Chair of Audit and Assurance Committee - Rethink Mental Illness

The Organisation

Rethink Mental Illness is a leading mental health charity in England, dedicated to supporting people severely affected by mental illness to improve their lives, regardless of how challenging circumstances may feel. The charity works to create lasting change across health and social care systems, public attitudes, and the everyday experiences of people living with mental illness across the country.

People with lived experience of mental illness are central to everything Rethink Mental Illness does. Their insight shapes trusted advice, information, and more than 200 services, including housing and employment support, carer services, and legal advice. These voices also drive campaigns to challenge discrimination and influence legislative change, while their diverse experiences help ensure services are inclusive and accessible. Rethink Mental Illness believes that people severely affected by mental illness can have a good quality of life and is committed to making this a reality.

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Board of Trustees of Rethink Mental Illness as Chair of the Audit and Assurance Committee. This role operates alongside, and does not replace, the broader responsibilities and duties of charity trusteeship.

Responsibilities of the Audit & Assurance Committee Chair

Leadership and Direction

The Chair will:

• Chair all meetings of the Audit and Assurance Committee and provide effective leadership and direction.

• Maintain a clear understanding of the committee’s duties and responsibilities.

• Commit the necessary time and bring strong business, financial, communication and leadership skills.

• Demonstrate excellent working knowledge of corporate governance, accounting practices, internal control functions and risk management frameworks.

• Champion open and constructive discussion, while maintaining appropriate discipline and ensuring meetings are effective and complete their agendas.

• Be prepared to ask challenging and, where necessary, difficult questions with tenacity.

• Ensure committee members understand their responsibilities and feel able to raise matters of concern.

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with the Chair of Trustees, Vice-Chairs, Treasurer, Chief Executive and executive team, External Audit Partner and Internal Audit Lead.

• Plan the work of the committee in conjunction with the executive team, agreeing a rolling forward plan and agendas in advance of meetings.

• Review the effectiveness of each meeting, seeking feedback from members and attendees.

Governance

The Chair will:

• Ensure the committee maintains its independence and avoids assuming responsibilities beyond its remit.

• Act as the Charity’s Whistleblowing Champion, ensuring regular review of the effectiveness and operation of the Whistleblowing Policy.

• Lead oversight of external and internal audit arrangements, including appointment and performance review.

• Ensure the committee holds at least annual private sessions with the CFO, External Audit Partner, Internal Audit Lead and the Treasurer (ex-officio member).

• Promote and participate in regular formal self-assessment of the committee against appropriate professional standards.

• Ensure that the committee’s work and key issues are clearly communicated to the Board.

Development of the Committee

The Chair will:

• Work with the Honorary Officers Committee to ensure an appropriate balance of skills and experience within committee membership.

• Meet at least annually with each committee member to review engagement, gather feedback, address performance issues and identify development needs.

• Foster the right culture within the committee, encouraging constructive challenge and positive questioning.

• Ensure appropriate induction and training support is provided for both new and existing committee members.

The Person

Rethink Mental Illness is seeking individuals who can confidently balance strong commercial awareness and financial sustainability with a deep commitment to the charity’s purpose and values, bringing a thoughtful perspective that looks beyond profit alone.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• A good understanding of the mental health sector and the wider challenges facing charities supporting people with severe mental illness.

• Strong financial literacy, with qualified accountant status desirable, and experience overseeing financial reporting, risk management, internal controls and audit.

• A strong understanding of charity governance, with experience in the charity or not-for-profit sector desirable.

• An analytical and constructive approach, with the confidence to provide appropriate challenge while supporting collaborative, values-led decision-making.

Rethink Mental Illness warmly welcomes applications from people of all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, religions, ages and from disabled people, and actively encourages applications from groups that are underrepresented.

How to Apply

Applicants are invited to submit:

• An up-to-date CV, including details of two referees (who will not be contacted without prior permission).

• A supporting statement outlining how they meet the criteria in the person specification and their motivation for applying.