Head of Governance

Are you a strategic Governance professional, with experience in the housing sector and commercial environments? If so please keep reading.

This fixed term contract will enable you to hit the ground running. You’ll be taking the operational lead on Aster Group’s governance arrangements, which includes enabling Non Executive Directors, the Executive Board and other governing body members to fulfil their duties.

You will work closely with the Governance & Risk Director, Head of Risk & Compliance and Head of Private Finance Initiative to complete the management team of Aster’s Governance and Risk function.

This strategic role will see you lead on the development and implementation of Aster’s Governance framework, ensuring it provides a clear approach to internal control. You’ll also have focus on what’s happening externally to ensure continuous work is completed to improve the way the Governance function operates.

Responsibilities within the role will include:

- Carrying out the statutory functions of a Company Secretary for the Group including registration of entities with statutory authorities, annual returns and statutory registers and use of entity seals.
- Providing expert professional governance advice to the Boards, Committees, Executive Board and Operational panels and Aster staff as required.
- Developing and maintaining coherent terms of reference and forward plans for all Boards, Committees, Executive Board and Operational Panels.
- Ensuring the internal operating environment promotes effective governance in all processes and that an adequate system of controls is in place.
- Providing mandatory governance training to senior managers.
- Leading a team of four Governance Partners, sharing your knowledge, experience and expertise to really support their growth.

**About you**

You’ll be a qualified Company Secretary or equivalent and as already mentioned you’ll have experience in the housing sector and commercial environments. The knowledge you’ve previously gained will enable you to effectively step into this strategic role.

You will be able to demonstrate substantial experience in governance law, company and commercial law, codes and regulations and the political environment in which these operate. You will ideally have significant experience in risk and financial accounting and management too.

This won’t be your first leadership experience, you’ll be able to demonstrate how you’ve previously supported and developed a team in this environment.

The role will require you to attend meetings in our operating region on average twice per month. Typically meetings are held in Andover, however you may be required to travel to Poole or London. Our operating region covers Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and London. Being available to travel for the role is a requirement.

**What’s in it for me**

We invest in our colleagues because we know if they have a better day at work, the service our customers receive will be better. The Aster Offer is our offer to our colleagues to ensure they have a great day at work and includes things like:

- Flexible working - whilst some roles need to be carried out in a specific place at a specific time, where possible we encourage our colleagues to work to their own schedule at a location that suits them, their team and our business’ needs
- A focus on colleague wellbeing - workshops, an employee assistance programme offering counselling and support, mental health training and a health cash plan
- We invest in colleagues’ careers and development through our leader and colleague development frameworks
- Defined Contribution Pension and attached life assurance
- Volunteering hours available to all colleagues to enable them to give back
- Savings at cinemas, gyms, holidays, days out, various shops and eateries and lots more
- Enhanced leave
- We celebrate colleagues who go above and beyond with a range of personalised recognition initiatives, and monthly and annual awards.

**Ready to apply?**

To apply, please use information provided in the advert and role profile to let us know why you’d be good for the job. Please submit a copy of your up-to-date CV along with a supporting statement.

We create an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity and believe that creating an environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best work is the right thing to do.

It is our intension for interviews to be held during the week commencing 26 February 2024.