Sovereign is one of the largest housing associations in the country. While not-for-profit, we’re a major business. Over the last year the organisation has increased annual turnover to £411.2m. Investment is secured from government through loans and capital grant, supported by long-term debt, with £375m raised through the UK public debt market in the past year and revolving credit facilities and term debt from a group of core relationship banks and investors.

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis we have continued to provide essential services for our customers. Our operational and financial performance continued to meet expectations over the fourth quarter of 2019/20, achieving a surplus of £79.3m for the year.

We’re an ambitious organisation, set to grow in scale, impact and influence.

It’s against this background that we are now looking to bring in two new committee members: one person to join our Treasury Committee and one to join our Audit & Risk Committee. Although our current openings are for independent committee members, ideally, we’re looking for people who will be happy to be front of mind in Sovereign’s thinking around succession planning for full board member roles as they arise over the next two years and beyond.

We’re firmly committed to improving diversity within Sovereign and welcome applications from people from the broadest possible range of backgrounds and perspectives.

For both roles, we’re looking for people with experience in comparably large scale and complex businesses. For the Treasury Committee, you’ll have experience at a senior level in financial strategy and treasury management. For the Audit & Risk Committee role, you’ll have a track record in strategic-level finance roles, and a deep understanding of accounting principles, risk management and control systems.

We’re driven by our social purpose, so it’s critical that we bring people into our governance structure who will bring an authentic interest in the sector, and a commitment to putting residents at the heart of decision making.

These posts come with an expected time commitment of around one day a month, and the remuneration is £5,000 a year. Sovereign’s new main office is in Basingstoke (43 minutes from Waterloo).

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to Sovereign on these appointments. For further information about the roles, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference JAHAED. Alternatively telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours). Applications should be received by noon on Friday 2^nd October.