Local Audit Office – Non-Executive Directors

We are appointing five highly-skilled, experienced Non‑Executive Directors to join the Local Audit Office Board. The role will provide independent oversight, strategic guidance and support to the Chair, the Controller of Local Audit and executive management, ensuring the new body operates to the highest standards of governance and accountability.

The Local Audit Office will:

• Play a critical role in ensuring the effective delivery of reforms, strengthening accountability, securing better value for money for taxpayers, and supporting long‑term economic growth.
• Reduce the complexity of current audit arrangements, improve coordination across the system and enhance capacity and capability.
• Oversee and coordinate the auditing of local public bodies to promote effective, value‑for‑money and timely local audit, and to put the system back onto a secure and reliable footing.
• Rebuild transparency, accountability and public trust, restoring a crucial early warning system for authorities facing potential failure and challenge.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide independent oversight and constructive challenge to the Controller of Local Audit and the Board’s executive management to support the establishment of the Office, delivery milestones and strategic direction.
• Contribute to the work of any Board sub‑committees as well as the main Board.
• Provide additional scrutiny, external expertise and discipline to promote transparent decision‑making, and bring insight from wider experience to inform strategic thinking.
• Promote the highest standards of governance and accountability in the management of the Office’s operations.
• Support the establishment of key functions at pace, ensuring demonstrable achievement of short‑ and medium‑term objectives.
• Actively participate in Board meetings and relevant sub‑committees, contributing to informed decision‑making processes.
• Support Board in maintaining the operational independence of the Office while maintaining ministerial confidence that statutory functions are delivered effectively and efficiently.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent the organisation at external events and stakeholder engagements, fostering positive relationships and promoting the Office’s interests.
• Act as an advocate to champion the profile of local audit across the broader corporate audit and regulatory landscape both in the UK and internationally.

Regulatory Compliance, Risk and Performance Monitoring

• Monitor the performance of the executive team and the Office, providing reporting, feedback and guidance as necessary.
• Ensure effective risk management practices are in place, identifying and addressing potential risks to the Office.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant laws, regulations and standards, maintaining high levels of corporate governance.
• Provide oversight of resource use, challenging and advising the decision‑making process.

Person Specification – Essential Criteria

• Proven board‑level experience as a non‑executive director or senior leader in large, complex public or private sector organisations (or third sectors, UK or overseas).
• Strong knowledge of public sector governance, audit, risk and financial oversight; organisational development, transformation and performance monitoring.
• Demonstrated excellent strategic thinking and independent, objective judgement in assessing complex issues, identifying key risks and mitigations.
• Political astuteness and understanding of local and national government/Parliament, and the context of the Office’s work and parliamentary accountability.
• Strong communication, influencing and relationship‑management skills.

Person Specification – Desirable Criteria

• Strong understanding of the policy and regulatory framework for local financial reporting and local audit, supported by relevant professional qualifications (e.g. accountancy, law, business administration).
• Experience of establishing or working within arm‑sized bodies, and of leading or overseeing regulatory transformation, tackling complex system‑wide issues, holding executives to account and delivering long‑term reforms in the public interest.

We welcome candidates from traditionally under‑represented groups.

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