Trustee and Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee - LHA London

The Organisation

LHA London is a charity providing affordable accommodation for students and young working people of limited means living, working and studying in London. Its purpose is to provide a stepping stone that enables young people to advance their careers and education, while meeting their reasonable needs and enhancing their wellbeing.

LHA London operates 14 hostels across Central London, providing nearly 2,000 bed spaces across Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Camden, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Islington. A team of around 85 staff and more than 200 volunteers provides accommodation and support services to residents.

LHA London has a clear vision: a London where no young person is held back by the cost of accommodation and everyone has the opportunity to belong, grow and build a future. Alongside its accommodation services, the charity is exploring opportunities to develop even more affordable accommodation for people on lower incomes, potentially beyond Zones 1 and 2 but within the M25.

With a strong sense of purpose, an established Board and a committed team, this is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of a charity making a tangible difference to the lives of young people in one of the world's most challenging housing markets.

The Role

LHA London is seeking an experienced and suitably qualified individual to become its next Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (FARC).

The Chair of FARC will provide financial leadership and oversight on behalf of the Board of Trustees, supporting the Chair, fellow Trustees and the CEO to ensure that LHA London maintains strong financial governance, effective risk management and robust systems of assurance and accountability.

Working closely with the Finance Director, CEO, Trustees and external auditors, the Chair will lead the Committee in scrutinising LHA London's financial performance, budgets, reserves, cash flow, financial risks and annual accounts.

They will ensure that the Board receives clear, timely and appropriately challenging advice on the organisation's financial position and the implications of financial decisions for its long-term sustainability and strategic ambitions.

The role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to a charity with a clear social purpose, helping to safeguard its financial sustainability and ensure that its resources are used effectively to support young people.

Key responsibilities:

• Chair the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, ensuring effective meetings, clear decision-making and appropriate challenge.
• Provide financial leadership and assurance to the Board, advising on the charity's financial health, sustainability and long-term resilience.
• Scrutinise the annual budget, management accounts, financial performance against budget, cash flow, reserves and financial forecasts, advising the Board accordingly.
• Advise the Board on the financial implications and risks associated with LHA London's strategic plans, investments and future development.
• Ensure that appropriate financial controls, systems and processes are in place and operating effectively.
• Oversee the charity's approach to financial risk management and ensure that significant risks are identified, monitored and appropriately mitigated.
• Work with the Finance Director and executive team to ensure that the charity's annual accounts comply with relevant legislation, regulation and the applicable Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP).
• Liaise with the charity's external auditors, ensuring that the audit process is effective and that significant findings and recommendations are appropriately addressed.
• Provide appropriate oversight of internal controls, assurance and audit recommendations.
• Ensure the Committee and Board receive clear and accessible information to support effective financial and risk-related decision-making.
• Support the Board in maintaining high standards of governance, accountability, transparency and regulatory compliance.
• Contribute as a Trustee to the wider work of the Board, including strategic decision-making and oversight of LHA London's charitable purpose and social impact.
• Act as an ambassador for LHA London and support stakeholder, partnership and fundraising activity where appropriate.

The Person

We are looking for an experienced financial leader who brings:

• A professional accountancy qualification and significant financial and commercial expertise.
• Previous Board-level, Trustee or senior leadership experience, with a strong understanding of governance and trustee responsibilities.
• Experience of financial oversight, including budgets, management accounts, cash flow, reserves, risk and audit.
• Experience of chairing committees or senior decision-making forums, with the confidence to provide constructive challenge.
• Strong understanding of risk management, internal controls and regulatory compliance; knowledge of charity accounting and SORP would be desirable.
• The ability to communicate complex financial information clearly and work effectively with executive leadership and external auditors.
• Strategic thinking, sound judgement, independence and integrity.
• A collaborative and inclusive leadership style, with the confidence to ask challenging questions.
• A genuine commitment to LHA London's mission, beneficiaries and values.

We are looking for someone who can bring financial expertise, curiosity and sound judgement to the Board, while working collaboratively with fellow Trustees and the executive team. Above all, the successful candidate will be committed to ensuring LHA London remains financially sustainable and well governed, while continuing to deliver meaningful social impact for young people.

LHA London is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and to creating a genuinely inclusive organisation. We particularly welcome applications from people currently under-represented on Boards, including women, people from the LGBT+ community, people with disabilities and people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.