SCIPSA Lay Member

House of Commons

City of Westminster

On-Site

Expires: Expiring in 1 month

Political

Flexible

Job summary

About Speaker’s Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority - House of Commons

IPSA was established by the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 as an independent authority responsible for both the regulation and administration of MPs’ staffing and business costs and for paying the salaries of MPs and their staff. IPSA started operations at the General Election in May 2010, at which point it became responsible for the majority of MPs’ business costs. Since 2011, IPSA has also had responsibility for setting MPs’ pay and pensions.

IPSA has embarked on a programme of change, focusing on providing a higher-quality, more responsive service and a simpler regulatory framework which helps MPs and their staff do their work while commanding the confidence of the public. For more information about IPSA, see www.theipsa.org.uk.

The Speaker’s Committee was established at the same time as the IPSA by the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009. It has two statutory functions, which are to:

Agree IPSA’s annual estimate of resources before it is agreed formally by the House of Commons
Agree the Speaker’s selection, on the basis of fair and open competition, of the chair and board members of IPSA before their approval by the House of Commons

You can watch a meeting of the Committee from March 2026 via this link.

Job description

Lay Members were added to the Committee as a result of a 2009 report on MPs’ expenses and allowances by the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL). The role of each Lay Member is to:

Bring an external view to the deliberations of the Speaker’s Committee, drawing on their experience from different walks of life
Reflect the growing practice in self-regulatory bodies to accept lay membership as a means of widening their horizon, increasing their experience base and strengthening their legitimacy with the public
Promote greater transparency and independence in the Speaker’s Committee’s operations

The purpose of the role is to participate as a full voting member of the Speaker’s Committee for IPSA, contributing an expert understanding and experience of public, private or not-for-profit sector management and governance.

Description of Duties

Expertly examine and as appropriate challenge:

The proposed estimate of resources presented by the IPSA Board
Proposed appointments to the IPSA Board, sitting (as required) on selection panels

Make judgments and decisions, taking into account:

The operational needs of IPSA, the House and MPs
The statutory requirement for IPSA to have regard to the principles of efficiency, cost-effectiveness and transparency in carrying out its functions
The accountability of IPSA and the House to the public

Key Relationships

The Speaker
IPSA, in particular the Chair, board members, Chief Executive and senior managers
The Leader of the House of Commons
Other Members of the Committee
Other Members of the House of Commons
Staff of the Committee and the House’s Scrutiny Unit, who assist the Committee in its scrutiny of IPSA’s estimates

Person specification

The Speaker's Committee for the IPSA (SCIPSA) is seeking to appoint a new Lay Member who will bring an independent mind and integrity acting within complex and regulated environments. It is particularly keen to hear from those with strong financial acumen based across the length and breadth of the UK.

Essential criteria

All candidates will need to be able to demonstrate:

Experience of leading in a senior position within a significant organisation, setting strategic direction, and providing visible leadership
Regulatory experience, either as a regulator or within a regulated sector
Experience examining, setting and challenging budgets or reviewing financial or resource plans for organisations in the public, private or not-for-profit sector
An ability to command confidence that they will act effectively with independence, impartiality and integrity in a complex, politically sensitive or highly scrutinised environment, and to provide constructive challenge
An ability to communicate complex information succinctly in a fast-paced environment with authority, using influencing and interpersonal skills to support effective scrutiny
An ability to understand the needs of multiple customer bases, and to manage relationships with a variety of high-profile and complex stakeholders
An ability to scrutinise a complex organisational context effectively
A commitment to valuing diversity, equality, fairness and inclusion

Desirable criteria

Experience of:

Developing, delivering or overseeing high-quality business support and advisory services, and operational efficiency in the private, public or not-for-profit sector
Delivering or overseeing organisational transformation, including the implications of technology / AI

An understanding of:

Pay, remuneration and reward issues and the delivery of related services
The political landscape in the UK, Parliament and how MPs work

Benefits

£400 per day + travel/expenses
Up to 8 Days Per Year

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

We have partnered with Nurole to fill this role, all applications must be made directly.

You can apply here: Speaker’s Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority - Lay Member

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.