Independent Audit Committee Member

Please send your CV and cover letter to democraticservices@hastings.gov.uk

The closing date for applications is 09 December 2025 at 12:00pm

Interview Date : TBD (Please indicate in your email any dates you would not be available to interview).

APPLY TO BE AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT COMMITTEE MEMBER

Hastings Borough Council are seeking to recruit two local people to assist the Audit Committee in providing a review of the Council’s governance, risk management, control frameworks and financial reporting processes.

You will demonstrate high ethical standards, and be willing to participate in meetings, with the ability to take independent, unbiased and objective views and to examine evidence and complex documentation.

The Audit Committee is a key component of an authority’s governance framework. Their purpose is to provide an independent and high-level focus on the adequacy of governance, risk and control arrangements.

The Committee’s role in ensuring that there is sufficient assurance over governance risk and control gives greater confidence to all those charged with governance that those arrangements are effective and that public funds are used efficiently and effectively.

The committee meets approximately five times a year, with meetings held in the Council Chamber at Muriel Matters House, Breeds Place, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3UY at 18:00.

This is a role which carries public responsibility, and you must work to high behavioural standards, demonstrating honesty, probity and the highest level of integrity in conduct. You should be a person with knowledge or experience working in matters of an audit nature, risk management, performance management and financial governance.

You will be appointed for a Fixed Term until 31st March 2028.

In order to be eligible for the position, you must not:

Be a Councillor or an employee or a consultant to the Authority or have been so in the preceding five years prior to appointment;

Be related to, or a close friend, of any councillor or officer of the Council;

Have personal, legal or contractual relationship with Hastings Borough Council (including employees or Councillors or former staff), or any other relationship/activity which might represent a conflict of interest;

Have been convicted of any offence attracting a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for not less than a period of three months without the option of a fine. The Council has the right to DBS check any independent co-opted members;

Be an undischarged bankrupt;

Have a formal connection with any political group or advocacy/pressure group; and

Have Council Tax, Business Rates arrears or other debts owing to the Council.

There is an annual remuneration for the role of c.£600 per year (payable monthly) in line with other remunerations for similar roles and is reviewed regularly.