Is anyone a non-executive director?

[Azure]

I have seen a couple of job adverts for non-executive directors and was wondering whether anyone had any experience of what was involved. The adverts are typically for 2 days per month. I am a chartered accountant so know the basics but have worked for the same company for many years (industry rather than in practise). Any insight would be appreciated.

The particularly ones I've spotted are for health authorities, of which I have absolutely no experience. Being a non-exec director is an area I've never thought of before, though, and could be a good way to work flexibly. I feel like it's out of my league, but am probably putting myself down.

Oh and my grammar is usually very good.

I'm desparate for a way out Pamina!

Hi

I was appointed a NED to a NHS Trust 8 months ago. I also work part-time 3 days a week and I have 3yo DTS in nursery.

I attend main board meetings one day a month plus I attend governance board meeting every two months. In addition I attend Remuneration Committee and Charitable Fund Comittee meetings. On top of that I have had to chair an investigation into an unexpected death and for about a month I attended meetings every week regarding this.

Also, there are all the notes for the various committees to read prior to meeting plus initiatives with which ones becomes involved, e.g. I'm currently involved in a staff engagement intiative.

The only reason I can do this is because I can work flexibly and change the days that I do my 3 days for my main job. Two of the other NEDS work full time and are in senior management posts and they manage to fulfill their duties too. Another NED is a full time mother and the other is a councillor and part-time student

HTH

I should also add that it was my DH who pushed me to apply for the post. I had no experience of the NHS but he felt that I had the right skills to fulfill the duties. Fortunately for me, the interviewers thought so as well!

Don't know when you say you know the basics you mean the accounting side or the corporate governance side, but This is the Combined Code which defines the responsibilities of NEDs (for FTSE 100 companies, but basic principles are the same).

Corporate Governance in Central Govt Depts is also relevant.

Personally I think 'no experience' is no problem, even an advantage! The nature of where I work is that the NEDs come in knowing next to nothing about us, but the senior one at least is VERY effective.

That's great information, thanks.

Speedymama, would you recommend doing it?

I'm not supposed to have my corporate governance hat on today though, today is a financial mgt day - can I come back to you Azure if I get stuck?

(am revising)
(supposedly)

I was a NED at a Health Authority for a short time resigning recently because of the work load. I felt that they were completely unrealistic about the work load for someone like me (young family, part time worker) and made no adjustments for me whatsoever. It was a real shame as I genuinely wanted to fullfil the role and I know that I had excellent skills and experience to be able to do it. The pay looks good but really ended up not enough to compensate me for the loss of earnings I had as a result of doing it. Also I work freelance and couldn't switch days booked with clients at a moment's notice and they thought me inflexible as a result when I quite often had to say I couldn't do xx meeting. Interestingly a colleague on the Board reduced her working days in order to be able to do the NED role adequately, i suspect her dh earned rather more than mine does!

BUT don't let me put you off, it's a fantastic opportunity really interesting and great fun (sometimes). Just be realistic about it. CAT me if you want and I can be more candid!

DontCallMeBaby - please come back (although I hope you don't get stuck). Ska - I was wondering whether that might be the case. Thanks for the insight. Looks like I've got some reading up and thinking to do.

Azure

I would recommend doing it because it is character building, you get lots of training, you start to understand the inner workings of the NHS and you develop a broad range of skills. You need to be well organised, have a supportive partner if you have young children and be prepared to sacrifice personal time to read the mountains of paper work that come with it.

Good luck if you decide to go ahead with it.

Excellent! Though I must admit my motivation is more of a problem than my comprehension today.

you don't need to be an NHS professional to be a NHS NED. It might even help not to be although you will have to be able to get to grips with some very complex reading/cases. Expereinec of finance/budgeting/vol sector/advocacy might be useful.

Would be interested to learn of other NEDS experiences and what other kinds of NEDs are there? Wondered a bit about trying again in the future when kids aren't so young.

bump

been an NED for my parents company -involved very little, thankfully. had to attend "board meetings" and sign off the income/expenditure each year plus i made my presence known at specific work events. no salary as such, got 1% of company and annual dividands. recently had to sell my part as parents have sold 40% off to partner.

obviously completely different to nhs - i work in the nhs and the neds meet once a month for the board meeting with the execs etc. not sure what else they do (other than attend the xmas lunch) - never seem to see them on the frontline where I am.

I've started to read up about it - thanks to all for your input. As my wonderful nanny announced she is pregnant last night it might be a timely change of career direction.

stargate there is loads of stuff in the background (tho' we did make frontline visits too). committee meetings, policy and strategy setting, budgets etc - actually in reality around 2 days a week if you do it properly. would love to be a ned of a private company though!

ska - wasn't dissing their work - know full well that they are involved in the "behind the scenes" stuff. it would just be nice if they popped in to see the frontline staff and our patients (whom are long term residents)now and again - at the end of the day if we weren't there, they wouldn't have their job. we've just appointed a new chairman (2mths ago), yet they are still to visit despite their office being 30secs walk from my unit.

omg! I didn't think you were stargate , sorry threads can be easy to misinterpret! I always assume everybody on here is like minded really!!

some neds will be really involved - some less so for a variety of reasons. i suspect many do NHS ned roles to help jobs in the future and to get other much more lucartive neds too! I am an old cynic. I agree with you - i felt so bad that i simply couldn't be involved enough that i resigned. i couldn't meet the full demands of the role and i am a bit of a perfectionist (work wise, nothing else). I am thinking baout whether to rty for something else similar but a bit less demanding - any ideas??

Interested if anyone had problems convincing their employer to take on a remunerated NED role?