My Financial Services client is recruiting for an experienced Assistant Company Secretary (or Company Secretary).

Overview

The purpose of this role is to support the Chief Risk Officer and Legal Counsel in providing proactive and effective Company Secretarial support to the Board and its Committees. The Assistant Company Secretary will support board and senior executive meetings and provide governance advice to the Executive Committee, Boards and other committees when required.

The post holder will be able to demonstrate strong time-management skills and the ability to work to deadlines, both internal and statutory.

Responsibilities

• Preparation of papers for various Committees
• Acting as Secretary, as required, for various Committees, including setting agendas, distributing papers in electronic form, and ensuring that meetings are conducted in a legally compliant fashion and in a timely manner
• Deputising for the Chief Risk Officer and Legal Counsel as Secretary at board meetings
• Advising board directors and Executive Committee (ExCo) members on their legal and corporate responsibilities and matters of corporate governance
• Recommending and implementing corporate governance changes and ensuring that the company complies with all applicable legal, statutory and governance requirements, as well as best practice.
• Being a subject matter expert and providing support and advice to the business in matters relating to governance and Company Secretary activities
• Identifying new/proposed rules, guidelines and recommended best practice in relation to governance and relevant regulatory requirements, assessing the impact of these and communicating them to key audiences
• Ensuring good information flows within the boards and committees
• Contribute to the year-end accounts process by reviewing the strategic reports and directors’ report of the annual report & accounts, and other reporting as required
• Lead on certain governance/company secretarial projects as they arise
• Oversee the maintenance of all statutory books, including register of members, directors & secretaries, directors’ conflicts of interests and Companies House filings etc.
• Review and development of Company Secretarial policies and procedures.

What you will Bring

• Chartered Governance professional with at least five years PQE
• Excellent minute and report writing experience
• Educated to degree level (or equivalent) preferred
• Company Secretarial experience in a regulated lending environment
• Knowledge of the UK Companies Act and the UK Corporate Governance Code
• An understanding of the FCA’s rules in respect of the governance of financial services companies
• An understanding of the FCA’s Senior Management & Certification Regime
• A good understanding of Consumer Duty

System Skills

• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office suite, including MS Teams
• Experience of using company secretarial software (such as GEMS)
• Experience of using electronic board books (such as Board Intelligence)

Personal Attributes

• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills – ability to engage and communicate effectively in an inclusive manner with people at all levels and to build relationships across the business
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Conscientious and ability to progress tasks independently
• Ability to carry out research independently
• Good time-management skills and ability to prioritise workload and adhere to deadlines
• High levels of integrity and discretion

Salary: up to £90k (Assistant Company Secretary) and up to £145k (Company Secretary)

Location: Thames Valley (hybrid working)