The Organisation
Rethink Mental Illness is a leading mental health charity in England, dedicated to helping people severely affected by mental illness improve their lives – no matter how tough things feel. They work to create real change: in health and social care systems, in public attitudes, and in the everyday lives of people across the country.
People with lived experience of mental illness are at the heart of everything Rethink Mental Illness does. Their insight shapes trusted advice, information, and more than 200 services, from housing and employment support to carer services and legal advice. Their voices power campaigns to challenge discrimination and change the law, while their diverse experiences help ensure services are inclusive and accessible to all. Rethink Mental Illness believes that people severely affected by mental illness can have a good quality of life and they are committed to making that a reality.
To find out more, click here.
The Role
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Board of Trustees at Rethink Mental Illness as the Chair of their Audit and Assurance Committee. This committee role sits alongside, and does not replace, the wider responsibilities and duties of charity trusteeship.
Responsibilities of the Audit & Assurance Committee Chair
Leadership and direction
- Chair all meetings of the committee
- Provide effective leadership and direction to the committee
- Have a clear understanding of the committee’s duties and responsibilities
- Be able to commit the time necessary and have the requisite business, financial, communication and leadership skills
- Have an excellent working knowledge of corporate governance, accounting practices, internal control functions and risk management frameworks
- Able to champion open and frank discussion whilst maintaining the appropriate discipline and ensuring the meeting completes its agenda. Be prepared to ask the tough (and potentially unwelcome) questions and remain tenacious where necessary
- Ensure all members understand their responsibilities and feel able to raise issues they believe are important
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with the Charity’s Chair of Trustees, Vice-chairs, Treasurer, Chief Executive and executive team, External Audit partner and Internal Audit lead.
- Plan the work of the committee – in conjunction with the Charity’s executive, agree the draft of the committee’s rolling forward plan and the agenda in advance of each meeting
- At the conclusion of each meeting, review the meeting seeking feedback from both members and attendees.
Governance
- Ensure the committee maintains its independence and avoids taking on any responsibilities beyond its core responsibilities and which could impact that independence
- Act as the Charity’s Whistleblowing Champion (as detailed in the Whistleblowing Policy) ensuring the committee regularly reviews the effectiveness and operation of the policy
- Oversight of the Charity’s external and internal audit arrangements by leading on the appointment and review of those providers.
- Ensure the committee holds at least annual private sessions with the Charity’s CFO, External Audit partner, Internal Audit lead and the Treasurer (an ex-officio member of AAC).
- Promote and participate in the regular formal self-assessment of the operation of the committee against the appropriate professional standards
- Ensure the work of the committee and all key issues are communicated to the Board.
Development of the committee
- Work with the Honorary Officers Committee to ensure the committee has and maintains an appropriate balance of skills and experience within its membership
- Meet at least annually with each committee member to review their involvement in the committee’s work, seek feedback on the operation of the committee, address any performance issues and identify any training needs
- Create and maintain the correct culture within the committee to ensure the appropriate level of positive questioning and challenge
- Ensure the provision of appropriate induction and training support to meet any development needs of both new and existing members of the committee.
The Person
Rethink Mental Illness is seeking individuals who can confidently balance strong commercial awareness and financial sustainability with a deep commitment to the charity’s purpose and values, bringing a thoughtful perspective that looks beyond profit alone.
- Good awareness of the mental health sector and the wider challenges facing charities supporting people with severe mental illness.
- Financially literate, with qualified accountant status desirable, and experience of overseeing financial reporting, risk management, internal controls and audit.
- Strong understanding of charity governance, with experience of working in the charity or not-for-profit sector desirable.
- Analytical and constructive, with the confidence to provide appropriate challenge while supporting collaborative, values-led decision-making.
Rethink Mental Illness warmly welcome applications from people of all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, religions, ages and from disabled people, and actively encourage participation from groups that are underrepresented.
Further Information
For further information about Rethink Mental Illness, the role responsibilities and the time commitment, please download the Candidate Briefing Pack.
How to Apply
If you are interested in this fantastic opportunity please provide the following with your application:
- An up to date CV with the details of two referees (we will not contact them without your prior permission).
- A supporting statement which demonstrates how you meet the criteria in the person specification and addresses your motivations for applying.
Please send your application to: applications@trustees-unlimited.co.uk
If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Melissa Baxter at Trustees Unlimited on melissa.baxter@trustees-unlimited.co.uk / 07789 985 229
Closing date for applications: Monday 16th March 2026
Interviews with Rethink Mental Illness (in person in London): Thursday 9th April 2026
