Finance & Planning Committee External Member

We are seeking to appoint an external member of our Finance and Planning Committee

Closing date: 11 July 2025

Interview date: w/c 18 August 2025

Location: Canary Wharf, London and remote

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

The GPhC is the regulator for pharmacies, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Great Britain. Our role is to protect, promote and maintain the health, safety and wellbeing of patients and the public by upholding standards and public trust in pharmacy.

We are a statutory regulator set up by the UK and Scottish parliaments, independent from government and from those we regulate. Our role and functions are set out in the Pharmacy Order.

You can find out more about the GPhC on our website

The Council is the governing body of the GPhC. It sets strategic direction, making sure that the organisation is able to fulfil its statutory duties in an efficient and cost-effective way. To help it fulfil its roles and have assurance in particular areas, the Council has created four committees, one of which is the Audit and Risk Committee.

We are proud of our diverse and inclusive culture – we value the diversity of our workforce and we know that having a broad range of experience and insight will help us to have better discussions and make better decisions. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of applicants, from all sections of the community.

The Role

The Finance and Planning Committee plays a key role in the development and assurance of the organisation, supporting our Council by ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation and by overseeing and monitoring the implementation of the investment strategy and policy. The investment fund is managed by an external investment management firm. More detail about Committee’s role can be found in its terms of reference, as part of the application pack.

Committee members provide oversight to ensure that the business and financial plans align with the GPhC’s overall strategy. The external member supports the Committee with scrutiny of GPhC’s investment portfolio performance as well as providing input to all areas of its work.

Requirements

Key skills:

• To contribute to the Committee’s discussion on financial sustainability and performance of the of the GPhC and the delivery against its overarching financial strategy
   
• To contribute to the Committee’s discussions on business planning, budgets, efficiency and effectiveness
   
• An ability to provide advice on the complex financial performance, including scrutiny of third-party supplier performance.
   
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, dealing with people and issues honestly and with respect.

Qualifications and experience: essential

• Working with boards at either executive or non-executive level.
   
• Understanding of corporate governance
   
• Extensive experience or organisational management and demonstration of financial acumen across complex financial analysis

Qualifications and experience: desirable

• An understanding of professional regulation
   
• An ability to provide on financial investment and market performance

Practical information

Time commitment

The Committee meets four times a year, either on MS Teams or at the GPhC office in Canary Wharf. Preparation time will be required ahead of each meeting. On occasion, an additional meeting may be required.

Length of appointment

The initial term of office will be three years (1 October 2025 - 30 September 2028), with a possible reappointment for a period of between three and five years.

Fees and expenses

The role pays £2000 per annum (reviewed annually). Committee members can claim expenses for travel, accommodation, subsistence and carer’s costs incurred on GPhC business, in line with our expenses policy.

Adjustments

We welcome and encourage applications from people who may need adjustments through the process and/or to carry out the role. We are committed to making any reasonable adjustments that would support your application or support you in the role, including to travel, accommodation and other expenses.

How to apply

Please read the application pack for the role, which provides all relevant details about the role and the Finance and Planning Committee.

To apply, please:

• Complete our online application form, which asks you to provide some biographical information, reference details, declarations and equality and diversity monitoring information, as well as outlining your work experience, including the submission of a supporting statement, explaining how you meet the criteria for the role (set out in the application pack)