United Learning is an award-winning group of schools committed to providing an excellent education for children and young people across the country. The organisation believes in the transformative power of education and is dedicated to bringing out the best in everyone – students, staff, parents, and the wider community.

United Learning schools serve children and young people from diverse backgrounds, faiths, and abilities, providing an inspiring education to over 55,000 students. The group is highly regarded for its ability to adopt and improve schools in need of improvement or those in special measures.

Uniquely, United Learning encompasses schools from both the state and independent sectors, fostering a collaborative environment that benefits all involved. This approach allows the group to offer a wider range of opportunities and experiences for both staff and students than any single school could provide independently. Notably, United Learning boasts the most developed relationships and practical interactions between independent and state schools in the country, creating synergies that enrich the learning experience for everyone.

United Learning is very well regarded within the sector and continuing to grow. The Trust is focussing on responding to the challenges faced by all schools post Covid-19 and a response to some of the financial challenges which may be faced by its independent schools in the future. 

United Learning is looking for an individual with a background in strategic-level financial leadership to join the Board's Risk & Audit Committee as a Member. The Risk & Audit Committee is one of three committees of United Learning’s Group Board. 

The role carries the following main duties and responsibilities:

• Reviewing and assessing the Group’s risk management and internal control arrangements
• Contributing to recommendations to the Group Board on the adequacy and effectiveness of these arrangements
• Considering risk and audit reports from appropriate sources, including internal and external auditors, and making recommendations   
• Reviewing the Group’s financial statements and recommending them to the Group Board for approval
• Taking part in reviews of the Committee’s performance and terms of reference

The appointed individual will develop an understanding of and help to address the challenges of running a complex organisation which incorporates both academies and independent schools, and also the risks associated with the size of such an organisation. The new appointee should also act as an ambassador for United Learning and be driven by contributing to local communities and the education of young people.

The successful candidate will possess sound knowledge and recent experience of risk management and / or audit / internal controls. They will have an accounting qualification with experience in either the audit profession or as a CFO / FD of a large organisation. First-time non-executives are welcome to apply, provided they have had substantial board-level exposure in their executive careers. Individuals with a commercial background, or a blend of commercial and non-profit, are preferred to those who have only worked in non-profit or public sector environments. 

Candidates must have sufficient time to dedicate to the role, which will be for an initial three year term and involve in-person meetings. They will understand the importance of committee meetings and be committed to preparing for them, attending and contributing regularly. 

Fundamentally, applicants must feel a strong personal resonance with United Learning's ethos and values, which seek to empower 'the best in everyone'. They must also understand the unique position United Learning occupies in the education sector, with its combination of independent and publicly funded schools. 

A full list of current Board members can be found here.

This role is unremunerated but reasonable, pre-agreed domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed. The Committee Member will be expected to attend four Committee meetings per year (c. three-hour meeting + prep) in-person at the Peterborough head office. 

There may be virtual ad hoc meetings on occasion and it is inspected that at the beginning of term there will be several induction sessions spread out over a few weeks.

UK - London, Midlands, North England, South East, South West

United Learning welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. 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.