Role Overview
We are looking for a Senior Assistant Company Secretary (PLC) to join a close-knit Secretarial team. In this role, you’ll work to support the Company Secretarial Team professionally and administratively, dealing with all levels across a diversified Group.
In this exciting and varied role, you will predominantly be supporting a listed Board and its Committees whilst still being responsible for, or assisting members of the team, on other Group related matters and projects. You will have exposure to all aspects of the Company’s lifecycle and agile working, a supportive team and growth and development opportunities are provided from day one.
You will bring a positive and can-do attitude, being committed to working collaboratively as a team, deliver high quality work at precision pace, and be keen to contribute to the commercial success of the business as it continues to grow.
Job Duties
Board and Committee Support
1. Responsibility for discharging all the normal duties of a Senior Assistant Company Secretary of a listed company.
2. Responsibility for advising and guiding the Board and the Chair on governance, corporate law and other administrative matters, ensuring the Board is kept up to date on key legislation, regulation and best practice guidance that impacts the Company, including the UK Corporate Governance Code, the Listing Rules, Market Abuse Regulations or DTRs, and ensuring compliance in this regard.
3. In conjunction with the Group Company Secretary, co-ordinating the Board meeting calendar and drafting and ensuring the circulation of all agendas and relevant materials in advance of the meeting.
4. Influencing the quality of Board materials as appropriate (preparing template materials etc).
5. Attending Board and Committee meetings and ensuring minutes and actions schedules are taken, circulated and followed up on.
6. Ensuring the security of the Company’s legal documents (e.g. cert of incorporation, directors service contracts or letters of engagement etc).
7. Taking a key role in the Annual Report drafting (and other formal communications/notifications), liaising with the Chair, the CEO and other Executive Directors, the Committee Chairs and senior colleagues as necessary. Taking responsibility for content delivery of Governance and Directors’ Reports. Drafting Chair narrative or statements as required.
8. Acting as principal point of contact for allocated NEDs, managing director inductions and Board evaluations.
9. Organising and managing shareholder meetings, shareholder communications and the registrars.
10. Disseminating Regulatory News Announcements to the appropriate jurisdiction.
Group Governance
11. Reviewing and developing the Group’s corporate governance framework, overseeing its implementation and compliance with the same.
12. Overseeing and providing support to governance forums, including Executive and operating committees, management committees and governance of regulated entities; meeting management.
13. Engaging with functional heads, including in Finance, Legal, Compliance, Tax, HR and Treasury in relation to corporate governance matters, including appropriate governance reporting.
14. Provide guidance and assistance to a listed Board and Committees, including proactively managing meeting schedules, assisting in the annual agenda planning process, preparation of agendas, collation, and timely distribution of meeting packs, and maintaining accurate action logs.
15. Provide guidance and assistance for the year-end sign off process in relation to Annual Report disclosures, and in the preparation for the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”).
16. Oversee the drafting, verification and proofreading of sections of the Annual Report as required.
17. Oversee and assist in the preparation of meeting packs and event planning for the AGM and any other General Meetings as required.
18. Assist in the Board and Committee effectiveness reviews.
19. Liaison with Company Registrars.
20. Act as secretary to a Board level Committee(s), overseeing all related events management and minute taking.
21. Assist with public company compliance processes, including the drafting and release of London Stock Exchange regulatory announcements.
22. Assist with the oversight of confidential, restricted persons and insider project lists and processes.
23. Assist in the provision of a full company secretarial administration service to the Group’s UK and overseas subsidiaries, such as drafting director and shareholder minutes etc.
Person Specification
Skills & Competencies
24. Working knowledge of the legal, regulatory and corporate governance framework applying to listed muti-jurisdictional companies is essential.
25. Excellent written/verbal communication skills.
26. Ability to work autonomously with minimal supervision.
27. Strong attention to detail.
28. Self-motivated with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment and prioritise workload.
29. Confidence with a “can-do” and “problem solving” approach.
30. Able to work well as a team member and build rapport and trust with both internal and external stakeholders.
Experience / Competences
Essential
31. Demonstrable company secretarial experience at a senior level.
32. Demonstrable experience providing guidance and strategic direction to senior stakeholders.
33. Technology proficient.
34. Complex minute taking experience is essential.
35. UK listed company and/or financial services sector experience is preferred.
36. Essential that fully CGI qualified (i.e. ACG / FCG).
37. Appetite and ability to adapt quickly with a passion for learning new skills.
Desired
38. Multi-jurisdiction listed experience
39. Related degree in Law, Business or Accounting related subjects
40. Project Management
Job Band & Level
41. Level 5
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