comapany secretory

 

Responsibilities

As a company secretary, you'll need to:

• guide the chairman and the board to ensure they are operating in accordance with rules and regulations
• support the chairman in ensuring the board functions efficiently and effectively
• facilitate good communication between the board, committees, senior management and non-executive directors, and shareholders
• take responsibility for the administration of the company, for example: maintaining statutory books, including registers of members, directors, and secretaries, and shareholders with all their past and present shareholdings, organising board meetings and annual general meetings (AGMs), preparing agendas and taking minutes
• file necessary documents with Companies House, such as annual tax returns and audit reports
• inform Companies House of any significant changes to the company’s share capital, administration or registered address
• monitor changes in relevant legislation and the regulatory environment and take appropriate action
• liaise with external regulators and advisers, such as lawyers and auditors
• develop and oversee the systems that ensure the company complies with all applicable codes, in addition to its legal and statutory requirements
• pay dividends and manage share option schemes and take a role in share issues, mergers and takeovers.

Depending on the organisation you work for, you may also need to:

• take responsibility for the HR and health and safety of employees and manage matters related to insurance and property
• monitor the administration of the company's pension scheme.

What to expect

• Work is mainly office-based.
• Formal business wear is generally expected.
• Chartered secretaries - those qualified via The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland(CGI) - may work as sole traders, in partnerships or companies, or in professional practices as part of a larger organisation. Chartered accountants and solicitors in sole private practice often take on a company secretary role for small local businesses.
• There are many opportunities for experienced company secretaries to work in a self-employed or freelance capacity.
• Jobs are widely available. Opportunities exist in most major towns and cities, although positions with blue-chip companies are mainly found at head offices in London and other large cities.

Work experience

You'll need to gain significant professional experience for this role and employers will usually look for a professional qualification.

The most common route is to gain a few years of administrative work experience and then to undertake formal training in company secretarial work.

Relevant experience includes work in the following areas:

• accounts
• credit control
• insurance
• office management
• pensions
• personnel
• purchasing
• sales administration.