Job Description
Purpose of role
To add value to Accent Group by contributing experience, expertise and insight to determine strategy, direction and control in the interests of our customers and the wider community.
Key Accountabilities
The Board has ultimate responsibility for the governance of Accent Group. The Board’s central role is to direct and control the work of Accent Group – to determine strategic direction to establish and oversee control and risk management frameworks that will ensure that Accent achieves its aims and objectives complying with relevant legal and regulatory requirements. All board members share responsibility for Group decisions and should act only in the interests of Accent Group and not on behalf of any constituency or interest group. Board members should put the interests of the organisation before their own interests.
Leadership and Direction
- To define the vision and values of the Group and ensure that these are realised and upheld;
- To define the direction of the business;
- To ensure clear accountabilities and communication within the Group;
- To maintain a clear customer focus;
- To support the Chair in providing strategic leadership;
- To create a positive climate within the Board which fosters constructive challenge to assumptions about the business;
- To review board composition, performance and succession plans regularly;
- To appoint (and, if necessary, remove) the Chair.
Strategic Development
- To set the key strategic objectives and determine the strategic aims and outcomes required;
- To drive the development of the business plan, providing constructive challenge and contributions and ensuring the effectiveness of the plan;
- To approve an annual budget and long-term business plan that supports the achievement of the corporate plan;
- To ensure that all assets are managed efficiently and effectively, that social housing assets are safeguarded, and capacity is properly utilised, so as to maintain long term viability and sustainability of the association and its homes.
Risk Management
- To oversee a framework for the identification, management and review of risks, including agreeing risk capacity and appetite;
- To contribute to the review and evaluation of strategic risks in both the external and internal environments and receive regular reports on these and on crystallising and emerging risks;
- To ensure that a positive culture of managing opportunities, threats and uncertainties is embedded throughout the organisation;
To determine policies and decisions on all matters that might create a significant financial or other risk to the organisation, or which raise material matters of principle.
- Internal Controls Framework
- To establish and oversee a framework of delegation and systems of internal controls;
- To draw up a schedule of matters specifically reserved for the Board’s decision;
- To obtain systematic information that provides assurance on the effectiveness of internal controls.
Performance Monitoring
- To regularly review and monitor performance in relation to plans, budgets, controls and decisions;
- To obtain and consider performance information in relation to customer and stakeholder feedback and benchmark against comparable organisations and activities.
Probity and Integrity
- To approve each year’s audited Financial Statements prior to publication;
- To obtain assurance that Accent Group’ affairs are conducted lawfully and in accordance with generally accepted and specific standards of reporting and performance, including Accent Group’ chosen “appropriate code” of governance and probity policies;
- To ensure Accent Group’ compliance with all relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
- Transparency and Openness
- To review regularly Accent Group’ arrangements, taking account of good practice developments;
- To establish Accent Group’ policy for communicating with, and involving, customers about its work and performance.
Ambassadorial Role
- To promote Accent at key events and other meetings, and establish constructive, high quality relationships, with key current and potential partners and stakeholders, both internal and external, in line with a Board-agreed relationship management policy as required;
- To monitor, safeguard and enhance Accent’s reputation.
- Executive and Management Arrangements
- To appoint (and, if necessary, dismiss) the Chief Executive and other executives and approve their salary, benefits and terms of employment;
- To ensure there are appropriate policies and systems to recruit, develop, retain and remunerate staff.