Non Executive Director

Livin Housing; North East; On-site; GBP 7,300 - 9,900; Part time

Job summary

Livin Housing Association in Spennymoor, County Durham, invites a Senior Non-Executive Director to chair the Audit and Risk Committee. The appointee will provide independent oversight, challenge and leadership across audit, assurance, financial governance and strategic risk as the organisation executes its Plan A strategy.

The role is a three-year, board-level appointment with an estimated annual remuneration of £8,600 plus expenses.

Qualifications

• Senior governance experience in a complex, regulated or commercially demanding organisation.
• Strong financial literacy with ability to interpret financial statements and assurance reports.
• Proven capability to chair meetings or committees and lead complex discussions.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to the Audit and Risk Committee with robust scrutiny and clear Board recommendations.
• Oversee internal controls, audit arrangements, risk management and corporate assurance frameworks.
• Support the Board in maintaining strong financial governance and long-term resilience.
• Review financial statements, audit findings and the effectiveness of reporting and assurance arrangements.
• Provide strategic oversight of emerging risks and opportunities balancing risk appetite with ambition.

Skills

Finance

Audit

Strategic risk management

Education

Professional accountancy or audit qualification

Job description

Non-Executive Director | Chair of Audit and Risk Committee

Livin Housing Association

Location: Spennymoor, County Durham

Term: Three years, subject to an initial one year Board review

Interviews: Thursday 3 December 2026

Recruitment Partner: Castle Peak Group

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

Castle Peak Group is partnering with Livin, an award winning housing association based in County Durham, to appoint an experienced and strategically minded Non-Executive Director who will also Chair its Audit and Risk Committee.

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

Livin owns more than 9,000 homes across County Durham and is committed to improving lives through the provision of high quality, sustainable homes and thriving communities.

In August 2026, the Regulator of Social Housing confirmed Livin's highest regulatory grades of G1, V1 and C1, reflecting the organisation's strong governance, financial viability and consumer standards.

As Livin continues to deliver its corporate strategy, Plan A, the Board is seeking an experienced professional who can provide independent oversight, constructive challenge and strong leadership across audit, assurance, financial governance and strategic risk.

The opportunity

As Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, you will play a central role in maintaining Livin'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 the organisation has the appropriate systems, controls and assurance arrangements to support its strategic ambitions.

This is a role requiring sound judgement, independence of thought and the ability to navigate complex financial and organisational risks while remaining focused on Livin's wider social purpose.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing effective leadership to the Audit and Risk Committee, ensuring robust scrutiny, constructive discussion and clear recommendations to the Board.
• Overseeing the effectiveness of internal controls, audit arrangements, risk management and corporate assurance frameworks.
• Supporting the Board in maintaining strong financial governance, accountability and longterm financial resilience.
• Reviewing financial statements, audit findings and the effectiveness of financial reporting and assurance arrangements.
• Providing strategic oversight of emerging risks and opportunities, ensuring that risk appetite and organisational ambition remain appropriately balanced.
• Contributing to discussions around value for money, environmental, social and governance reporting and the delivery of Livin's strategic priorities.
• Building productive relationships with fellow Board members, senior executives and external advisers.
• Bringing an independent perspective to wider Board discussions, supporting evidence led decision making and effective organisational governance.

Above all, you will help ensure that good governance supports positive outcomes for Livin's tenants and communities.

About you

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

You will bring the technical expertise necessary to chair a specialist Board committee, alongside the interpersonal skills and broader strategic perspective required of an effective Non-Executive Director.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Significant senior leadership experience, ideally gained within a complex, regulated or commercially demanding organisation.
• Strong and recent expertise in financial management, audit, governance and strategic risk evaluation.
• A recognised professional accountancy or audit qualification.
• Previous experience of chairing meetings or committees, with the ability to lead complex discussions and secure effective outcomes.
• The confidence to interpret and challenge financial information, assurance reports and risk assessments.
• A sound understanding of effective corporate governance and the responsibilities of a Non-Executive Director.
• The ability to balance strategic ambition, financial sustainability, regulatory obligations and organisational risk.
• Strong communication skills, independent judgement and a constructive, collaborative leadership style.
• An understanding of the social housing sector and the challenges and opportunities it faces.
• A genuine commitment to Livin's purpose, values and the communities it serves.

We are particularly interested in individuals who can combine technical financial expertise with wider strategic thinking and a strong appreciation of the relationship between good governance and organisational performance.

A commitment to diversity of thought

Livin recognises that effective Boards benefit from a diversity of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

Applications are welcomed from individuals across different sectors, including financial services, professional services, commercial organisations, public services and other regulated environments.

Previous Non-Executive Director experience is not essential. However, candidates must be able to demonstrate the senior level experience, professional qualifications and chairing capability required for this specialist appointment.

Livin particularly welcomes applications from individuals whose backgrounds and experiences are currently underrepresented on its Board.

This appointment offers the opportunity to contribute to an organisation that combines strong financial and regulatory performance with a genuine commitment to improving people's lives.

As a Board member, you will help shape the future of an established housing association that is committed to providing sustainable homes, supporting tenants and strengthening communities across County Durham.

You will join a collaborative Board and Executive team at an important stage in the delivery of Plan A, helping ensure that the organisation remains financially resilient, well governed and equipped to respond to future challenges.

For the right individual, this is an opportunity to use their professional expertise to make a meaningful contribution beyond their executive career.

Time commitment and remuneration

The position attracts remuneration of £8,600 per annum plus expenses.

The initial appointment is for three years, subject to completion of a satisfactory review after the first year.

The role involves attendance at five Board meetings annually, relevant committee meetings and key organisational events, including the Annual Leadership Conference and mid-year Strategy Delivery Board.

Ongoing engagement with the Board Chair, Chief Executive and Executive Team, together with relevant learning and development, is also expected.