DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT
Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency
Appointment of:
Non-Executive Director and Chair of DVLA Audit Committee
Candidate Brief (V10)
Introduction
DVLA’s goal is to get the right drivers and vehicles taxed and on the road, as simply,
safely, and efficiently for the public as possible.
Since 1969, DVLA has been getting safe drivers and vehicles on the road simply and
easily. The final consolidation on to our sites in Swansea represents the completion
of a project that began right at the start - one body for licensing, serving the whole
country with pride and a quality service.
Background & Current Challenges
The DVLA is an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport and is
responsible for maintaining over 45 million driver records and almost 38 million
vehicle records. These registers underpin action by DVLA, the police and others to
maintain the high levels of road safety experienced in the UK and the effective
collection of vehicle excise duty (VED). DVLA registers are used to deliver other
departmental and government initiatives such as traffic management and reducing
carbon emissions.
With headquarters in Swansea, and employing around the equivalent of 5,000 full
time staff, it collects over £6bn in vehicle excise duty each year, handles 175 million
customer transactions, including 27 million phone calls from customers and issues
10 million driving licences and 16 million vehicle registration documents. In the
2014/15 business year, DVLA’s running costs will be around £486m including staff
costs of about £156m and £308m on goods and services purchased from third
parties. More than £530m is raised through fees for services.
With a new Board and Executive Team in place and a three-year strategic plan
agreed, DVLA is increasingly recognised as a centre of excellence in digital services
seamlessly integrating physical and digital services to best meet customer needs
effectively; generating and growing income for government and value for the
taxpayer from continuing efficiency gains, high levels of car tax collection and our
own commercial enterprise. So what does this mean for staff, the customer, and
Government?
DVLA’s strategic plan sets out a clear agenda for change:

Simpler Licensing: simplify the policy and technology landscape to improve
customer service, give a better result for the taxpayer and fee payer, and
make it easier for safer drivers to get on the road.

Excellent Services: build seamless, lean, digital and physical services that
exceed expectations and attract people to more cost-effective channels.
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
New Opportunities: use our assets to grow new revenue, efficiency and
transactional opportunities across government.

The Best of DVLA: develop our capabilities as an important centre of
excellence in licensing technology and identity assurance. Build a unique
culture in Swansea –commercial, confident, and focused on the customer.
Appointment title:
Non-Executive Director and Chair of the DVLA Audit
Committee
Location:
Swansea
Responsible to:
Chairman
Start date:
Immediate
Length of appointment: Initially, a fixed period of three years with the possibility of
extension for a further period of up to three years.
Time commitment:
Approximately 32 days per year, this includes attendance
at Board meetings and an allowance for preparation.
Remuneration:
£436.00 gross per day
Expenses:
Travel and subsistence at standard Civil Service rates
The role
As a Non Executive Director and Chair of our Audit Committee you will play a key
role in our corporate governance model.
As a Non Executive Director, you will attend and make an effective contribution to
the DVLA Board and Board meetings by:



Supporting and constructively challenging the executive members of the
Board.
Using your skills and experience to examine major projects and programmes,
together with strategic and organisational issues.
Drawing upon your commercial business understanding and experience to
support the development and delivery of DVLA strategic and business plans.
As Chair of our Audit Committee, you will chair four meetings each year, though
additional meetings may be called as deemed appropriate by you and/or the Chief
Executive. The Audit Committee is established to support the Chief Executive in his
role as Agency Accounting Officer by advising on:

the comprehensiveness of assurances in meeting the Accounting Officer’s
assurance needs, and reviewing the reliability and integrity of these
assurances;
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
the strategic processes for risk, control and governance and the Statement on
Internal Control;

the adequacy and effectiveness of the governance, risk, control and
assurance arrangements established by the Agency, and the associated
assurance processes;

the planned activity and results of both external and internal audit and other
review bodies, ensuring that plans support wider DfT requirements;

the adequacy of Management response to issues identified by audit and other
assurance functions;

the accounting policies, annual reports and accounts including the Business
Accounts; and the Statement of Internal Control;

assurances relating to the corporate governance requirements for the
organisation;

anti-fraud policies, whistle-blowing processes and arrangements for special
investigations;

the appointment and performance of the Head of Corporate Assurance and
the purchase of audit services.
You may also be invited to sit on the Departmental Audit Committee, and if required
to do so this would require an additional time commitment of five days.
As a member of the DVLA Board, you will attend at least ten Board meetings each
year and will also be invited to attend occasional meetings with other Non Executive
Directors from across the Department for Transport. You will use your experience
and knowledge to provide an external perspective on the strategic direction of our
work and contribute to the scrutiny and constructive challenge of our performance
whilst maintaining independence of thought. You will provide an informal source of
independent advice to the Chief Executive and other directors as appropriate.
Candidate profile
We wish to appoint an experienced qualified Accountant with a proven track record
at board-level in a large and complex organisation and with previous experience
leading or working as a member of an audit committee. You will be able to
demonstrate:

commercial business understanding – experience of strategy development
and implementation, diversification and commercial development would be
particularly helpful;

a clear understanding of internal controls and a control environment within a
large organisation with significant information systems dependencies;
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
proven ability to bring customer focus and a value for money focused delivery
challenge to the Board, together with an understanding of how to balance this
against control and delivery risks;

the ability to develop a clear view of what we are trying to achieve and to
contribute to delivering against this vision;

evidence of a personal motivation and commitment to UK public services and
an interest in DVLA business and our objectives;

a demonstrably collaborative way of working, for example with fellow Board
members, other senior members of the Agency and wider agency
stakeholders to enable the delivery of complex agency priorities both within
and outside their own areas of responsibility;

excellent communication of key messages to both internal and external
audiences, and the ability to listen to and a willingness to act upon feedback;

experience of working with government and/or public sector organisations is
desirable as is knowledge of governance issues and processes in large
organisations.

you should hold a professional qualification from a CCAB (or equivalent)
recognised body.
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Timing, time commitment and remuneration
You will be expected to take up post as soon as possible.
We expect the basic time commitment for formal Audit Committee & Board activities
will be around 32 days per year, which includes an allowance for preparation. You
will be paid a fee of £436 gross per day together with other appropriate expenses at
standard civil service rates.
DVLA Head Office is located in Swansea and Board and Audit Committee meetings
are normally held there; an overnight stay is frequently necessary, therefore.
As DVLA Audit Committee Chair, there will be a requirement to attend an annual one
day meeting of the Audit Committee Chairs and an occasional meeting with other
Non-Executive Directors from across the Department for Transport.
Further details about the DVLA and our services can be found on the Gov.UK
website
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driver-and-vehicle-licensing-agency.
Duration of appointment
The appointment will initially be for a fixed period of three years with the possibility of
extension for a further period of up to three years.
Contact
For more information, please contact
Robert Foot
Corporate Secretary
Chief Executives Office
Driver & Vehicles Licensing Agency
Longview Road
Swansea
SA6 7JL
tel: (01792) 782709
email: robert.foot@dvla.gsi.gov.uk
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Application and Appointment
To apply, please send a CV, explaining how your qualifications, skills and experience
meet the requirements of this appointment to: scs.recruitment@dvla.gsi.gov.uk
Please quote the reference number clearly in the title of your email.
Reference Number: DVLA NED 06/15
Please also include telephone contact details of 2 referees who can be contacted to
provide a reference prior to interview.
The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 30th November 2015.
Please see the timetable below for indicative dates:
Closing Date
30th November 2015
Short listing meeting
7th December 2015
References Taken
W/C 7TH DECEMBER
Interviews
16-17th December 2015
If you are invited to interview but are not able to attend on the given date, we will do
our best to arrange an alternative date but this may not be possible.
Please note that returning the equality monitoring questionnaire is mandatory.
If you do not return the form your application will automatically be sifted out of
the process. The form will not be seen by anyone involved in the appointment
process and is simply a method to collect diversity information for us to
improve the diversity in the Department for Transport.
1. Contact Information
Should you wish to have an informal, confidential discussion about the appointment,
please email your contact details to scs.recruitment@dvla.gsi.gov.uk and you will be
contacted to arrange an appointment.
2. Equal Opportunities
The Department for Transport values equality and diversity in employment and a
socially inclusive transport system. We are committed to being an organisation in
which fairness and equality of opportunity is central to the approach in business and
working relationships and where the organisational culture reflects and supports
these values. In DfT you have the right to a working environment free from
discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation regardless of race, ethnic or
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national origin, age, religion, sex, gender identity, marital status, disability, sexual
orientation, working hours, union membership, union office or union activity.
3. Complaints
If you feel your application has not been treated appropriately, and you wish to make
a complaint, you should, in the first instance, contact:
Debbie Riley
Head of DfT Resourcing Group
DRG,
Richard Ley Development Centre
Swansea Vale
Swansea
SA7 0AN
4. Nolan Principles
Non-Executive Directors are expected to adhere to the standards set out in the
Nolan 7 Principles of Public Life:
Selflessness - Holders of public office should take decisions solely in terms of the
public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material
benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends.
Integrity - Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial
or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might influence them in
the performance of their official duties.
Objectivity - In carrying out public business, including making public appointments,
awarding contracts or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of
public office should make choices on merit.
Accountability - Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and
actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate
to their office.
Openness - Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the
decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions
and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.
Honesty - Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests
relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a
way that protects the public interests.
Leadership - Holders of public office should promote and support these principles
by leadership and example.
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Restricted - (when completed)
Equality Monitoring Questionnaire
Name:
Vacancy Ref:
Post applied For:
Everyone who is eligible to join the Department will receive equal treatment,
regardless of their race, ethnic or national origin, gender, disability, marital
status, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation or working pattern when
applying for jobs.
Monitoring data is essential to analyse the progress the Department is making
towards meeting its commitments on diversity. We would therefore like your personal
help to improve the level of the DfT recruitment equality monitoring by completing the
attached questionnaire. The data you provide will be held confidentially and used
solely for monitoring purposes and will not affect your application in any way.
Please note that DfT operates a mandatory declaration policy and if you do not
complete and return this equality monitoring form your application will be
automatically sifted out.
Thank you in advance for your co-operation.
Disability
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) defines a disabled person as someone
with a physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial and long-term adverse
effect on the person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
Do you consider yourself to be disabled as defined by the DDA? Yes
No
Gender
What is your gender?
Male
Female
Age
Please tell us your age:
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What is your date of birth dd/mm/yyyy
Restricted - (when completed)
Equality Monitoring Questionnaire
Nationality/Ethnicity
Please state which group you most identify with and tick one box in column A, and
one box in column B.
Column A: Nationality
Column B: Ethnicity
British or Mixed British
English
Irish
Scottish
Welsh
Any other? (please specify)
White
Any white Group
Mixed ethnic background
White and Black Caribbean
White and Black African
White and Asian
Any other Mixed Ethnic group
Prefer not to say
Asian
Indian
Pakistani
Bangladeshi
Any other Asian group
Black
African
Caribbean
Any other Black group
Chinese
Chinese
Any other Chinese group
Arab
Any Arab group
Gypsy, Irish or Scottish Traveller
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Any Gypsy or Traveller group
Any other ethnic group
(Please specify)
Prefer not to say
Restricted - (when completed)
Equality Monitoring Questionnaire
Sexual Orientation
Please state groups with which you most closely identify with.
Heterosexual
Gay Man
Lesbian
Bisexual
Prefer not to say
Religion or Belief
Please state groups with which you most closely identify with.
Atheist
Agnostic
Buddhist
Christian (includes: Church of
England, Catholic, Protestant &
all other Christian denominations)
Hindu
Jewish
Muslim
Sikh
Any other Religion or Belief (please specify)
Prefer not to say
Please state where you saw this vacancy advertised
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The Equality Monitoring form will not be disclosed to anyone involved in assessing your
application.
Please return to:
scs.recruitment@dvla.gsi.gov.uk
DfT values equality and diversity in employment and a socially inclusive transport
system
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