The Pirbright Institute is a world-leading centre of excellence in the research and surveillance of virus diseases of farm animals and those that spread from animals to humans, as well as working to understand, predict, detect and respond to viral disease outbreaks. The Institute receives strategic funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), and works to contain, control and eliminate these economically and medically important diseases through highly innovative and fundamental and applied science.

The Institute employs around 500 staff, research students and visiting scientists, and is based on one campus in Pirbright, Surrey, where £350m from UK government through BBSRC has resulted in the development of the site to incorporate a state-of-the-art high containment laboratory, the National Virology Centre: The Plowright Building. This has enabled a unique combination of fundamental and applied research into pathogenic diseases with potentially devastating impact. Additional investment of over £100m in the high containment animal facilities is nearing completion (Brooksby Building), which will enable the UK to study zoonotic diseases in livestock, a sovereign capability which was not available in the UK during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

The Pirbright Institute has recently launched a new UK Centre for Veterinary Vaccine Innovation and Manufacturing (CVIM) which will bridge the gaps between research and expertise in process development and manufacturing to improve global animal health. This is a joint initiative between the BBSRC, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

With new facilities and ground-breaking research, it's an exciting time for the Institute as it continues to deliver excellent science, underpinned by effective management of biorisk, ensuring that Pirbright remains financially viable and agile. The Institute will continue to focus on long term success by attracting optimal levels of external grant income.

This role will be working through the Finance and Audit Committee and will:

• Monitor the integrity of the Annual Report of the Trustee Directors and Financial Statements for the Year and recommend to the board on any significant financial reporting issues and judgements
• Review and agree the audit of internal processes and controls
• Recommend the appointment of external auditors
• Work with Risk and Assurance Committee to monitor and challenge strategic risks
• Report to the Board of Trustees on the budget process and on overall financial performance and mechanisms to achieve the annual budget
• Provide input to other key subjects reviewed by the Finance and Audit Committee such as government funding of science, technology and people and organisation

The Institute now seeks a Special Advisor (Finance and Audit) who will bring strong financial acumen to complement the expertise which already exists. This is a new role which does not carry the same responsibilities as a Trustee Director, and would suit a high potential individual who is seeking to develop their non-executive skills and experience. They will be able to provide guidance and oversight as The Pirbright Institute continues to ensure its long-term success.. They will have a strategic focus whilst having an eye for detail. They will be collaborative, collegiate, decisive and diplomatic in approach.

Candidates will bring strategic leadership experience and will be a qualified accountant. They will have held senior finance or audit positions and will have ideally worked in one of the major audit firms. Alternatively, they will have held a senior role in an audit function. Experience in the public, private and charity sectors would be ideal. Previous experience of auditing grants would be beneficial. Previous Committee or Board experience is not essential as the successful candidate will be provided with a comprehensive learning and development programme in addition to the standard induction.

It is important that the successful candidate will be committed and aligned with Pirbright's mission to be the world's leading innovative centre for preventing and controlling viral diseases of livestock.

Further details on current Trustee Directors can be viewed here.

Pirbright’s people are passionate about delivering outstanding scientific research and operational support, and the organisation is committed to making the Institute a fantastic place to work. Its PRIDE values (Passion, Reliability, Innovation, Dignity and Respect, Excellence) underpin all aspects of its culture, and promoting equality, inclusion and valuing diversity is fundamental to Pirbright’s mission and goals.

This is an unpaid position but the Special Advisor can claim out of pocket expenses incurred in travelling to meetings. The Finance and Audit Committee meets three times per year (via Teams or in person), for approximately two to fours hours, during normal office hours. After successfully contributing to two or three FAC meetings the Special Advisor will be invited to attend Trustee Board meetings as an observer; subject to meeting the standard requirements for a Trustee Board Director, they will, in due course, become a member of the Trustee Board. The Board meetings are held four times per year during normal office hours, typically lasting between three and four hours.

Location: As the Pirbright Institute is looking to attract the best leaders in their field, they would be open to considering someone outside of the UK (in Europe, for example) who could still attend meetings in person.

The Pirbright Institute welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. Given the current balance on the Board and its Sub-Committees, applications from ethnic minority groups and other protected characteristic groups would be particularly welcomed.