Board Member – Charity Commission for England and Wales in London

DCMS is committed to eliminating discrimination and advancing equality of opportunity in its public appointments. We particularly encourage applicants from underrepresented groups, those based outside London and the South‑East and applicants who have achieved success through non‑traditional educational routes. This ensures that boards of public bodies benefit from a full range of diverse perspectives and are representative of the people they serve.

The Board provides leadership for the Commission’s business and sets the strategic direction of the organisation. It operates collectively, advising on strategic matters, as well as scrutinising and challenging Commission policy and performance, with a view to the long‑term health and success of the organisation.

Charity Commission Board members:

• ensure that the Commission effectively fulfils its statutory objectives, general functions and duties and appropriately exercises its legal powers
• set the strategic direction of the Commission; set and agree overall policy and performance targets
• promote the strategy, values and reputation of the Commission
• approve the Commission’s budget and business plans, and set the risk framework and policies within which the Executive operates
• monitor the Executive’s performance against agreed plans and targets
• exercise their role through influence and advice, supporting as well as challenging the executive on performance and the effective management of the Commission
• operate in accordance with governance best practice, including understanding and abiding by the Charity Commission Governance Framework
• ensure they have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the Charity Commission’s business to carry out their duties
• ensure they are familiar with any applicable guidance on the role of public sector non‑executive directors and boards that may be issued from time to time by the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury or wider government
• observe the highest standards of propriety in fulfilling their responsibilities
• act in good faith and in the best interests of the Charity Commission

The Board is supported by three committees, whose chairs and members are largely Board members, working alongside members of the Executive.

About the Charity Commission for England and Wales

The Charity Commission is the independent registrar and regulator of charities in England and Wales. Its role is to register and regulate the charities in England and Wales, and to ensure that the public can support charities with confidence. It regulates over 168,000 registered charities and £88bn of charitable income. A non‑Ministerial Department, it is based across four sites, Liverpool, London, Newport and Taunton employing approximately 480 staff and in 2023‑24 had a budget of £35.3m.

As registrar, the Commission is responsible for maintaining an accurate and up‑to‑date register of charities. This includes deciding whether organisations are charitable and should be registered. It also removes charities that are not considered to be charitable, no longer exist, or do not operate.

As regulator, the Commission has both compliance and enablement functions. It is responsible for investigating and monitoring charities’ compliance with charity law and regulation; it takes enforcement action when there is malpractice or misconduct. It also provides online services and guidance to help charities run as effectively as possible, ensuring charities meet their legal requirements, and makes appropriate information about each registered charity widely available.

In February 2024, the Commission launched its Strategy 2024‑2029. This strategy sets out the ambition to be the expert Charity Commission that is fair, balanced, and independent so that charity can thrive.

The strategy identifies five priorities that the Commission will seek to deliver against over the course of this strategy in order to achieve its ambition:

• We will be fair and proportionate in our work and clear about our role.
• We will support charities to get it right but take robust action where we see wrongdoing and harm.
• We will speak with authority and credibility, free from the influence of others.
• We will embrace technological innovation and strengthen how we use our data.
• We will be the expert Commission, where our people are empowered and enabled to deliver excellence in regulation.

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website.

Person specification

Candidates must be able to demonstrate the following:

• Strong intellectual and analytical ability, with excellent listening and communication skills.
• A career record of achievement in the private, public and/or not‑for‑profit sector, with a history of operating effectively at Board level.
• A commitment to the charity sector.
• An understanding of the Charity Commission’s work, including the importance of the effective, independent, proportionate, and impartial regulation of the charity sector.
• A commitment to improving opportunities for people throughout the UK and access to people from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

Additional Criteria

In addition to demonstrating the above essential criteria, successful applicants must demonstrate at least one of the following additional criteria:

• Expertise in data, digital and technology, including a proven track record in the delivery of digital transformation.
• A 7‑year legal qualification within the meaning of section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990.

Applications are particularly welcomed from individuals with knowledge and expertise in the following area:

• Entrepreneurial experience, including experience in setting up and running a successful business.