 2 to 3 year term. 

If you believe you have the experience and qualities we are seeking, we look forward to receiving your application. 

Thank you for considering supporting our AAERC. Good governance is central to ensuring Homes England makes the best decisions to deliver the Governments priorities. We have excellent Board and Committee Structures. Thank you for your interest in making us even stronger. 

Homes England is a ‘non-departmental public body’ sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)

Homes England plays a key role in delivering the government’s housing and regeneration agenda 

Our ambition is to work in collaboration with equally ambitious partners to deliver the homes and places that our communities need, and to support the regeneration of our towns, cities and rural communities.

We have significant tools at our disposal. We own over 9,000 hectares of land and have billions of combined capital spend (loan, grant, equity and guarantees) to deploy by March 2027, the quantum to be updated in June 2025 at the Spending Review. We also have a range of statutory powers that we can use to deliver our objectives. In addition, we have the expertise to broker private sector investment, convene stakeholders, facilitate collaboration, improve quality across the industry and champion good practice.

We can collaborate in a unique way between Government and the public and private sectors. We’re unified by our determination to embrace this crucial opportunity to help solve one of the country’s most intractable domestic policy issues. 

You can read our latest Annual Report & Financial Statements here.

About the role

The Board is composed of Non-Executive Directors and the Chief Executive (who also serves as the Accounting Officer). The Board is currently led by Peter Freeman, who was appointed to this role by the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State in December 2020. He is retiring soon and a successor is due to be appointed in Spring 2025. A full list of current Non-Executive Directors, and those who served throughout the last year, is on our Governance page.

The role of our Board is to provide strategic leadership and to promote our long term, sustainable success. Our Board has statutory responsibility for exercising our functions while working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure the delivery of our strategic objectives. In accordance with good practice, the Board has established a number of committees, including the Audit, Assurance & Enterprise Risk Committee (AAERC). The Committee supports the Board and the Chief Executive as Accounting Officer in their responsibilities for risk control, financial stewardship and financial and statutory reporting. It reviews the comprehensiveness and proportionality of assurance and reporting processes consistent with the Accounting Officer's assurance needs.

As an Independent Expert you will provide independent advice, expertise and guidance to the Committee as it carries out this important role.

Generic information about the role of non-executives in Government is provided in the Cabinet Office’s Code of Practice on Corporate Governance in Central Government departments.

Key Responsibilities of AAERC

The Committee provides advice and recommendations to the Board and the Accounting Officer on:

The strategic processes for risk management, internal control and governance arrangements;

The acceptability and accuracy of the Homes England annual reports and financial statements and commentary contained therein;

The appropriateness of the planned activity and results of both internal and external audit, and the adequacy of management response to issues identified by audit activity;

Matters pertinent to management’s assurances relating to the management of enterprise risk and corporate governance standards;

It's view of the expected overall risk outturn to Homes England arising from its operational programmes and activities, taking into account the key risks identified by Homes England's other committees (including the Investment Committee, the Nominations & Remunerations Committee, the Change Committee, Cross-Cutting Committee, and Home Ownership Committee);

Any material issues relating to the financial statements, value for money or internal control arising from scrutiny by the NAO, Treasury, the Public Accounts Committee or other relevant Parliamentary scrutiny;

Anti-fraud, bribery and money laundering policies, whistle-blowing processes, and arrangements for special investigations;

It's own effectiveness through periodic review and reporting the results of those reviews to the Board; and any other matters, where requested to do so by the Board or which arise from its responsibilities above.

Audit Assurance and Enterprise Risk Committee - Expert

We are looking for a candidate who has credibility and stature as a qualified expert in Audit, Finance and Risk matters in organisations of scale and complexity.

All candidates must demonstrate, in their CV and supporting letter, how they meet the selection criteria for the role, through their knowledge, skills and experience.

Essential Criteria:

Has Executive level experience of financial stewardship and financial and statutory reporting, audit, and risk control.

Understands the strategic processes for assuring the Board regarding internal controls, risk management frameworks, assurance and governance arrangements. 

Has served as a member of an Audit Committee or worked as a Director of Finance, Chief Risk Officer, Audit Director or an equivalent role and level.

Holder of an Accountancy qualification or equivalent.

Remuneration: 

£10,000 per annum. This remuneration 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. 

Time Commitment: 

Your time commitment is expected to be a minimum of 1 day per month (including preparation, reading and attendance at meetings). There are six scheduled AAERC meetings per annum.

Term: 

This appointment will be made for a period of 1 year, extendable  annually for up to 3 years.

Location: 

AAERC meetings are usually held in-person in London or Newcastle, although there are facilities to permit hybrid meetings, with attendance by Teams.

Expenses and Subsistence: 

Reasonable travel and subsistence expenses incurred on Homes England business will be reimbursed in accordance with Home England policies.​

Conduct: 

Independent experts will be expected to act in accordance with: 

The principles set out in the Cabinet Office’s Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out, clearly and openly, the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of individual members’ terms and conditions of appointment; 

The Seven Principles of Public Life  

Nationality: 

You must have a right to work in the UK, there must be no employment restrictions, or limit on your permitted stay in the UK.

Annual Performance Review and Reappointment: 

Annual performance reviews are expected to be undertaken. Reappointments are not automatic and will only be considered subject to satisfactory performance reviews.