ICS Audit and Risk Assurance Committee Chair

GatenbySanderson; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic leader to chair its Audit and Risk Assurance Committee. This pivotal role involves guiding strategic decisions and ensuring effective risk management within a department focused on energy security and net zero initiatives. The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in senior leadership, particularly within large organizations, and possess strong analytical and communication skills. This is a unique opportunity to influence the direction of government policy while addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time. If you are passionate about making a difference in the public sector, we encourage you to apply.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in strategic leadership roles.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify key issues.

Responsibilities

• Advise on risk management and maintain internal controls.
• Shape the direction of a department at the heart of government agenda.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Risk Management

Financial Management

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Education

Experience in Senior Leadership

Knowledge of Energy Sector

Job description

ICS Audit and Risk Assurance Committee Chair

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is responsible for delivering the security of energy supply, ensuring properly functioning energy markets, encouraging greater energy efficiency, and seizing the opportunities of net zero to lead the world in new green industries. DESNZ is the lead department delivering the Prime Minister's Clean Energy Superpower Mission, which has 2 pillars: i) Clean Power by 2030, and ii) accelerating to net zero.

The Departmental Board and Audit & Risk Assurance Committee

The DESNZ Board is chaired by the Secretary of State. It sets the vision for the Department and guides its overarching policy. Non-Executive Departmental Board Members advise the Secretary of State and the executive team on the department's strategy and priorities.

The Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) supports the Departmental Board and Accounting Officer (the Permanent Secretary) in their responsibilities to ensure that DESNZ is a financially sound and efficient organisation that makes effective use of its resources in pursuit of its strategic objectives. The ARAC reviews the effectiveness of DESNZ's risk management framework and works to ensure the effective operation of financial and non-financial risk management and governance arrangements.

The Role - DESNZ ARAC Members

Audit and Risk Assurance Committee members play an important role advising the Permanent Secretary and the Departmental board to manage risk effectively and maintain robust internal controls. This is an opportunity to help shape the direction of a department at the heart of the government's agenda, working on the biggest challenges of our time.

Integrated Corporate Services Audit Risk and Assurance Committee

Integrated Corporate Services is an innovative delivery model for shared corporate services, at the forefront of Government Reform. It delivers shared aspects of HR, Finance, Digital, Commercial, Estates & Security services for DSIT, DESNZ, DBT and several of the ALBs of these departments. The ICS Oversight Board, with senior representation from ICS participating departments, has overall decision-making authority for ICS and establishes the strategic aims and objectives of ICS in line with Government shared services strategy.

ICS are establishing a new Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) to support the ICS Oversight Board and ICS Managing Director. This ARAC will review the comprehensiveness and reliability of assurances on governance, risk management, the control environment and the integrity of financial statements and policies prepared by ICS for its stakeholder departments.

The Role - ICS ARAC Chair

The ICS Audit and Risk Assurance Committee Chair will ensure that ICS is a financially sound and efficient organisation that makes effective use of its resources in pursuit of its strategic objectives.

The Candidate

For these three key appointments, the Department is seeking experienced strategic leaders with provide experience of effective risk, performance and financial management. Candidates will bring strong analytical skills and the ability to identify key issues and implications. They will have excellent communications skills, able to effectively report findings and recommendations, and inspire confidence with a wide range of stakeholders. DESNZ are looking to source candidates with substantial experience of senior leadership in large and complex organisations in the public, private or voluntary sectors.

DESNZ ARAC Members will bring knowledge of key strategic issues and themes within energy AND/OR a track record of providing risk based legal advice in regulated industries.

For the ICS ARAC Chair, the Department are keen to attract candidates with a sound understanding of shared services operations and strategic themes.

An appreciation of the political context in which the Department works, including an understanding of the key challenges faced by the public sector is also essential. Experience working in the energy or net zero sectors or on domestic or international climate mitigation is desirable.

Application

If you have the depth of experience and skills, as well as an alignment to mission to help us achieve our ambitious goals, we would very much like to hear from you.

For more information or for an informal discussion about the role please contact our advising executive search consultants, GatenbySanderson:

Zoe Bennett, Principal Researcher: [e-mail]

Olivia Robinson, Consultant: [e-mail]

Darra Power-Mooney: [e-mail]

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process by no later than 23.55 on Friday 9 May 2025

To view the job description and person specification, please scroll to the bottom of the page, tick to agree to the privacy policy, then click 'Continue to full details'.

Contacts

Olivia Robinson: 07964 826 291 Zoe Bennett: 07778 178265

Recruitment Timetable

Closing Date
Friday 9th May 2025 - 23:55

Shortlisting of Candidates
w/c 26 May 2025

Validation Discussions with GatenbySanderson
w/c 2nd & 9th June 2025

Final Panel Interviews
w/c 16th June 2025

How to Apply

Please provide the following documentation for your application to be considered complete. Please ensure that your documents contain your full name and the role that you are applying for.

Your application is submitted in two parts

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years (no longer than two pages)
• A Statement of Suitability (no longer than two pages) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification.

Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria.

In addition, you will be asked to complete a Diversity Monitoring Form. The completion of the Diversity Monitoring Form is mandatory, but it includes the option 'prefer not to say'. All monitoring data will be treated in the strictest confidence, will not be provided to the selection panel and will not affect your application in any way. You will also be required to complete a Declaration of Conflicts of Interest/Political Activity Form and will be requested to read the Privacy Policy.

We ask that you submit your application by 23:55 9th May 2025. Applications received after this date will not be considered.