Independent Chair of the Audit Committee

The appointment will be for a four-year term of office, subject to an annual appraisal conducted jointly by the Mayor, the Chief Executive and the Independent Chair of the Standards Committee. The regular cycle of Audit Committee meetings is four per year and it is proposed the Independent Chair is paid an allowance of £1000 per meeting.

Strengthen governance. Champion independence. Shape the future of Tower Hamlets.

Tower Hamlets is a uniquely vibrant, diverse, and ambitious borough at the heart of East London. Home to over 320,000 residents, including some of the UK’s most dynamic communities, we are committed to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in how we govern and serve our residents.

As part of our improvement journey, we are appointing an Independent Chair of our Audit Committee. This is a newly created and pivotal role designed to strengthen governance, provide robust challenge, and ensure our Audit Committee operates with independence, integrity, and credibility.

The committee benefits from a clear forward plan, experienced professional officers, and a strong commitment to effective oversight.

As our independent Chair, you will reset and reaffirm our focus on constructive scrutiny and good governance – an important milestone in Tower Hamlets’ wider ambition to demonstrate best value and public accountability.

We are seeking an accomplished senior leader with experience of chairing meetings, ideally in a non-executive or governance context. You will have a strong understanding of audit, risk, and internal control frameworks, and ideally, familiarity with local government finance and public sector governance.

Most importantly, you will bring independence of thought, sound judgement, political acumen and a commitment to high ethical standards.

This is an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the governance of one of London’s most high-profile boroughs.

We welcome applications from individuals with relevant experience from any sector who can bring confidence, clarity, and constructive challenge to the role.

Closing date

Midnight 15 August 2025.

Interviews

Interviews will start on 8 September 2025.

Contact

For an informal discussion about the role contact:

• Julie Towers
  Tel: 07764 791 736
  Email: julie.towers@penna.com