The Independent Director Role

This is a full Board appointment, rather than a purely technical role. Alongside strong specialist credentials, the successful candidate will be expected to contribute to wider Board discussions on strategy, performance, risk and governance. Selection will take account of the approved role requirements, the Board’s committee needs and the relevant independence criteria.

Key Board Responsibilities

• Take an active part in the Board’s oversight of strategy, performance, risk and governance.
• Exercise independent judgement and avoid relationships or interests that could compromise, or appear to compromise, objectivity.
• Contribute across the Board agenda, not only within the specialist area.
• Question and challenge management constructively, while respecting the distinction between oversight and executive responsibility.
• Support high standards of governance, accountability, disclosure and confidentiality in line with applicable legal and listing requirements.
• Disclose directorships, interests, shareholdings, related-party relationships and any actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest.
• Have enough time to prepare properly, attend Board and committee meetings, complete induction and keep up with relevant developments.

Role Purpose

The Board is looking for a senior finance, audit, assurance or risk leader who can bring rigour to discussions on financial reporting, internal control, enterprise risk and market governance. The Director should be comfortable working through complex information, testing assumptions and helping the Board reach sound, well-evidenced decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and independent challenge on the Board’s audit, assurance and financial-reporting responsibilities.
• Oversee the integrity of financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control, internal audit, external audit and enterprise-risk arrangements.
• Advise the Board on disclosure, market-governance and stakeholder-confidence considerations applicable to a listed enterprise.
• Review the assurance implications of material investments, strategic initiatives and emerging risks.
• Be capable of serving on, and where appointed chairing, the relevant Board committee.

Requirements

• Meet all statutory requirements relating to eligibility, independence, integrity, competence, time commitment and fitness to serve as a director of a listed issuer.
• Be independent of the organisation, its management and significant shareholders, with no unresolved conflict that could affect objective judgement.
• Hold a relevant degree and any professional qualification specified for the role.
• Have a strong professional and regulatory record and be willing to complete comprehensive due diligence.
• Communicate clearly, exercise sound judgement and work collaboratively enough to influence decisions and build consensus.
• Bring experience and perspectives that add to the diversity of the Board.

Experience and Qualifications

• A degree in accounting, finance, business or a related field, together with a recognised professional qualification in accounting, auditing or finance.
• Substantial senior executive or Board-level experience in audit, financial reporting, finance leadership, assurance or enterprise risk within a listed, regulated or comparably complex organisation.
• Demonstrated experience serving on, chairing or advising a Board audit, risk or assurance committee.
• Strong working knowledge of financial reporting, internal control, external and internal audit, enterprise risk, disclosure and governance obligations.
• Evidence of engaging credibly with auditors, regulators, investors or equivalent external stakeholders.

Evidence of Impact

• Your application should include brief, specific examples of at least two of the following:
• Strengthened financial reporting, internal control, audit quality or enterprise-risk oversight.
• Led or overseen the resolution of a significant assurance, reporting or governance matter.
• Improved the effectiveness of an audit, risk or assurance committee.

Added Advantage

• Experience chairing an audit or risk committee.
• Exposure to sizeable, regulated or capital-intensive organisations.
• Knowledge of sustainability reporting and assurance.