Kathryn Cearns OBE, FCA, FCCA
Source: gov.uk (2025-02-07)

Kathryn Cearns is a chartered accountant with extensive senior level experience in both the public and private sectors. Kathryn holds several government, non-executive, trustee and advisory positions: Department for Transport Group Audit and Risk Committee – member DfT Operator Limited  – non-executive director Nuclear Decommissioning Authority – non-executive director Press Recognition Panel - chair British Medical Association – lay chair of Audit and Risk Committee The Property Ombudsman – vice-chair Kathryn was Chair of the Financial Reporting Advisory Board to  HM  Treasury from 2010 to 2016 and was Chair of the  ICAEW  Financial Reporting Committee for 10 years up to the end of 2017. She was also on the Council of the  ICAEW for 3 years to March 2019. Kathryn is a former member of the External Audit Committee of the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) and a former non-executive director of National Highways. She chaired the Office of Tax Simplification until its closure. Kathryn has been a non-executive board member of Companies House, the UK Supreme Court, Crossrail Ltd and the UK Endorsement Board. She has also served as a trustee of Mencap, Royal British Legion Industries and Young Epilepsy. Kathryn’s past executive roles include being a project director at the  UK  Accounting Standards Board (now the Financial Reporting Council) and, for many years, she was the consultant accountant for an international law firm. Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Board Appointed: 1 August 2022 Reappointed: 1 August 2025 (for a 2nd term) Term ends: 31 July 2029

Kathryn Cearns is a chartered accountant with extensive senior level experience in both the public and private sectors. Kathryn holds several government, non-executive, trustee and advisory positions:
- Department for Transport Group Audit and Risk Committee (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dft-group-audit-and-risk-assurance-committee-terms-of-reference) – member
- DfT Operator Limited (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/dft-operator-limited) – non-executive director
- Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/nuclear-decommissioning-authority) – non-executive director
- Press Recognition Panel (https://www.pressrecognitionpanel.org.uk/) - chair
- British Medical Association (https://www.bma.org.uk/) – lay chair of Audit and Risk Committee
- The Property Ombudsman (https://www.tpos.co.uk/) – vice-chair
Kathryn was Chair of the Financial Reporting Advisory Board to HM Treasury from 2010 to 2016 and was Chair of the ICAEW Financial Reporting Committee for 10 years up to the end of 2017. She was also on the Council of the ICAEW for 3 years to March 2019.

Kathryn is a former member of the External Audit Committee of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a former non-executive director of National Highways. She chaired the Office of Tax Simplification until its closure. Kathryn has been a non-executive board member of Companies House, the UK Supreme Court, Crossrail Ltd and the UK Endorsement Board. She has also served as a trustee of Mencap, Royal British Legion Industries and Young Epilepsy.

Kathryn’s past executive roles include being a project director at the UK Accounting Standards Board (now the Financial Reporting Council) and, for many years, she was the consultant accountant for an international law firm.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Board

Appointed: 1 August 2022

Reappointed: 1 August 2025 (for a 2nd term)

Term ends: 31 July 2029