Independent Member – Finance Challenge and Assurance Panel

Stonewater; Coventry; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading housing provider in the UK seeks an Independent Panel Member to oversee financial integrity and strategic oversight. This role requires strong financial management skills, a commitment to collaboration, and an understanding of governance. You will work with various stakeholders to ensure transparency and compliance, contributing approximately 12 days per year. Occasional travel is expected for scheme visits and engagements.

Qualifications

• Strong grasp of accounting standards and treasury operations.
• Proven understanding of governance and regulatory frameworks.
• Ability to challenge financial plans constructively.

Responsibilities

• Provide independent oversight on financial matters.
• Ensure decisions align with regulatory obligations.
• Collaborate with panel members and contribute to discussions.

Skills

Financial management

Governance knowledge

Analytical skills

Effective communication

Team collaboration

Constructive debating

Education

Degree level or equivalent

Job description

At Stonewater, we are more than just a housing provider. We are a people-focused organisation committed to building thriving, inclusive communities, and creating a lasting impact.

As an Independent Panel Member, you will help shape and uphold Stonewater’s culture, vision, values, and strategic objectives. You will bring expert insight and challenge to financial decision making, ensuring transparency, compliance, and value for money.

The Finance Challenge and Assurance Panel plays a critical role in ensuring financial integrity and strategic oversight across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide independent oversight and challenge on financial matters.
• Ensure decisions align with Stonewater’s best interest and regulatory obligations.
• Scrutinise financial planning, risk management, and treasury strategies.
• Collaborate effectively with panel members and executive leads.
• Prepare thoroughly for meetings and contribute to the informed, strategic discussions.
• Act as an ambassador for Stonewater, upholding our values and reputation.
• Apply specialist knowledge in finance, audit, and governance to support robust decision making.

What We’re Looking For:

• Strong grasp of financial management, accounting standards, and treasury operations.
• Proven understanding of governance and regulatory frameworks in a commercial context.
• Ability to challenge financial plans and performance constructively.
• Commitment to Stonewater’s values, including equality, diversity, and fairness.
• Strategic thinker with sound judgement and analytical skills.
• Strong communicator and team player with effective debating skills.
• Confident in challenging constructively and holding others to account.
• Collaborative decision-maker with a “cabinet-style” approach.
• Role model for professional conduct, integrity, and inclusive leadership.
• Educated to a degree level or equivalent.
• A commitment of approximately 12 days per year.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of a regulated sector.
• Familiarity with value for money metrics and sector specific financial efficiency.
• Knowledge of insurance and risk mitigation strategies.
• Previous board or panel level governance experience.

Appointment to this role will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check, satisfactory references and possession of a valid Right to Work document.

Although the organisation operates remotely, there is an expectation of occasional travel, including attendance at scheme visits and other in-person engagements as required.

Discover Stonewater:

Stonewater is a leading housing provider. We manage around 40,000 homes, serving 93,000 customers across our portfolio of affordable properties for general rent, shared ownership and sale, alongside specialist accommodation, with an ambitious house-building programme.

Our mission is to provide quality homes and services for people whose needs are not met by the open market.

We’re looking for like-minded people to join our team of over 900 talented colleagues who embody our values of being ethical, ambitious, passionate, agile and commercial, as well as people who want to make a difference and transform people’s lives.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and working towards accreditation for becoming a Disability Confident Leader, which allows us to record and report on disability, mental health and wellbeing in the workplace to better support our colleagues. We have also achieved accreditation for being an Advanced Employer for Investing in Ethnicity Maturity Matrix. We are committed to being a Menopause Friendly employer and working towards accreditation our Menopause Friendly accreditation.

Are you ready to #DiscoverStonewater?

Stonewater reserve the right to bring the closing date forward should enough quality applications be received prior to the current closing date.