Independent Committee Member/s

Expression of Interest (who can apply)

The Commissioner, Queensland Fire Department is seeking Expressions of Interest to appoint new independent committee members to join Queensland Fire Department (QFD) Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee (ARCC).

IMPORTANT:

- Applicants must be independent and not a current employee of the QFD or any other Queensland state government entity.
- Successful applicants must consent to appropriate probity and background checks and declare any conflicts of interest prior to and during the appointment term.

Highly desirable requirements
- Financial expertise, including high level knowledge and experience in financial and performance reporting and complex financial analysis at Chief Finance Officer or senior management level with relevant professional qualification/s; AND/OR
- High-level knowledge and understanding of the core activities of the QFD and the environment in which it operates including recent relevant industry experience in the areas of professional firefighting, incident control, and/or fire prevention; AND/OR
- Expertise in organisational change management, leadership, and talent attraction focused on diversity, equity and inclusion and building cultural capability.

About the Department
The Queensland Fire Department (QFD) provides fire prevention, preparedness and response services to fire in the built and landscape environments, as well as scientific and specialist capabilities to Queensland communities. The QFD provides a multi-hazard emergency response, including road crash rescue, bushfire, hazardous material, technical and vertical rescue, severe weather incidents, remote and swiftwater rescue, and provides a number of functions supporting community safety outcomes.

The department encompasses Queensland Fire and Rescue (QFR), Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ), as well as the broader department which work together to pre-empt, prevent, mitigate and manage the consequences of fires and other emergencies on Queensland communities and support our large volunteer membership across the state.

The QFD is an organisation that is committed to reframing the department's relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities, and organisations through activities identified in the QFD Reframing the Relationship Plan, contributing to Closing the Gap outcomes and building our cultural capability.

About the Committee

The Queensland Fire Department (QFD) Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee (ARCC) was established in accordance with the Financial and Performance Management Standard 2019 to provide independent assurance and advice to the Commissioner (the accountable officer) on:

- Risk, internal controls, audit, performance management and compliance frameworks and systems, particularly when issues are identified that could present a material risk or threat to QFD.
- Disaster Management Act 2003
- Financial Accountability Act 2009.

Purpose of specific work

The committee's responsibilities include review, advice, analysis, monitoring, and assurance in the areas of:

- Financial management and reporting
- Risk management
- Internal controls
- Internal audit
- External audit
- External scrutiny
- Performance management
- Compliance.

The Committee is responsible and accountable to the Commissioner directly, and through the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) for the exercise of its responsibilities. The department is seeking to appoint new independent members to join the Committee which currently comprises an independent Chair and two independent members.

Responsibility of the role

As an independent committee member you are expected to:

- Attend and participate in a minimum of four Committee meetings each calendar year.
- Review and analyse submissions made to the Committee in advance of scheduled meetings, preparing relevant questions or reflections that enable the Committee to perform its functions effectively in session.
- Advise and make recommendations that promote a positive organisational culture and seek to achieve the outcomes in the QFD Strategic Plan with an appropriate risk management approach.
- Act and make decisions within an independence of mind from their perspective as an Audit Committee member safeguarding the interests of QFD.
- Provide input to the Committee's annual report to the Commissioner and the summary of Committee activities to be published in the QFD Annual Report.

Additional information

To maintain independence, members are appointed to the Committee based on their individual skills and experience. Collectively, the Chair and members will demonstrate:

- Thorough understanding of accounting and auditing standards including high level of competency in financial reporting and analysis of complex financial reporting supported by relevant recognised qualifications.
- Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills including the ability to build and maintain relationships with QFD senior management, internal aud