Chair

Chair

Circa 2 days per week; £75,000 per annum

London

The Financial Ombudsman Service was set up by Parliament to remedy unresolved complaints between consumers and financial businesses. Fairness is at the heart of what it does, alongside informality and speed and it plays a key role in enhancing consumer protection and confidence in financial markets. In 2017/18, the service provided answers to over 400,600 people who needed help with problems across a range of products and services from investments, insurance and banking to credit, debt and mortgages. From April this year, the service’s remit will also be extended to cover complaints about claims management companies and to receive complaints from larger small and medium sized enterprises

The ombudsman service is governed by a non-executive Board whose role is to ensure that the service is able to carry out its work effectively and independently. Appointed by the Financial Conduct Authority, with the approval of H M Treasury, the Chair of the ombudsman service is responsible for setting a clear strategic direction for the service and ensuring it has strong plans in place for its successful delivery. By harnessing the collective energy and intellect of a capable and diverse Board membership, the Chair will lead and support Board members to perform and contribute fully.

Internally, the Chair will set the tone from the top, promoting its values and helping to inspire staff and promote a high morale culture. Externally, the Chair will act as an ambassador for the service, ensuring effective engagement with a diverse range of key stakeholders

You must have a demonstrable track record of board-level leadership within an organisation of equivalent size and complexity to the ombudsman service. You will be used to working in a professional environment, experienced in leading organisations through change, including to meet changing customer needs effectively, with some understanding of the current conduct, regulatory and legal issues within retail financial services and/or the consumer protection landscape more broadly. Resilience, the ability to adapt to change and strong leadership, alongside a close alignment with the service’s values, are essential characteristics. You will be confident, intellectually strong, politically astute and committed to promoting accessibility and ensuring an understanding of a diverse range of customer needs.

Closing date: 3rd February