Job Description

Salary: 162 per day or 81 per half day


Contract type: Fixed-Term


Working pattern: 4-5 meetings a year


Closing date: 10 October 2025 but may be extended.


Interview date: Proposed interview date is 6 November 2025.



How to apply:


Please complete the application form in full alongside the skills and experience questionnaire.


Job/Person Specification Vacancy Advert Committee Skills Questionnaire Application Form
Please send it to: maria.kean@sussex-pcc.gov.uk or pcc@sussex-pcc.gov.uk


We would kindly ask you to apply electronically. Alternatively, you can post your application to:


Address: Office of the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner, Sackville House, Brooks Close, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2FZ.



Who to contact if you have a query:


For queries, please contact: Maria.kean@sussex-pcc.gove.uk



Do you have skills that can contribute to the business of policing, in relation to governance, risk, financial arrangements, internal audit and external audit and how these services are being managed?


We are especially interested in applicants with a senior internal auditing background. If so, then we would like to hear from you.



General Information


The Police & Crime Commissioner for Sussex (PCC) and the Chief Constable for Sussex (CC) are recruiting a new independent member for their Joint Audit Committee.


This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in independent oversight and high-level focus on the adequacy of the governance, risk and control arrangements for Sussex Police and the Office of the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner. The role supports the PCC and CC and other statutory officers in gaining confidence as to the existence of effective governance by reviewing the comprehensiveness of assurances to meet the needs of Statutory Officers in respect of reliability and integrity.



Joint Audit Committee


The Joint Audit Committee (JAC) is comprised of an established group of four individuals who communicate well as a team, have excellent analytical ability and professional scepticism, have a solid understanding of complex financial arrangements, processes and risk management. Members have good understanding of local and national policing objectives and issues, are strategic thinkers who are courageous in their challenge and confident in their role. If you are interested in becoming part of the Committee and have an interest in safeguarding public funds, championing good governance, risk management, and financial reporting, then we would welcome your application.



The JAC provides oversight, independent advice and recommendations to the PCC and CC on the adequacy of arrangements in place for:


the risk management framework; the internal control environment; financial reporting; annual governance processes; internal audit and external audit.

Time Commitment and Tenure of Office


Appointments will be for a four-year period.


Your duties as a member of the Joint Audit Committee are expected to typically take up to fifteen days per annum, including time to read papers in preparation for meetings and a programme of activity to keep you in touch with the organisation's activities and priorities.


Every effort should be made to attend the formal meetings of the Committee and the training sessions wherever possible. You will be consulted on meeting dates although there is often little flexibility as statutory deadlines need to be met.


The meetings fall at the similar times each year, with the next taking place on 16 September 2025 the remaining meetings will take place as follows:


4 December 2025 17 March 2026 16 June 2026 15 September 2026 2 December 2026
All meetings, and training sessions, are held at the PCC's office at Sackville House, Brooks Close, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2FZ with dial in option via Microsoft Teams.



Remuneration and Reimbursement of Travel Costs


Your remuneration will be 162 per day or 81 per half day.


You will also be reimbursed with any travel expenses whilst on Committee business as set out in the expenses policy of the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner. This includes travel between your home address and the Offices of the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner.



Training


On appointment, an induction will be provided to you.


A training schedule is set out for the year ahead. Areas of training that have been completed so far this year are as follows;


Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery Planning Internal Audit Overview Digital Forensics Power BI demonstration

Role Profile and Person Specification


The role profile and person specification are included in this pack. If you would like to discuss the role in more detail, please contact Iain McCulloch, Chief Finance Officer on Iain.McCulloch@sussex-pcc.gov.uk or Maria Kean, Assurance Officer on maria.kean@sussex-pcc.gov.uk .



Disqualifications


A person would be disqualified from being a member of the Audit Committee if he/she:


is, or has been in the last three years, a serving member/officer of a Council represented on the Sussex Police and Crime Panel; is, or has been in the last three years, a serving police officer or police staff member or a member of the PCCs staff; is a relative or close friend of any of the above or the PCC; has a significant business or personal dealings with the Force or Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner; has been removed from a trustee of a charity; is under disqualification order under the Company Directors Disqualification Act; has been adjudged bankrupt, or made a composition or arrangement with his/her creditors; or has within five years before the date of appointment or since the appointment been convicted in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man of any offence and has had passed on him/her a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of not less than three months without the option of a fine; politically active.

Closing Date for applications: 10 October 2025 but may be extended.



What happens next?


Successful applications will be shortlisted, followed by an interview, proposed interview date is 6 November 2025.



Equal Opportunities


The Police & Crime Commissioner operates within the Equalities and Diversity Policy of Sussex Police.



Additional Information



Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is part-time or term-time only.