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Non-executive Director (Sales and Marketing)
Kingston Unity seeks to augment its Board by the appointment of a new Non-executive Director with experience in sales and marketing. The successful applicant is likely to have a Board-level background in the financial services industry, but this is not essential provided they meet the key skills and experiences set out below.
The Board is responsible for providing leadership and setting the strategic direction within a framework of effective and risk-based controls. The Board sets the annual strategic objectives for the Executive management.
Further background on Kingston Unity is set out below, but applicants should appreciate that with a small executive team and a relatively modest budget, Non-executive Directors must be prepared to be pragmatic in their approach to addressing the Society’s challenges and opportunities.
Working with an energetic and enthusiastic Board, the role offers a genuine challenge for candidates wanting to play a vital part in a successful, growing mutual society.
Role Details
Candidates would be expected to have skills and experience in, and an understanding of:
Experience does not necessarily need to be restricted to the mutual sector; other regulated financial services hold equal appeal. Relevant qualifications would be advantageous.
Candidates must also be able to demonstrate:
An appointee's time commitment may vary depending on their specific skills and attributes.
The Board meet regularly in Yorkshire, around 8 times a per year, in order to retain full and effective control and to monitor the actions of the executive team.
In addition, a new independent NED would be expected to be a member of, and contribute effectively to, at least one of the Society's sub-committees. These take responsibility for Investments, Risk, Audit, With Profits, Nominations and Remuneration.
A Non-executive Director will be expected to dedicate 2 - 3 days per month to the role, split over approximately 8 Board meetings and 2 other full-day meetings per year in person (mostly on Saturdays), review monthly management information and participation in Board sub-committees (usually via conference call).
Fees will depend on the time commitment of the successful candidate but are likely to be in the region of £5,000 - £10,000 p.a. Travel and hotel expenses are also covered by the Society.
The appointment is expected to be made in the early part of Q1 2019 and will be for an initial 3-year period.
Any appointment will be subject to regulatory approval, an agreement to standard Board terms of appointment and ratification at the Society's AGM in June 2019. You must also be eligible to work in the UK.
Kingston Unity Friendly Society Limited is a Yorkshire-based financial mutual which has been 'helping Members secure their financial future' throughout the United Kingdom for over 177 years. Its c.100,000 Members have a variety of policies with the Society, many of which are linked to the Society's open With Profits fund.
The Society's medium-term strategy is to grow its With Profits fund to at least £100m over the next 5 years by offering investment products with returns which exceed deposit based returns through 3 distribution channels: (i) 3rd Party Financial Advisors; (ii) 3rd party introducers and (iii) Direct sales.
By following this strategy over the last five years, the Society's assets under management have grown significantly, but necessary changes in distribution strategy over the last few years have inevitably slowed the growth during a transition period. The Board now wishes to further stimulate this growth with 1 new appointment with relevant skills and expertise to complement the existing Board.
The Society shall ensure that discrimination and stereotyping play no part in the recruitment, selection and appointments process at all levels.
The Society's Diversity Policy recognises and values the differences between people and understands the positive benefits for our Members of employing and appointing a diverse range of talented people.
In taking this positive approach to diversity, the Society appoints on merit alone and free from bias on the grounds of factors such as age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief, that are not relevant to the person's ability to fulfil the role, subject to the Society's rules.
If you are interested in applying for a role, please send your CV and covering letter by 15th February 2019 to Ben Pears, CEO and Company Secretary, by post to Kingston Unity Friendly Society, 9 Navigation Court, Calder Park, Wakefield, WF2 7BJ. Alternatively, please email ben.pears@kingstonunity.co.uk.
For an informal and confidential discussion with the Society Chairman or Chief Executive of the Society please contact Rob Edwards (Chairman) or Ben Pears (CEO) by emailing ben.pears@kingstonunity.co.uk prior to the closing date. Alternatively, please contact the head office. Any such conversations are for information gathering and will play no part in the selection process.
Applications will be accepted until 15th February 2019. It is expected that successful applicants will be invited for an initial interview in the last two weeks of February.