News story

Non-Executive appointment to MOJ Departmental Board and Chair of Audit and Risk Committee

Paul Smith has been appointed as a Non-executive Board member and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

Biography

Paul Smith joined the Ministry of Justice as Non-Executive Board Member and Chair of Audit and Risk Committee on 1 April 2020.

Paul worked for the Ford Motor Company from 1978 until 2006 in a range of Finance roles. From 2003 to 2006 he was Finance Director of Ford’s UK Operations.

Since 2006 Paul has pursued a portfolio career with Non Executive roles in the NHS, Department for Transport, HMRC, HSE, Hertfordshire Police and Police Commissioner’s Office, and in other government departments. He has also worked as a NED in Financial Services and Social Housing organisations. Paul is an experienced Audit and Risk Committee Chair and his audit committee experience spans all of the above organisations.

Non-executive board member

Our Non-executives are senior figures from outside the department who bring a diverse mix of expertise and skills from across the public and private sector. They all:

  • give guidance and advice to MOJ leaders and ministers
  • support and challenge management on the department’s strategic direction
  • provide support in monitoring and reviewing progress    

Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee

The role of Chair is to advise the Board and Accounting Officer on matters of financial accountability, risk, control, assurance and governance, with an understanding of the objectives of the Department and its current major issues and risks.

Updates to this page

Published 21 April 2020