Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee Independent Member - Expression of Interest

Job No: SSC1657

Location: Sutherland Shire

Closing Date: 1 Feb 2026 AEDT

Background

Sutherland Shire Council is committed to keeping our community informed, involved and confident in the way Council is managed.

The Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC) plays an important role in supporting this commitment. Its purpose is to strengthen Council’s governance, risk management, internal controls, strategy and performance environment by providing independent assurance and advice on key areas of Council operations.

The way the ARIC works with senior management is central to its effectiveness. It is the responsibility of the ARIC to foster a positive culture of continuous improvement and uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.

The ARIC is currently made up of three independent external (voting) members, including the Chairperson and one elected (non-voting) Councillor.

The term of one independent member position will soon expire and become available.

Expression of Interest

Expressions of Interest are now open for an independent member position on Council’s ARIC. Suitably qualified and experienced individuals are invited to apply by completing the online application form and submitting a:

Cover letter addressing the selection criteria, and
Current CV including the names and contact details of two referees.

Applications close at 11:59 pm on Sunday, 1 February 2026.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be considered having regard to the combined qualifications, experience and diversity of all Committee members. Independent Committee members collectively bring a broad mix of personal qualities, professional skills and experience relevant to Council’s operations including:

Senior/executive level legal, governance, enterprise risk management, information technology and performance management experience, and
A strong background in accountancy or financial management, and/or audit, with an understanding of accounting and auditing standards in a public sector environment.

Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

Relevant professional qualifications in one or more of the following areas: business administration, risk management, governance, human resource management, engineering, planning, information technology, financial management or law.
Relevant senior level professional experience in one or more of the following areas: risk management, strategy and performance management, human resource management, financial management, governance, planning, engineering, information technology, business administration or law.
Understanding of and / or experience in the public sector and its operating environment.
Understanding of corporate governance and its role in organisational performance.
Relevant experience on similar committees in local government or the broader public or private sectors.
Capacity to form independent judgement and the confidence to constructively question and challenge management practices and information where appropriate.
Capacity to devote the necessary time to the professional and ethical exercise of responsibilities as an ARIC independent member.

Appointment of Committee Member

Council will appoint the new ARIC member following the Expression of Interest, evaluation and interview process. The appointment term is two years, commencing on 19 March 2026 and concluding on 19 March 2028.

Role and Responsibilities

As outlined in the ARIC Terms of Reference and section 428A of the Local Government Act 1993, the Committee is responsible for reviewing key aspects of Council’s operations, including:

Compliance
Risk Management
Fraud Control
Financial Management
Governance
Implementation of Strategic Plans, Delivery Program and Strategies
Service Reviews
Collection of performance measurement data
Any other matters prescribed by regulation

These responsibilities are further defined in the ARIC Terms of Reference.

Committee members are expected to:

Attend and actively participate in all ARIC meetings, working collaboratively to achieve the Committee's objectives.
Understand relevant legislative and regulatory requirements.
Dedicate time to reviewing business papers and contributing to meeting agendas.
Provide well‑considered, evidence‑based advice and recommendations.
Communicate effectively and demonstrate the ability to understand complex matters.
Comply with the Committee Terms of Reference.

Committee Meetings

The Committee meets at least four times per year (quarterly), with meetings typically running for three to four hours. An additional meeting is held each year to review and endorse the annual audited financial reports and further meetings may be scheduled for time‑critical matters. Meetings are held at the Council Administration Building, 4–10 Eton Street, Sutherland. Meetings may be held remotely when required, and members may also attend remotely when the need arises.

Meeting preparation includes reviewing business papers and engaging with other Committee members and relevant Council staff. The Committee may undertake additional work from time to time to strengthen its oversight and support continuous improvement across Council.

For 2026, the scheduled ARIC meeting dates are:

Wednesday 18 March 2026
Wednesday 17 June 2026
Wednesday 16 September 2026
Wednesday 02 December 2026
Special purpose finance meeting date to be confirmed

Obligations and Constraints

Committee members must:

Comply with Council’s Code of Conduct for Council Committee Members, Delegates of Council and Council Advisors.
Maintain confidentiality regarding all discussions and information obtained through Committee activities.
Declare any conflicts of interest, which will be recorded in meeting minutes, and take appropriate action where required.

Remuneration

Independent ARIC members currently receive $1,808.08 (excl. GST) per meeting. The Chairperson receives $2,272.60 (excl. GST) per meeting. These rates include meeting preparation, workshops, travel time and travel expenses. Superannuation is also paid in addition to these fees in line with the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (currently 12%).

Induction and Training

All members are required to participate in an induction and training session before attending their first ARIC meeting. The successful applicant will also be required to attend the ARIC meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 18 March 2026 prior to the commencement of their formal appointment.

Pre‑Screening Checks

As part of the recruitment process, applicants may be required to undergo pre‑engagement screening, which may include:

National Criminal Background Check
Reference Checks

Keen to learn more about any specifics of the role

All enquiries or requests for information should be directed to Anton Usher – Senior Manager Corporate Governance via aric@ssc.nsw.gov.au.

To learn more about Sutherland Shire Council, please visit www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au

Apply Now

Privacy Acknowledgment

Sutherland Shire Council (Council) adheres to The Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 NSW when collecting, using and storing your personal information, and is committed to ensuring the privacy of your personal information. Council is collecting your personal information as part of the recruitment and selection process and advises your application will be hosted by an external service provider under contract by Council. By proceeding with your application, you acknowledge your personal information will be hosted by Councils’ external service provider until such time as you notify otherwise.

Yes I agree to the privacy statement*

Personal Details * Required field

Title*
First name*
Last name*

E-mail*
Mobile*

Street*
Street Cont.
City, Town or Suburb*
Postcode or Zipcode*
Country*
State, Region or Province*

Gender

LinkedIn URL
(Please click on your profile and copy the URL from your profile page.)

Questions

Employer or Business Name *

Employer or Business Address *

Current Occupation*

Please provide any experience you have had in local, state or federal government that is relevant to the role of Independent Risk & Audit Committee member. *

As part of this recruitment process you may be required to participate in pre employment screening which may include but not limited to the following; National Criminal Background Check & Reference Checking. Do you understand and acknowledge this requirement? *
1. Yes
2. No

Are you prequalified under the NSW Government’s prequalification scheme? *
1. Yes
2. No

To ensure that as an independent member of the Audit Risk & Improvement Committee is free of any relationships that could be perceived to result in, you CANNOT: • currently be a councillor of any NSW council • be a non-voting representative of the board of a joint organisation • be a candidate at the last election of the Council • be a person who has held office in the Council during its previous term • be currently employed by the Council, or been employed during the last 12 months • conduct audits of the Council on behalf of the Audit Office of NSW • have a close personal or business relationship with a Councillor or a person who has a senior role in the Council that may lead to a real or perceived conflict of interest • currently, or within the last three years, provided any material goods or services (including consultancy, legal, internal audit and advisory services) to the Council which directly relate to the subjects and/or issues that may be considered by the ARIC • be (or have a close family member who is) a substantial shareholder, owner, officer or employee of a company that has a material business, contractual relationship, direct financial interest or material indirect financial interest with the Council or a related entity which could be considered a real or perceived conflict of interest, or • currently or have previously acted as an advocate of a material interest on behalf of the Council or a related entity which could be considered a real or perceived conflict of interest Do any of the above relate to you? *
1. Yes
2. No

If you answered Yes, please provide any further information that you feel may be relevant to demonstrate your ability to act with independence (including perceived independence) as a member of the Audit Risk & Improvement Committee notwithstanding the above.

Declaration As a potential independent member of Sutherland Shire Council’s Audit Risk & Improvement Committee, I declare that: 1. The information provided in this expression of interest (including any attachments) is true and correct. 2. I have read and understood Sutherland Shire Council’s Code of Conduct. 3. I have no known actual or perceived conflicts of interest that would prevent me from fulfilling my duties as a member of the Committee. *
1. I agree
2. I do not agree

Source Selection / Documents upload

Where did you hear about this job? *

Maximum file size: 50MB

Resume *

Choose a file

Cover Letter *

Choose a file

Your IP address (18.68.5.108) has been logged. 26 Hits.