About the Teaching Council
The Teaching Council is the regulator of the teaching profession in Ireland. Our role is to protect the public by promoting and regulating professional standards in teaching.
We do this through the statutory registration of teachers, ensuring a highly qualified teaching profession, whose members meet and uphold high standards of professional competence and conduct.
The Council consists of 37 members.
The Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Council. The Director works closely with Council members and has overall responsibility for the implementation of the strategic goals of the Council. The Director is supported by a Senior Management Team and Council staff.
Audit and Risk Committee
The Audit and Risk Committee is a Committee of Council, established in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, to support the Council in ensuring that the best interests of the Teaching Council are achieved. The Council has responsibility for establishing an Audit and Risk Committee comprising a minimum of five members. The Committee operates under written Terms of Reference, which clearly define its role, remit, and scope of responsibilities in line with the requirements of the Code.
The Audit & Risk Committee acts in the best interests of the Teaching Council and its stakeholders. It supports the Board by providing oversight and assurance that effective systems of governance, risk management, internal control, and financial management are in place and operating effectively. This enables the Teaching Council to conduct its business in an orderly, efficient, and value‑for‑money manner.
The Committee may include external members who are not members of the Council, where appropriate, in order to bring relevant specialist skills, expertise, and independent experience to its deliberations.
Responsibilities for the role of Audit, Risk and Governance Committee member
- Monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the systems of internal control, internal & external audit and risk management arrangements
- Ensuring that effective systems, financial controls and procedures are in place and operating, to support the Teaching Council in conducting its business in an orderly, efficient and value-for-money manner
- Overseeing the planning, scope, and results of both internal and external audit activity, and ensuring that appropriate audit programmes are in place.
- Ensuring that management provides timely and adequate responses to issues and recommendations arising from audit activity, including matters raised in the external auditor’s letter of representation.
- Review of the Teaching Councils Corporate Governance Policies as they arise.
Specialist areas of skill, knowledge and experience
The composition of the Audit & Risk Committees provides for the appointment of two external members on a competency basis. The Teaching Council is seeking external members with one or more of the following areas of expertise:
- Demonstrated financial expertise, including a strong understanding of, and experience at a suitably senior level in, financial management, financial reporting, risk management processes, and governance and accountability requirements within a public‑sector or regulated environment.
or
- Demonstrated experience and expertise in ICT, cyber security, and/or emerging technologies (including artificial intelligence), with the ability to provide informed oversight and challenge in relation to digital risk, digital transformation, information security, data protection, and technology governance within a public‑sector or regulated environment.
or
- Risk management expertise, including demonstrated experience in public sector risk management frameworks, setting and reviewing risk appetite, and overseeing risk identification, assessment, mitigation and reporting in regulated or public‑sector organisations. Members should be able to provide effective oversight and challenge on key strategic, operational, financial, and compliance risks.
or
- Building renewal and capital project management expertise, with demonstrated experience in overseeing large‑scale property, refurbishment, or capital works programmes. This should include knowledge of project governance, building compliance regulations, cost control, timelines, risk management, and assurance arrangements, ideally within a public‑sector environment. Experience in procurement, contract management, health and safety, and value‑for‑money assessment would be an advantage.
Essential criteria
You must have:
- A clear understanding of the importance of upholding public interest in high quality, efficient, consistent, and fair regulation.
- A proven track record of effective judgement, decision making, initiative and analytical thought.
- A proven ability to contribute to objective decision-making by exercising sound judgement.
- Experience of effective leadership with a high degree of integrity.
- Good oral and written communication skills and interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate professionally and build key relationships with a range of stakeholders.
- Critical thinking skills with a proven ability to grasp the detail of a wide range of issues.
Desirable
- Experience or demonstrated knowledge of similar Committee.
Time commitment
The time commitment is estimated as being in the region of four to six, two-hour meetings per annum, with additional time required for preparation/reading.
Training
If you are successfully appointed to the Committee, induction training will be provided.
Fee and expenses
There is NO fee for attending Committee meetings. Travel and Subsistence expenses can be claimed through the Finance Section for expenses incurred for travelling to meetings.
Applications
If you wish to apply for the role of Audit & Risk Committee member, please submit a cover letter with a full CV to corporateaffairs@teachingcouncil.ie by 3pm on Monday, 7 September 2026.