Director of Governance | Executive Director (voluntary role)

REPORTING TO: WIBF CEO
START DATE: ASAP
EXPECTED COMMITMENT: 3-year term | 4-6 hours per week
LOCATION: UK (Remote working)

BACKGROUND

Women in Banking & Finance (WIBF) is a UK-wide membership network and volunteer-led social enterprise that has championed women in financial services for over 45 years. We support women at every stage of their careers and work with organisations across the sector to drive meaningful progress on gender equity. Our culture is volunteer-led, independent, inspiring and action-oriented.

WIBF is entering one of the most exciting periods in its 46-year history. We have an ambitious vision to become the UK's most influential catalyst for gender-balanced leadership across financial services, and we are transforming our organisation to deliver even greater impact for our members, corporate partners and the wider industry.

To achieve that ambition, we are strengthening our Executive team by bringing together experienced leaders who are passionate about good governance, collaboration and creating lasting change. As a volunteer-led organisation, our Executive Directors play a vital role in shaping strategy, supporting our talented volunteers and ensuring WIBF continues to operate with the professionalism, credibility and ambition expected by the industry we serve.

ROLE OVERVIEW
Following the development of a new long-term strategy, expansion of our governance model and significant organisational growth ambitions, we are seeking an experienced Director of Governance to join our Executive Board.

The Director of Governance is responsible for ensuring that WIBF operates with clear, effective and proportionate governance that enables the organisation to deliver its strategy while protecting its reputation, independence and long-term sustainability.

Working closely with the CEO, COO, CPO and Executive Board as well as the Leadership Council, you will oversee the governance framework that supports an organisation of more than 100 volunteers, multiple advisory and management groups, national and regional activity, and growing commercial and possible charitable operations.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
To ensure WIBF has governance arrangements that are clear, effective, scalable, transparent, proportionate and fit for future growth.

The Director of Governance provides independent oversight of governance, risk and organisational effectiveness, ensuring decision making is clear, accountability is understood and governance evolves alongside the organisation charitable operations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Executive Board leadership

As a member of the Executive Board you will:
•    contribute to overall strategic leadership of WIBF 
•    provide constructive challenge to Executive decisions 
•    support delivery of the organisational strategy 
•    champion excellent governance across every area of WIBF 
•    ensure governance enables rather than restricts innovation and growth 

Governance framework

Own and continually improve WIBF's governance framework including:
•    Governance Handbook 
•    Terms of Reference for various leadership layers
•    Executive and NED role descriptions 
•    Committee structures 
•    Delegated authority and RACI framework 
•    Conflict of Interest policy and Code of Conduct 
•    Governance calendar 

Ensure governance documentation remains current as WIBF evolves.

Board effectiveness

Lead continuous improvement of Board effectiveness through annual governance reviews, Board effectiveness assessments, succession planning, induction of Executive Board members and NEDs.

Governance assurance

Ensure WIBF continues to operate appropriately through oversight of Companies House obligations, statutory filings and constitutional documents, governance policies and organisational risk management 

Work closely with Finance, Operations and external advisers where appropriate.

Risk oversight

Oversee WIBF's enterprise risk framework including organisational risk register, safeguarding organisational reputation, escalation processes and annual review of principal risks. Work closely with the COO function who own operational implementation, embedding controls and processes, coordinating reporting and driving continuous operational improvement.

Support the Executive in making informed risk-based decisions.

Organisational governance

Ensure governance remains effective across Executive Board, Leadership Council, Management Board, Future Leaders Shadow Board, Regional governance.

Volunteer governance

Work with the Chief People Officer to support the governance of WIBF's volunteer community through role clarity and accountability, appointment processes and succession planning, governance training.

Transformation support

As WIBF continues its transformation you will help ensure governance evolves appropriately to support organisational growth, new products and services, partnerships, charitable and commercial activities, technology and AI adoption, regional expansion.

Governance culture

Promote a culture where governance is viewed as enabling high performance rather than creating bureaucracy, championing transparency, accountability, integrity, inclusion, good decision making and proportionality.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Within the first 12 months you will have helped WIBF achieve:
•    A clear governance framework understood across the organisation 
•    Consistent decision making 
•    Clear accountability between governance bodies 
•    Strong induction for all senior volunteers 
•    Up-to-date governance documentation 
•    Effective governance calendar 
•    Mature risk management framework 
•    Annual governance review completed 
•    Governance that scales with organisational growth 

Skills and experience
We're looking for someone who has:

Essential
•    Significant senior governance experience 
•    Understanding of corporate governance principles 
•    Experience within Financial Services or another regulated sector 
•    Excellent judgement 
•    Strong stakeholder management skills 
•    Ability to balance governance with pragmatism 
•    Strong communication and influencing skills 

Desirable
•    Governance Institute qualification 
•    Risk or compliance leadership experience 
•    Charity governance experience 
•    Social enterprise governance experience 
•    Experience working with volunteer-led organisations 
•    Knowledge of DE&I governance

Our commitment to inclusion
At WIBF, we believe that creating gender-balanced leadership in financial services requires the engagement and commitment of people from every background.

We welcome applications from individuals of all genders, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations, gender identities, disabilities, faiths, socio-economic backgrounds and experiences. We value diversity of thought as highly as diversity of background, recognising that different perspectives lead to better decisions and stronger organisations.

What matters most is a shared commitment to our mission and a willingness to contribute your expertise to helping build a more inclusive financial services industry.

TERM AND PARTICIPATION

This voluntary role operates in line with WIBF Terms of Reference. Board meetings are monthly with an annual strategy day. Reasonable expenses are reimbursed in line with policy. Participation is expected to be a minimum of three years.

TO APPLY

Please email your CV and a short cover letter (max one A4 page) to Charlotte Mummery at [email protected].

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified.