Founded in 1839, the University of Chester is a thriving institution with some 15,000 students drawn from 130 countries around the world. It is deeply committed to ensuring an outstanding student learning experience, developing the expertise of its staff, providing teaching excellence, and actively growing research and scholarly profiles.

The University’s mission is to provide all students and staff with the education, skills, support and motivation to enable them to develop as confident world citizens and then successfully serve and improve the global communities within which they live and work. As part of its mission, the University of Chester has developed extensive international partnerships and exchange arrangements with a wide range of institutions and organisations including in India, Africa, South East Asia, China, Europe, and North America.

Rooted in its communities, the University has a proud history of preparing students for successful careers in health, social work and policing in addition to teaching, and its graduates make an important contribution to these professions well beyond the North West of England. Equally, it successfully delivers courses for those seeking employment in business, industry, the sciences, and humanities and creative arts, and there are exciting plans to increase the profile and impact of these disciplines. Since gaining University status in 2005, the institution has seen significant investment and expansion, such as the doubling of student numbers, and the provision of a diverse and innovative curriculum across six distinctive sites.

The University of Chester has a demonstrable commitment to widening participation, development of applied research, and strong international, private and public sector collaborations. Its ambition for the next five years includes a focus on STEM subjects, including the development of the University of Chester Medical School, a new Institute for Sustainability and Food Innovation, and acting as a key component of the North West Net Zero programme. While remaining anchored in and an integral part of the local community, the University also has an eye to its national and international position overseen by a new, ambitious leadership team.

The University is governed by the Council and its various sub-committees. Council Members share ultimate and collective responsibility for all the transactions of the University, although they are not engaged in its day-to-day management and operation. Members determine the University’s educational character, mission, vision and values, overseeing its activities and contributing to the development of and approving of the corporate plan, and other plans and policies deriving from it. The University Council has a number of sub-Committees comprising of the Academic Governance & Student Outcomes Committee, Audit & Risk Management Committee, Planning & Resources Committee, Mission Committee, Nominations & Governance Review Committee and Senior Salaries Committee. 

Professional Advisers do not sit on the full Council but they would be co-opted on to the Audit & Risk Management Committee. They will help to bring further expertise in finance, accounting or auditing helping to strengthen the University's governance arrangements. They will observe and contribute to the work and responsibilities of the Audit & Risk Committee and will provide constructive challenge and support to both the internal and external auditors to management and mitigate risk. They will contribute to the annual report and strategic planning of the Audit & Risk Management Committee and the Council.

The University of Chester is looking to appoint up to two Professional Advisers for its Audit & Risk Management Committee to strengthen its governance arrangements and bring experience in finance, accounting or auditing. Candidates should have the ability to challenge and join constructive debates of competing viewpoints. The Professional Advisor role is a great opportunity for high potential individuals with no non-executive experience as it provides them with a good training ground to potentially become a full Council Member.

All applicants must have experience of operating at a senior level in the field of finance, accountancy or audit, and will be able to guide, challenge and influence senior individuals. Candidates will either be a qualified accountant or qualified by experience. 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. This is an exciting opportunity to join the Audit & Risk Management Committee of the University of Chester and play a significant and important role in ensuring the Committee efficiently discharges its terms of reference and duties and provides appropriate assurances to the University Council.

The University is proud of its richly diverse student community, and wants its Committees to represent this. It particularly welcomes applicants from groups currently under-represented on Committees; including ethnic minorities; and individuals from different socio-economic backgrounds. All Council Members and Professional Advisers must have a commitment to the University’s mission, vision and foundational values and to observe the highest standards of conduct in corporate governance in exercising their responsibilities in line with the Nolan principles. While applications are welcome from those of all faiths and none, candidates will be comfortable with the University's Christian foundations and principles. 

Dr Meredydd David, OBE, President of the University Council
Cathy Bond, Deputy President of the University Council
David Briggs
Professor Steven Broomhead
Marcus Clinton
Cllr Razia Daniels
Stephen Dobson
Professor Charles Forsdick
Jeannie France-Hayhurst
Karen Howell
Kate Nwosu Aaron-Efe, Professional Services Staff Representative
Professor Helen O’Sullivan, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Sara Popplewell
Dr Angela Seeney
Ellie Smith, Chester Students’ Union President
Professor Eunice Simmons, Vice-Chancellor
Professor Angela Simpson, Academic Staff Representative
Very Revd Dr Tim Stratford, Dean of Chester
Rt Revd Mark Tanner, Bishop of Chester
Peter Wallach 

Audit & Risk Management Committee composition:

Dr Angela Seeney (Chair)
Professor Steven Broomhead
Peter Wallach
Lynette Siemers (Professional Adviser)

The University of Chester welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. As those from an ethnic minority background and  from different socio-economic backgrounds are currently under-represented on the Council, applications from those individuals would be particularly encouraged. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.

There are typically four meetings of the Audit & Risk Management Committee during the course of an academic year (two in the autumn term and one in both the spring and summer terms). These meetings last around three hours and tend to be between 2pm-5pm. The minimum requirement of Professional Advisers is to attend the four meetings of the Audit & Risk Management Committee (venue may be online or distributed in person between the various university sites). An invitation is also extended to an annual strategic planning conference with University Council members and senior staff, which allows more time to be devoted to in-depth examination and discussion of relevant strategic issues. The time commitment could amount to 5-7 days per year. Appointment is for an initial term of three years and can be extended for up to two further terms. Reasonable pre-agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Candidates will be based in the UK and will need to be close enough to travel to Chester when in-person meetings are held.