President of the Court of Auditors

How does the Nijmegen Audit Office work?

• The Audit Office conducts investigations on its own initiative, but also responds to requests for investigations from the city council. 
• The Audit Office reports its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the city council. 
• The Court of Auditors meets approximately once every six weeks, with Wednesdays being the regular meeting day.   
• The Court of Audit is supported by an administrative secretary-investigator who conducts the investigation and/or oversees specialized research firms. 
• The chair serves as the functional supervisor of the administrative secretary and bears ultimate responsibility for the functioning of the Court of Auditors.
• The Court of Audit’s investigations are of a high standard and have won awards on several occasions in recent years; see, for example, the jury report from the Dutch Association of Audit Offices for the 2022 Goudvink Award:https://www.nvrr.nl/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Juryrapport-Goudvink-2022-1.pdf 

What is the profile of the chair of the Nijmegen Court of Audit?

As of January 1, 2024, the position of Chair of the Nijmegen Court of Audit will be vacant. The Nijmegen Court of Audit places a high priority on professionalism, expertise, and diversity. When we speak of diversity, we are not referring solely to a broad range of knowledge and skills. We are also specifically seeking individuals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives who approach issues from a variety of angles. 

As Chair of the Court of Auditors, you have the following profile: 

Profile

• You are the Court of Audit’s recognizable public face—approachable and engaging. As a networker, you actively invest in your relationships with the City Council and the Executive Board. You are a good listener and devote time and attention to maintaining strong, lasting relationships, even on an informal basis.  
• You are aware of the political and administrative environment in which the Court of Audit operates and know how to handle the public responsibilities that come with the presidency. You have sufficient experience, sensitivity, and a broad repertoire of communication styles to act appropriately in any situation, ranging from informative, diplomatic, and persuasive to enthusiastic and, when necessary, confrontational. 
• You know how to firmly establish the Court of Audit’s position, making sure to highlight the Court’s role rather than your own.  
• You understand Nijmegen: the city, the local community, the administration, and the dynamics between them. You know how to best highlight the added value of the audit office within this interplay. You contribute to this interplay by selecting topics that align with current events and public discourse, through thorough research, accessible reporting and presentation, and by focusing on the actual effect and impact of the research.  
• You know how to translate research findings into a compelling message that council members and executive committee members are willing to act upon. You are concise, persuasive, and authentic in your role as a spokesperson. 
• You have an eye for social and urban developments that may be relevant to Nijmegen, and you also maintain networks outside of Nijmegen. 
• As chair, you are effective: decisive, focused on reaching consensus, and committed to helping the Court of Audit team (members and the administrative secretary) thrive.

 Terms and Conditions

• As chair, you are strictly independent: you have no political affiliations and stand above the parties. You have no active ties to local businesses, institutions, and/or organizations that have a relationship with the municipality of Nijmegen.
• You are results- and process-oriented and have knowledge and experience in leadership roles involving meticulous, critical, and independent policy and organizational research. You have a broad social perspective, combined with relevant knowledge of or experience in research, for example in academia, government, journalism, or an entirely different sector. 
• You have sufficient time and flexibility in your schedule to serve as a dedicated and visible leader and figurehead of the audit office. The time commitment required averages 1 to 2 days per week. On Wednesdays, when it is “Council Day” in Nijmegen, most council members are present at City Hall, making it easy to establish (informal) contact. We expect you to be present frequently on Wednesdays.
• You may serve on no more than one other audit office. 

When can you not apply for a job?

Section 81f of the Municipalities Act lists the positions that are incompatible with membership in a court of audit. 

The Nijmegen City Council has established the following additional requirements for eligibility for the position of member of the Nijmegen Audit Committee. A member of the Nijmegen Audit Committee: 

• Has not served on the Municipal Executive or the City Council of the Municipality of Nijmegen, nor held any other political office within the Municipality of Nijmegen, during the past five years;
• Has not been employed by or for the Municipality of Nijmegen, or by or for an affiliated entity in which the Municipality of Nijmegen holds an interest, during the past five years;
• Has not been employed by or for an institution or organization with ties to the municipality of Nijmegen in the past five years;
• Has no business ties to the municipality of Nijmegen. 

During the selection process, candidates employed by a research and/or consulting firm are not automatically excluded; however, close attention is paid to potential conflicts of interest and the candidates’ willingness to find a solution to such conflicts.         

Reimbursement

The monthly allowance currently amounts to approximately €1,250, based on a commitment of about 8 hours per week. Since the city council is seeking a chairperson who is available 1 to 2 days per week, the intention is to adjust the allowance to 80% of the council allowance used in Nijmegen. 

Appointment

The chairperson of the Nijmegen Audit Office is appointed by the city council, upon the recommendation of the audit committee. The term of office is six years.

Procedure 

The deadline for responses is June 11, 2023. The interviews will take place in week 27, likely on Wednesday, July 5. For more information, please contact Michelle van Doorn,m.van.doorn@odv.nijmegen.nl(member of the City Council Audit Committee) or Corine Baarda,corine.baarda@gmail.com(member of the Court of Auditors).

Obtaining references is part of the process, as is a review of publicly available information on the internet. Finally, the selected candidate will be asked to participate in an integrity assessment and to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG).