Volunteer Chair of Audit Committee

East Kent Colleges Group is seeking an experienced and committed individual to serve as Chair of the Audit Committee, a vital role within our Governing Body. 

As Chair of the Audit Committee, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the Corporation receives robust assurance to support effective strategic decision-making. You will lead the committee in overseeing the Group’s risk management and control framework, ensuring compliance with the Framework for auditors and reporting accountants of colleges - GOV.UK and supporting the Group’s financial and quality recovery ambitions.

This is a voluntary governance role, ideal for someone with recent senior-level experience in audit, risk, or governance—particularly within the Further Education, charity, or public sector. You’ll bring a strategic mindset, strong interpersonal skills, and a commitment to excellence in governance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Audit Committee, setting agendas and ensuring meetings are effective and compliant with governance terms.
• Provide professional insight and challenge to senior leaders, supporting the Group’s strategic direction.
• Ensure the committee is sighted on financial and non-financial risks, and that assurance processes are rigorous and transparent.
• Report to the Corporation Board, presenting structured feedback and escalating issues where necessary.
• Collaborate with other Committee Chairs to share best practice and maintain strategic focus.
• Attend training and CPD to remain current with sector developments and governance standards.

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking someone who:

• Has recent (within 3 years) experience chairing an Audit or Risk Committee.
• Has senior-level experience in technical accounting, audit, or governance.
• Understands the Post-16 Audit Code of Practice and its implications for FE colleges.
• Can offer effective challenge and support to senior leaders.
• Is committed to dedicating a minimum of 10 hours per month to meetings, preparation, and training.
• Is perceptive, collaborative, and passionate about excellence in governance.

Outstanding Ofsted Provider

East Kent Colleges Group is an Ofsted Outstanding rated provider. It is proud to be the first General Further Education college organisation in the country to have received the Outstanding grade against each of the strands under the new Ofsted inspection framework. An inclusive provider, our colleagues place our students and the communities we serve at the heart of everything they do across EKC Group and this is illustrated in our ‘Strong’ skills grading by Ofsted.

Commitment to Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and we ensure that all staff are aware of their responsibilities for upholding these principles.

As a designated establishment, we are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore have an obligation to carry out checks to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children and vulnerable adults. These checks include conviction/caution self-declaration, Enhanced DBS check and obtaining sufficient referencing.

It is a criminal offence to apply for a post which involves engaging in regulated activity relevant to children if you are barred from doing so.

If you are successful in being shortlisted to interview, your suitability to work with children and vulnerable adults will be explored as part of the interview process.

Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

East Kent Colleges Group is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all members of our communities. We are particularly keen to increase the diversity of our staff body and encourage applications from candidates where there is underrepresentation in our workforce.

We are proud to hold the Positive About Disability Award and are a Disability Confident Employer. This confirms our commitment to interviewing all applicants who declare that they have a disability and who meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification. With any successful candidate, we will explore any reasonable adjustments to a role due to a health needs or disability.

Similarly, we have a commitment to Care Leavers (Care Covenant Pledge) and to current or previous Armed Forces personnel (Armed Forces Covenant Pledge) with a commitment to interview applicants who meet the positions essential criteria and who have declared this on their application. 

We welcome applications from anyone wishing to work flexibly and those considering a return to work from a career break.

We do not engage with agencies for permanent staff and have an in-house recruitment team.