Essential criteria
- Recent and relevant board- or committee-level financial experience in either the public or private sector (ideally both), supported by a recognised professional accountancy qualification (e.g., CCAB or equivalent) or demonstrably equivalent senior financial leadership experience.
- Strong alignment with The National Archives’ mission, with the ability to rapidly grasp its vision, strategic priorities, key issues and principal risks, and the wider environment in which it operates, including key relationships in government and with the wider archive sector.
- Ability to operate strategically as an effective member of the Audit and Risk Committee, contributing positively to deliberations through sound judgement, independence of thought and constructive challenge.
- Ability to grasp and apply relevant legislation and regulatory requirements, including the Public Records Act, Freedom of Information Act, and data protection requirements (UK GDPR).
- Broad understanding of the government environment, particularly accounting structures, assurance expectations and current major initiatives.
- Demonstrable skills, knowledge and experience relevant to the work of the Audit and Risk Committee including: accounting, risk management, internal and external audit, and risk oversight in information/data environments, with any technical specialism pertinent to the work of The National Archives.
- Experience of working with audit and risk committees in a large or complex delivery organisation in either the public or private sector.
Desirable criteria
- Membership of a recognised UK accounting institution and knowledge of government accounting and/or public sector reporting and audit expectations.