Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2021, the National Film and Television School (NFTS) has developed some of Britain’s most significant and well-known creative talents, from directors, producers, screenwriters and composers to behind the camera artists and technicians. Over 50% of the biggest box office successes since 2015 have had at least one NFTS graduate in a key role. It is widely acknowledged to be the top school of its kind in the UK and one of the best internationally, borne out by securing its recent spot on The Hollywood Reporter’s top 15 international schools for the 11th successive year. In 2018, it was honoured with a BAFTA for Outstanding Contribution to British Cinema and the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education.

NFTS alumni are some of the most in-demand and well-known creative talents on the global stage. Graduates of the School have gone on to win 13 Oscars and 152 BAFTAs with alumni including cinematographer Sir Roger Deakins (Blade Runner 2049 and 1917), writer Malorie Blackman OBE, Laurie Nunn (creator of Netflix’s Sex Education), BAFTA-winning 1917 writer Krysty Wilson-Cairns, acclaimed writer / director Joanna Hogg (The Souvenir), BAFTA-winning director David Yates (best known for his work on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchises), animator Nick Park (creator of the beloved ‘Wallace And Gromit’ characters), director Yann Demage (Top Boy, ‘71), renowned arthouse filmmaker Lynne Ramsay (You Were Never Really Here), award-winning director Alrick Riley (Bridgerton and Stephen) and composer Nainita Desai (The Reason I Jump and For Sama).

The School awards over £900,000 of scholarships and bursaries annually and awards more funding to British students, relative to the size of its student body than almost any other educational institution in the UK, supported by key partners including DCMS, BFI, Channel 4, BBC, Sky and ITV. The School remains in lockstep with the demands of the industry, instrumental in keeping the pipeline of talent bursting with the next generation of passionate, highly trained graduates and storytellers who will go on to become leaders and influencers at the forefront of the creative process. Over the next 50 years and beyond, the NFTS aims to continue its mission to produce the people that power production both in the UK and globally.

The Audit Committee is a standing committee of the National Film and Television School Board of Governors, and normally meets four times per year. It advises both the Board and the Director as the Accountable Officer. The Audit Committee comprises a minimum of three Board members, and normally two or more co-opted members recruited for their specific skills. The internal and external auditors attend the meetings, as well as the NFTS Finance Director, the Registrar and the Clerk.

The Chair of the Audit Committee leads the Audit Committee in all aspects of its work and is responsible for managing effectively the affairs of the Audit Committee and ensuring that it is properly organised and functions efficiently. The primary responsibilities of the Chair of the Audit Committee are to:

• Establish procedures to govern the Audit Committee's work and the discharge of its duties
• Ensure that the Committee is acting within its powers and terms of reference and in compliance with the CUC Audit Committees Code of Practice
• Encourage an effective working relationship between auditors, management and the members of the Audit Committee
• Review proposed draft meeting agendas to ensure all required business is brought before the Audit Committee to enable it to efficiently carry out its duties and responsibilities
• Oversee the flow of information to the Committee and monitor the adequacy and timeliness of materials provided by management to enable the Audit Committee to exercise its duties
• Chair meetings of the Audit Committee and encourage candid, free and open discussion at the meetings; 
• Ensure, in consultation with the Clerk and the Chief Financial Officer, that all items requiring the Audit Committee’s approval are appropriately tabled
• Report to the Board on the matters reviewed by, and on any decisions or recommendations of, the Audit Committee at the next meeting of the Board following any meeting of the Audit Committee 
• Carry out any other duties as requested by the Board, depending on need and circumstances

The National Film and Television School (NFTS) is seeking a new Governor who will also serve as Audit Committee Chair.

The successful individual will bring a high degree of financial acumen and senior leadership experience and is likely to hold either a financial or legal qualification. The Board is interested in candidates from a range of backgrounds including corporate or VC / PE. Prior non-executive experience and audit committee experience is preferable but not essential.   

Above all, candidates will have need to demonstrate a passion for the creative industries and in particular TV, film. They will also bring a strong commitment to education and the values, aims and objectives of the School.

You can read more about the Board composition here.

There are five Board meetings and four Audit Committee Meetings per year, which take place in a hybrid format. The Audit Chair will ideally also wish to attend some events at NFTS and on behalf of the School, as well as making themselves available for consultation with the Director and meeting with diverse stakeholders as required. This role is unremunerated but reasonable expenses will be paid. This role is for an initial term of three years, which can be renewed at the discretion of the Board.

As Board meetings take place in central London, candidates will either be London-based or willing to travel for Board meetings and events.

NFTS welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. It is committed to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices and it positively encourages applications from all sectors of the community. As women are currently under-represented on the Board, applications from those candidates would be particularly encouraged. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process.