Chair of Finance and Audit Committee

Job Details

Contract Type: The role is voluntary and unremunerated, however travel expenses, directly incurred in the role as Trustee on official business, will be covered/reimbursed.

Location: The role will be based in countries where BBC Media Action has operations in.

About BBC Media Action

BBC Media Action is the BBC’s international charity. With our partners we provide impartial, impactful, trustworthy media to more than 100 million people in need per year, across 30 countries and through content in 50 languages, so that they can make informed choices to transform their lives.

We strengthen local media to support stronger democracies, a safer, more habitable planet and inclusive societies. We bring together a unique blend of journalistic, creative, research and international development expertise; deep local knowledge of our audiences in the places we work; our strong networks of local partners; and our invaluable link to the BBC and everything it stands for.

We support the BBC’s determination to pursue truth with no agenda, and to bring people together to counter polarisation. We champion impartiality, creativity, and diverse representation in some of the most vulnerable international media and information landscapes.

We exist to serve people who are most vulnerable to information disorder, division and distrust, with a focus on people who are also under-served by public interest media and at the frontline of global challenges, risks and crises.

We work with marginalised groups, and with young people as agents of change in their communities. We contribute to the UN SDG commitment to “leave no one behind” by meaningfully including people who are most often marginalised, excluded, not seen or listened to. Job Introduction:

The Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee (FAC) leads the Committee in supporting the Board of Trustees to fulfil its responsibilities for financial stewardship, financial reporting, audit, risk management, internal controls, systems, compliance and organisational assurance.

Working closely with the Board Chair, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, external auditors and fellow Trustees, the Chair provides independent oversight and constructive challenge to ensure BBC Media Action maintains high standards of governance, accountability and responsible stewardship of charitable resources, aligned to BBC Media Action’s mission, strategic objectives and long-term financial resilience. Trustee Time Commitment:

Board and Committee meetings are usually held at London Broadcasting House in central London. Meetings take place during the normal working day. We would expect the Trustee appointed through this process to join the Board by mid-2027.

This will be a three-year term, with future possibility to extend for a further two three-year terms.

The time commitment includes attending four board meetings per year, chairing the Finance and Audit Committee, plus attending any other relevant sub-committee meetings or away days and ad hoc support to the Management Team in-between meetings.

Trustees are therefore expected to commit one-to-two days of their time per month. The post is voluntary and our trustees are unremunerated, however travel expenses, directly incurred in the role as Trustee on official business, will be covered/reimbursed. Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

Leadership & Governance:

• Lead the Finance & Audit Committee in accordance with its Terms of Reference and ensure effectively delivery of its responsibilities on behalf of the Board.
• Ensure committee papers provide clear information and enable effective decision-making.
• Ensure the Committee provides effective scrutiny and oversight of financial reporting, risk management, internal controls, assurance and compliance.
• Foster a culture of constructive challenge, robust debate, transparency and continuous improvement.
• Ensure clear recommendations and actions are reported to the Board and appropriately monitored.
• In addition to chairing the Finance & Audit Committee, the postholder will serve as a Trustee of BBC Media Action and share collective responsibility for the governance and strategic oversight of the organisation.

Financial Stewardship:

• Review the integrity of BBC Media Action’s financial statements and related disclosures before recommendation to the Board.
• Review annual budgets, financial forecasts and long-term financial plans prior to consideration by the Board.
• Monitor financial performance, sustainability and the responsible use of charitable funds and donor resources.
• Oversee significant accounting policies, financial reporting matters, the reserves policy and management’s assessment of financial resilience and going concern.
• Review significant financial decisions and investment proposals before Board approval.
• Ensure financial implications of strategic decisions are properly assessed and understood by Trustees.
• Challenge assumptions in business cases and funding proposals.

Risk Management and Internal Control:

• Oversee the effectiveness of internal control and risk management systems.
• Review key strategic, operational, financial, compliance and reputational risks.
• Oversee arrangements for fraud prevention, whistleblowing, safeguarding and ethical conduct.
• Monitor management’s actions to address material risks and control weaknesses.

Assurance and Audit:

• Review and approve assurance and audit plans, findings and recommendations.
• Oversee the effectiveness and independence of the Assurance & Risk function.
• Monitor management’s response to assurance and audit recommendations.
• Oversee the relationship with the external auditor, including audit planning, findings, effectiveness and recommendations regarding appointment or reappointment.
• Review annual statutory accounts and trustee reports and recommend to the Board for approval.

Compliance and Organisational Assurance:

• Oversee compliance with relevant legal, regulatory and organisational requirements.
• Seek assurance that effective governance, compliance and control frameworks are in place.

Partnership with Management:

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with the CEO, COO and senior management team, providing constructive support and challenge on matters within the Committee’s remit.
• Ensure management responds appropriately to Committee recommendations and agreed actions.

View and download the Recruitment Pack here. Are you the right candidate?

Essential Experience, Knowledge and Skills:

• Significant experience of financial governance, audit, risk management or assurance oversight at Financial Director, CFO or equivalent level, ideally within a charity of purpose-led organisation of comparable size.
• Experience of scrutinising financial performance, risk and control frameworks and providing constructive challenge at a senior level.
• Experience of governance and organisational oversight in a complex environment.
• Good understanding of UK charity governance, regulation and financial reporting requirements, including charity accounting principles and the Charity SORP.
• Ability to interpret financial statements, audit reports, risk registers and assurance information.
• Excellent judgement, communication and chairing skills, with the ability to provide constructive challenge and build effective relationships.
• Experience of an organisation managing its way through periods of financial constraints.

Desirable:

• Experience within the international development, media or charity sectors
• Experience of organisations operating internationally and/or across geographically dispersed locations
• Previous experience chairing an Audit, Finance, Risk or Compliance Committee
• Experience of operating within a subsidiary, group or affiliated organisational structure.

Our Commitment To Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Diversity matters at the BBC. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual’s unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential. We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC – whether that’s to contribute to our programming or our wide range of non-production roles. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.