One of the largest not-for-profit multi-academy trusts in England, Ormiston Academies Trust (OAT) has been sponsoring academies since 2009. Educating over 30,000 pupils across five OAT regions in over 40 schools employing over 5000 staff — OAT currently comprises 32 secondary schools, six primary schools, four alternative provision schools and one special school. 

OAT's very first school was sponsored by Ormiston Trust, a national charity formed in 1969 as a lasting memorial for Fiona Ormiston Murray and her husband who both tragically died the previous year on their honeymoon. It is a grant-making trust working strategically in its areas of interest which are mainly with schools and organisations supporting children, young people and families. Ormiston Trust established OAT to run its sponsored academies, and OAT remains accountable to it, as does its sister organisation, Ormiston Families. 

A national education charity, OAT is underpinned by its founder, Peter Murray’s, belief that every child should be given a chance to thrive. It serves pupils from many communities, all with their unique character, strengths, and challenges. Its sole purpose is: to provide OAT pupils with excellent learning opportunities, inside and outside the classroom.

Ormiston Academies Trust seeks a Chair of its Audit and Risk Committee who will bring strong financial and accounting acumen. They will be able to provide guidance and oversight as OAT embarks on its new strategic plan and looks towards ensuring its long-term sustainability and resilience.

Responsibilities of the Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee are as follows:  

• Oversee and approve the trust’s programme of internal scrutiny
• Ensure that risks are being addressed appropriately through internal scrutiny
• Report to the board on the adequacy of the trust’s internal control framework, including financial and non-financial controls and management of risks.
• Review the audited annual report and financial statements
• Oversight must ensure information submitted to DfE and ESFA that affects funding, including pupil number returns and funding claims (for both revenue and capital grants) completed by the trust and (for trusts with multiple academies) by constituent academies, is accurate and in compliance with funding criteria.

You will also be a Board Trustee and Director. The role of a Trustee is wide ranging, contributing to the governance of the Trust, overseeing investment and financial matters and legislative responsibilities, promoting, and making provision for school improvement and student personal development, and generally exercising the powers of the Trustees as set out in the Articles of Association.

Individually, as a Trustee member, you will provide advice, support, and expertise to ensure that the Trust’s activities and management are both effective and efficient, establishing constructive, supportive, and appropriately challenging working relationships with senior staff across the Trust. You will also ensure that our work is in accordance with the public interest as well as the Trusts values of Anyone can excel; Enjoy the challenge; Share what is best; and be inclusive.

Collectively, Trustees make certain that the Trust delivers its charitable objective for the public benefit and manages public funds appropriately.

OAT is seeking an individual who has held a senior finance role at a strategic level or been a Partner within an Audit Practice or Audit Firm. They will bring strong financial acumen and provide guidance to the Committee and wider Board. They will understand the complexity of large organisations such as Ormiston and will ideally have previous Audit Committee or wider governance experience. They will bring a willingness to be challenging but constructive and will provide a high level of scrutiny. Ideally they would have some familiarity with the public sector.

It is hoped, but not essential, that this person may be involved in fundraising and looking at how OAT can diversify its fundraising efforts.

The following attributes are important for all Trustees at Ormiston Academies Trust:

• A passion for, a personal interest in and a commitment to education alongside a commitment to the values, aims and objectives of the Trust
• Experience of sectors or professions that would be beneficial to the Trust, for example in business commercial, public or voluntary sectors
• A willingness to support the senior management of the Trust as a critical friend, while promoting the interests, activities, and strategic aims of the Trust
• Ability to devote sufficient time to the Trust on a voluntary basis, including attendance of  Trust Board meetings and serving on sub-committees as outlined below

A list of current Trustees can be found here. 

There are four to six Board meetings per year as well as four Audit and Risk Committee meetings. These typically take place in London and last three or four hours, although a third of meetings currently take place virtually. Ideally this person will be partnered with a cluster of Ormiston schools, based on where they live, and they would visit at least two schools a year. There is also an annual conference and ad hoc communication with the CEO / CFO. It is a four-year term. 

Candidates will be UK based.