Audit Committee Chair — Consumer Operations

Chair the discussion behind the numbers

The board seeks an independent director to chair its audit committee with particular attention to the financial judgements arising in consumer-facing operations. The chair must connect accounting quality to the daily mechanics of sales, returns, promotions, stock movements and supplier arrangements. Reliable reporting depends on understanding those mechanics, not simply receiving a clean reconciliation at the end of the period.

The committee agenda should give sufficient space to revenue recognition, stock valuation, rebate estimates and provisions whose calculation involves operational assumptions. The chair will challenge whether management has distinguished normal estimation uncertainty from weaknesses in underlying data. They should encourage candid reporting of exceptions while maintaining clear expectations for corrective action.

Assurance beyond the annual audit

Agree a risk-based programme of internal assurance with management and relevant assurance providers. Examine controls over manual journals, access rights, cash handling and changes to commercial master data. Require evidence that reported remediation actually operates across locations rather than existing only as a central policy.

Maintain constructive, independent dialogue with external auditors, including private sessions where appropriate. Test the scope and timing of their work against changes in the business. Where audit findings recur, investigate whether ownership, resources or incentives prevent resolution instead of accepting a revised completion date without explanation.

Committee leadership and management responsibility

The chair will support transparent reporting of committee work and make recommendations within the committee's agreed authority. They will not act as controller, prepare financial statements or direct audit procedures personally. Success means a focused assurance agenda, timely escalation of material judgements and fewer unresolved control weaknesses carried from period to period. Appointment suitability, independence and any specific eligibility requirements will be assessed against the governance arrangements applying to the seat.