Non Executive Director

Castle Peak Group; North East; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

Castle Peak Group, a North East housing association, seeks an experienced Non-Executive Director to chair the Audit and Risk Committee. You will lead financial governance, risk oversight and assurance, ensuring robust controls and regulatory compliance while supporting strategic objectives.

The role requires senior finance leadership, strong governance experience and the ability to challenge constructively as part of a high-performing Board dedicated to social outcomes for tenants.

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in a regulated or commercially demanding organisation.
• Strong and recent expertise in financial management, financial reporting, audit, governance and strategic risk evaluation.
• A recognised professional accountancy or audit qualification.
• Experience chairing meetings or committees with scrutiny and discussion.
• Ability to interpret and challenge complex financial information and assurance reports.
• Understanding of corporate governance and board-level responsibilities.
• Ability to evaluate risk within financial sustainability and regulatory requirements.
• Independent judgement and collaborative leadership style.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Understanding of the social housing sector or quick development of appreciation.

Responsibilities

• Chairing the Audit and Risk Committee with effective oversight.
• Overseeing internal and external audit, controls, risk management.
• Scrutinising financial statements and audit findings.
• Supporting the Board in financial governance and resilience.
• Providing strategic oversight of risks.
• Engage with auditors and external advisers.
• Build strong working relationships with Board colleagues and executives.

Skills

Senior leadership

Financial management

Governance

Strategic risk

Audit & assurance

Financial reporting

Communication

Independent judgement

Stakeholder engagement

Board governance

Education

Professional accountancy qualification

Job description

An opportunity to influence governance, financial resilience and the future of social housing

Castle Peak Group has been retained by a well established, high performing housing association in the North East of England to appoint an experienced Non-Executive Director who will also serve as Chair of its Audit and Risk Committee.

This is an important Board appointment for an organisation with a strong social purpose, a track record of regulatory and financial performance, and ambitious plans for the future.

The organisation has achieved the highest regulatory grades for governance, financial viability and consumer standards, reflecting its commitment to strong leadership, effective oversight and delivering positive outcomes for tenants.

As the organisation continues to deliver its long term corporate strategy, the Board is seeking a financially astute and strategically minded individual who can provide independent oversight, constructive challenge and effective leadership across audit, assurance, financial governance and strategic risk.

This appointment offers an opportunity to contribute to the future direction of a financially resilient and socially responsible organisation operating within an increasingly complex and demanding regulatory environment.

The opportunity

As a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, you will play a central role in maintaining the organisation's high standards of governance, financial accountability and organisational resilience.

Working closely with the Board Chair, fellow Non-Executive Directors, the Executive Management Team and internal and external auditors, you will ensure that appropriate systems, controls and assurance arrangements are in place to support the organisation's strategic objectives.

You will provide effective leadership to the Audit and Risk Committee, encouraging rigorous scrutiny, open discussion and constructive challenge while ensuring that the Board receives clear, informed recommendations.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Chairing the Audit and Risk Committee, ensuring effective oversight of its responsibilities and providing clear assurance and recommendations to the Board.
• Overseeing internal and external audit arrangements, internal controls, risk management and corporate assurance frameworks.
• Scrutinising financial statements, audit findings and financial reporting arrangements, ensuring transparency, accuracy and accountability.
• Supporting the Board in maintaining strong financial governance, long term financial sustainability and organisational resilience.
• Providing strategic oversight of emerging financial, operational, regulatory and reputational risks.
• Ensuring that the organisation's approach to risk appetite appropriately balances strategic ambition, financial sustainability and regulatory responsibilities.
• Contributing to wider Board discussions on corporate strategy, value for money, investment, performance and environmental, social and governance considerations.
• Building effective working relationships with Board colleagues, senior executives, auditors and external advisers.
• Bringing independent judgement and a broader strategic perspective to Board discussions, supporting sound decision making and effective organisational governance.

Beyond your committee responsibilities, you will contribute as a full member of the Board, sharing collective responsibility for the organisation's strategic direction, performance and long term success.

The successful candidate will recognise that effective governance is not simply about compliance. It is about enabling an organisation to make informed decisions, manage risk responsibly and deliver better outcomes for the people and communities it serves.

About you

We are seeking a credible, experienced and collaborative senior professional with a strong background in finance, audit, governance and strategic risk management.

You will bring the technical expertise and professional judgement required to chair a specialist Board committee, alongside the broader leadership qualities necessary to make an effective contribution as a Non-Executive Director.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Significant senior leadership experience, ideally within a complex, regulated or commercially demanding organisation.
• Strong and recent expertise in financial management, financial reporting, audit, governance and strategic risk evaluation.
• A recognised professional accountancy or audit qualification.
• Previous experience of chairing meetings, committees or other senior governance forums, with the ability to facilitate effective scrutiny and constructive discussion.
• The confidence and technical capability to interpret and challenge complex financial information, audit findings and assurance reports.
• A strong understanding of corporate governance, accountability and the responsibilities associated with Board level decision making.
• The ability to evaluate organisational risk within the context of financial sustainability, strategic priorities and regulatory requirements.
• Independent judgement, intellectual curiosity and the confidence to challenge appropriately while maintaining positive and productive relationships.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a collaborative and considered leadership style.
• An understanding of the social housing sector, or the ability to quickly develop an informed appreciation of its regulatory, financial and operational environment.
• A genuine commitment to social purpose, inclusive leadership and improving outcomes for communities.

We are particularly interested in individuals who combine strong technical financial expertise with commercial awareness, strategic thinking and an appreciation of the relationship between effective governance and organisational performance.

A broad and inclusive approach to recruitment

Our client recognises that effective Boards benefit from a diversity of professional backgrounds, lived experiences and perspectives.

We welcome applications from suitably qualified individuals across a range of sectors, including financial services, professional services, commercial organisations, public services, housing and other regulated environments.

Previous Non-Executive Director experience is not essential.

However, applicants must demonstrate the senior level experience, professional qualifications and chairing capability required to lead an Audit and Risk Committee effectively.

We are particularly keen to encourage applications from individuals whose backgrounds and experiences are currently underrepresented in Board leadership.

The selection process will focus on professional capability, relevant experience, leadership qualities and the contribution candidates can make to the organisation's future.

Why consider this appointment?

This is an opportunity to join the Board of an established and financially strong housing association with a clear social purpose and an ambitious vision for the future.

You will contribute to an organisation that places considerable importance on good governance, responsible financial management and delivering meaningful outcomes for its tenants and communities.

The appointment offers the opportunity to:

• Influence the strategic direction and long term resilience of a significant regional housing provider.
• Chair a key Board committee with responsibility for audit, assurance and strategic risk.
• Work alongside an experienced and collaborative Board and Executive Management Team.
• Apply your financial and governance expertise in an organisation where effective oversight has a direct impact on people's lives.
• Contribute to the future of social housing during a period of regulatory change, financial pressures and evolving expectations.

For an experienced executive, finance professional or established Board member, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution beyond their day to day professional responsibilities.

Castle Peak Group and our client are committed to fair, inclusive and accessible recruitment. We welcome applications from individuals with the skills, experience and commitment to contribute to strong governance, responsible leadership and positive outcomes for communities.