Full details for this role can be found via this link

Role specification

The Chair of the Finance Committee will be a key member of the Board, providing leadership on financial stewardship, risk, controls and assurance at a time of significant organisational and philanthropic growth.

This is not intended to be a purely supervisory appointment. The successful candidate will operate at Board level while being comfortable engaging with the detail when required, providing constructive challenge and guidance to the Chief Executive Officer and team without crossing into executive responsibility.

They will chair the quarterly Finance Committee and ensure that the Board has clear, timely and robust oversight of the Trust’s financial position, risks and controls. The Chair of the Finance Committee will also be invited to contribute to the Remuneration and Investment Committees on an occasional, consultative basis where needed. This is not a standing membership and does not form part of the regular meeting cycle.

As a Trustee, they will:

Ensure the Trust fulfils its charitable purposes and meets its obligations under charity law

Contribute broadly to Board discussions and strategic decision-making, bringing perspectives beyond their financial specialism

Safeguard the Trust's assets and ensure funds are managed effectively and with integrity

Hold the executive team appropriately to account for delivery against agreed plans

Act as an ambassador for the Trust with alumni, donors and wider stakeholders

As Chair of the Finance Committee, they will:

Chair the quarterly Finance Committee, which meets approximately two weeks before each Board meeting

Provide oversight of budgets, forecasts, management accounts and longer-term financial planning

Lead Board-level oversight of audit, risk, financial controls and assurance

Build on the conclusions of the Trust’s first external audit, due to be presented to the Board in December 2026, and help establish a robust approach to audit and assurance for the future

Support the development of proportionate financial policies, systems and controls appropriate to the Trust’s increasing scale and complexity

Provide oversight and challenge around reserves, investments, restricted funds and the financial implications of strategic decisions, including associated risks

Ensure appropriate financial due diligence and controls are in place around significant philanthropic gifts

Report clearly to the Board on the Committee's work, findings and recommendations

Act as a constructive sounding board to the Chief Executive Officer and finance team as the Trust builds its financial capability

Person specification

The Trust is seeking an accomplished senior finance professional who can bring strategic perspective, deep financial judgement and the credibility to provide rigorous oversight through a period of significant growth.

They are likely to have operated at CFO, senior partner or equivalent level, with significant experience of audit, risk, financial controls and assurance. A recognised accounting or finance qualification is preferred, although equivalent senior-level financial experience will also be considered.

Prior Board experience will be important, ideally including experience chairing or serving on an Audit or Finance Committee. Experience within higher education, schools or the charitable sector would be valuable, particularly in a philanthropic or alumni-led environment, but is not essential.

Above all, the Trust is looking for someone who can move comfortably between the strategic and the detailed: able to help the Board understand the financial implications of major decisions while being pragmatic and willing to engage closely enough to support a small, high-performing organisation building its infrastructure during a period of rapid growth. They will bring constructive challenge without becoming operational.

Essential criteria

A significant track record in senior finance leadership, at CFO, senior partner or equivalent level

Deep financial acumen, with significant experience of budget-setting, financial performance monitoring, financial policies and controls, and audit and assurance arrangements

Prior Board experience and a strong understanding of fiduciary responsibility, ideally including experience chairing or serving on an Audit or Finance Committee

Experience overseeing significant and complex financial activity through a period of growth, change or increasing financial complexity

The ability to translate complex financial information into clear strategic advice for a Board

The capacity to provide meaningful support between formal meetings when required

The ability to attend the majority of meetings in person at Sandhurst

Desirable criteria

A recognised professional accounting or finance qualification

Experience of investment oversight, ideally within a charity, endowment or other institutional setting

Experience of, or an affinity with, a leading academic institution, or Board experience within a university, school, charity or other purpose-led organisation

Experience of a major fundraising campaign, philanthropic organisation or alumni engagement programme

Experience navigating complex stakeholder environments, ideally involving multiple institutional or public-sector stakeholders

Personal qualities

The successful candidate will be:

Rigorous and credible, bringing gravitas, sound judgement and high standards of financial stewardship and governance

Strategic and pragmatic, comfortable moving between the big picture and detailed scrutiny where appropriate

Constructively independent, combining quiet confidence and humility with the courage to challenge and the ability to listen

Collaborative and collegiate, with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build effective relationships with fellow Trustees, senior military officers and a small executive team

Committed to the Trust's values and motivated by Sandhurst's wider impact on leadership and society

Military experience is not required, and the Trust particularly welcomes candidates who bring experience and perspectives from outside its traditional networks.

Location

Board and Finance Committee meetings are held at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Berkshire. Trustees are expected to attend in person wherever possible, with at least 75% attendance expected overall. Candidates should therefore be able to travel regularly to Sandhurst and factor this commitment into their availability.

Diversity

Sandhurst Trust welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.

Terms of appointment

This role is unremunerated, and reasonable, pre-agreed domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed.

The Board and the Finance Committee each meet quarterly, with the Finance Committee meeting around two weeks before each Board meeting. Trustees are expected to attend at least 75% of meetings, the majority in person at Sandhurst. Trustees are also encouraged, but not required, to join occasional Trust events.

Board and committee meeting dates for 2027 are confirmed and will be shared with applicants.

The appointment is for a three-year term, which can be renewed once at the discretion of the Board.