Governance and Compliance Officer

Job Details

Full Time (37hrs per week) – Permanent

Location:

High Wycombe

Salary: £33,951 – 37,694

We’re not trying to fit in with the higher education status quo. We’re challenging it. We’re doing things differently – because our students, our staff, and our world need us to.

So this is an exciting moment to join us. We’re boldly reimagining what a university can be: a place rooted in social mobility, a community where difference is celebrated, and an institution that empowers people to become more than they thought possible.

The Governance and Compliance team delivers governance and compliance services across the University. The Governance and Compliance Officer will work collaboratively within the team to ensure an exceptional standard of service delivery, providing critical and seamless support to committees of Council, including Audit Committee, Senate, the University’s Colleges, and the University Strategy Group. Key tasks will include:

• annual planning, agenda drafting, commissioning and drafting papers, drafting minutes, preparing and maintaining action logs, maintaining constitutional documentation and induction of committee members
• maintaining the University’s compliance framework and meeting with Compliance Leads to review compliance status

They will also support the University’s Internal Audit programme to ensure that all areas of the University are compliant with best practice and legal compliance requirements.

They will support the Head of Governance and Compliance in securing high‑quality, cost‑effective legal advice for the University, and in monitoring the use of external legal firms for specialist matters.

• Deliver an efficient, professional and customer‑focused governance service.
• Act as Secretary to a portfolio of Council and Senate committees – including the Audit Committee – providing expert advice to Chairs and members on governance processes.
• Produce annual work plans, compile agendas, commission and quality‑assure papers, prepare Chair’s briefings, and issue timely committee packs.
• Draft clear, accurate minutes and action logs, and ensure actions are completed promptly.

• Work with colleagues across the University to track compliance with legal and regulatory requirements (e.g., OfS, UKVI, OIA, PSRBs, CMA, Ofsted, HESA, QAA, Prevent, EDI, Health & Safety).
• Escalate concerns to the Clerk to Council, Head of Governance and Compliance, and senior stakeholders, using sound judgement and political sensitivity.
• Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of sector best practice and record changes in compliance requirements.

• Maintain the University’s compliance framework, including the compliance matrix, guidance documents and reporting calendar.
• Meet termly with operational compliance leads to review compliance status.

• Support the Clerk and senior leadership in coordinating planned and ad hoc compliance checks and mock audits.
• Help identify areas for improvement and support Colleges and professional services in addressing gaps or breaches.
• Coordinate the internal audit programme, liaising with auditors to ensure timely reports and tracking implementation of recommendations.
• Provide regular updates to the University Strategy Group, Audit Committee and Council.

• Maintain governance documentation (e.g., constitutions, terms of reference, committee handbooks, annual business cycles, register of interests).
• Manage institutional records of committee papers, minutes and actions in line with retention policies.
• Publish governance and compliance information on the University website and intranet in line with sector best practice.

• Lead on the recruitment, induction and training of committee members as required.
• Provide guidance on governance and compliance responsibilities.

• Monitor external developments (legislation, regulatory changes, sector guidance) and advise on implications for governance.
• Ensure policies are updated to reflect new requirements.
• Comply with all relevant legislation, including Data Protection, GDPR, Health & Safety, UKVI and…