Secretarial & Admin Jobs

Company Secretary

Company Secretaries are responsible for ensuring that their company complies with financial and legal practice and maintains corporate governance standards. Although they are not strictly required to provide legal advice, company secretaries must have a thorough understanding of the laws that affect their areas of work. They act as a point of communication between the board of directors and company shareholders. Public limited companies are legally required to employ a company secretary. Positions can be found across all of the sectors that Yellow Cat cover.

What does the job entail?

Typical work activities include:

• Planning,  preparing agendas for, and taking minutes of board meetings and annual general meetings
• Maintaining statutory books, including registers of members, directors and secretaries
• Dealing with correspondence, collating information and writing reports
• Advising members of the legal, governance, accounting and tax implications of proposed policies
• Monitoring changes in relevant legislation and the regulatory environment, and taking appropriate action
• Liaising with external regulators and advisers such as lawyers and auditors
• Developing and overseeing the systems that ensure the company complies with all legal and statutory requirements

Typical Career Routes

Gaining the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) chartered status is one of the most popular routes to developing a successful career in this area.

Support with personal development varies between employers. It is supported by ICSA through a range of resources, as well as workshops, seminars and conferences. Company Secretaries have access to the policy-making process and to confidential information often quite early in their careers, which can be excellent training for senior management. It is possible to progress to board level or move into a directorate head or department head role.

With experience it could be possible to start up your own business to advise clients.

Key Skills

Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:

• The ability to communicate and work well with people at all levels
• Attention to detail and a well-organised approach to work
• The ability to work with numerical information
• A diplomatic approach and the confidence to liaise with high-profile company staff
• Integrity and discretion when handling confidential information
• An interest in and understanding of business practices and corporate governance.

Training and Qualifications

Although candidates do not need a particular degree to become an Company Secretary, subjects such as Law, Business Management or Accountancy & Finance may improve your chances.

Graduates are preferred by some employers, while others may consider candidates with relevant HND subjects and good personal skills. A pre-entry postgraduate qualification is not needed, but professional qualifications, particularly the ICSA examinations, are essential for public limited company secretaries and strongly advisable for those in private limited companies. You can study for these qualifications while working.