Independent Member (Chair) - Qld Fire Department Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee

About this role

Expression of Interest (who can apply)

The Commissioner, Queensland Fire Department is seeking Expressions of Interest to appoint new independent committee chair to join Queensland Fire Department (QFD) Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee (ARCC).

IMPORTANT

• Applicants must be independent and not a current employee of the QFD or any other Queensland state government entity.
• Successful applicants must consent to appropriate probity and background checks and declare any conflicts of interest prior to and during the appointment term.

Highly desirable requirements

• Demonstrated experience serving as Chair (or equivalent senior leadership role) of a board, governing council, advisory board or other high-level decision-making body.
• Financial expertise, including high level knowledge and experience in financial and performance reporting and complex financial analysis at Chief Finance Officer or senior management level with relevant professional qualification/s; and/or
• Expertise in organisational change management, leadership, and talent attraction focused on diversity, equity and inclusion and building cultural capability.

About the Department

The Queensland Fire Department (QFD) provides fire prevention, preparedness and response services to fire in the built and landscape environments, as well as scientific and specialist capabilities to Queensland communities. The QFD provides a multi-hazard emergency response, including road crash rescue, bushfire, hazardous material, technical and vertical rescue, severe weather incidents, remote and swiftwater rescue, and provides a number of functions supporting community safety outcomes.

The department encompasses Queensland Fire and Rescue (QFR), Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ), as well as the broader department which work together to pre-empt, prevent, mitigate and manage the consequences of fires and other emergencies on Queensland communities and support our large volunteer membership across the state.

The QFD is an organisation that is committed to reframing the department's relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities, and organisations through activities identified in the QFD Reframing the Relationship Plan, contributing to Closing the Gap outcomes and building our cultural capability.

About the Committee

The Queensland Fire Department (QFD) Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee (ARCC) was established in accordance with the Financial and Performance Management Standard 2019 to provide independent assurance and advice to the Commissioner (the accountable officer) on:

• Risk, internal controls, audit, performance management and compliance frameworks and systems, particularly when issues are identified that could present a material risk or threat to QFD.
• External accountability responsibilities that apply to QFD, as prescribed in relevant legislation including the: Fire Services Act 1990
• Disaster Management Act 2003
• Financial Accountability Act 2009.

Purpose of specific work

The committee's responsibilities include review, advice, analysis, monitoring, and assurance in the areas of:

• Financial management and reporting
• Risk management
• Internal controls
• Internal audit
• External audit
• External scrutiny
• Performance management
• Compliance.

The Committee is responsible and accountable to the Commissioner directly, and through the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) for the exercise of its responsibilities. The department is seeking to appoint a new independent Chair to join the Committee which will comprise: Chair and three independent members.

Responsibility of the role

As an independent committee member you are expected to

• Be fully appreciative of the role and functions of the committee and of the agency.
• Possess sound communication and strong leadership skills.
• Provide advice and assurance to the Commissioner, QFD from an objective and independent perspective.
• Engage with the organisation through appropriate protocols and actively with the Secretariat to ensure timely coordination of Committee meetings and business.
• Review and analyse submissions made to the Committee in advance of scheduled meetings, preparing relevant questions or reflections that enable the Committee to perform its functions effectively in session.
• Advise and make recommendations that promote a positive organisational culture and seek to achieve the outcomes in the QFD Strategic Plan with an appropriate risk management approach.
• Act and make decisions within an independence of mind from their perspective as an Audit Committee member safeguarding the interests of QFD.
• Provide input to the Committee's annual report to the Commissioner and the summary of Committee activities to be published in the QFD Annual Report.

Additional information

To maintain independence, members are appointed to the Committee based on their individual skills and experience. Collectively, the Chair and members will demonstrate:

• Thorough understanding of accounting and auditing standards including high level of competency in financial reporting and analysis of complex financial reporting supported by relevant recognised qualifications.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills including the ability to build and maintain relationships with QFD senior management, internal audit and external audit providers.
• High level understanding of governance frameworks including accountability requirements, performance management, service delivery, legislative and policy requirements.
• High level understanding of contemporary best-practice internal controls, risk management and corporate governance practices.
• High level knowledge in effective portfolio, program and project governance..
• Thorough understanding and good working knowledge of Queensland public sector accountability, the core activities of the QFD and its operating environment.
• High levels of personal integrity and ethics.

Applying and holding this role

• Applicants to submit a suitability statement (maximum of two A4 pages) clearly identify your skills, experience and qualifications aligned to one or more of the highly desirable requirements. Including how your capabilities will support this role, and the ARCC, in achieving its objectives.
• Please include a copy of your current resume or CV - maximum four (A4) pages.
• Note: Checks will be required as part of this selection process. These may include but are not limited to, criminal history, Blue Card, discipline history checks and performance management history. You will be required to disclose all circumstances known to you concerning your suitability, integrity, as well as any additional information that may be requested.
• Failure to declare required information may render you ineligible to continue in the independent member role.

Remuneration Information

Although this is a volunteer position, participation is remunerated at $2,625 per meeting, with a minimum of five meetings per year.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License.

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