Job Description

Job Details:

Job Reference:

HCC621827

Salary Range:

2,000 per annum (allowance) plus expenses

Work Location:

Home based, with requirement to attend meetings held in Winchester

Contract Type:

Temporary (3 years)

Closing Date:

7 September 2025

An opportunity to become a Co-opted Independent Member of Hampshire County Council's Audit Committee

Hampshire County Council is seeking two committed and enthusiastic individuals to serve as co-opted independent members of the County Council's Audit Committee from September 2025 for a three-year term. This is a valuable opportunity to provide an independent and high-level focus on governance, risk and control arrangements for one of the largest local authorities in England.



The Audit Committee oversees both internal and external audit, as well as financial and governance reports to ensure that there are adequate arrangements in place for internal challenge and public accountability. In particular, the committee focuses on:


Governance, Risk and Control Financial and Governance Reporting Arrangements for Audit and Assurance Accountability Arrangements Elections




For more details, please see the Terms of Reference for the Committee.



The role of the independent member for Hampshire's Audit Committee is new and is being introduced in response to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy's (CIPFA) guidance on Audit Committees. This was a response to the Redmon Review into the oversight of local audit and the transparency of local authority financial reporting.



The CIPFA guidance set out the benefits of independent members as follows:


To supplement the knowledge and experience of elected representatives in specific areas, such as audit or financial reporting To provide continuity outside the political cycle To help achieve a non-political focus on governance, risk and control matters




The role of the independent member is an important and demanding one. Members are expected to hold high standards of personal integrity at all times and to be respectful of others. Independent Members will be full members of the Audit Committee, but without voting rights. There is an expectation that members will review papers in advance of meetings, attend the meetings held face to face during normal working hours in Winchester and will be prepared to scrutinise and challenge those presenting papers to the Committee. Although the members may not vote, they are expected to be fully engaged in debate prior to any vote. Panel members will be able to claim reasonable travelling expenses from within Hampshire and an allowance and will receive an induction and other appropriate training.


The County Council wishes to reflect the breadth of communities in Hampshire and welcomes applications from anyone eligible to be considered.

Please note when completing your online application you are not required to attach a CV and Cover Letter.

Please note that you cannot be appointed if you are, or have been within the last 5 years, a Member, Co-opted Member or Officer of the County Council, or if you are a relative or close friend of any such person. You must be aged 18 or over.

Additional Information:

Audit Committee Independent Member Role Specification

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

Rob Sarfas, Deputy Head of Finance on 03707 791556 or Catherine Edgecombe, Interim Deputy Director of Corporate Operations on 03707 796214


Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.

We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.