Company Secretary Job Description

What is the job description of a Company Secretary? What are the duties and responsibilities of a Company Secretary? What does a Company Secretary do?

Job description of a Company Secretary

A company secretary ensures that an organization complies with relevant legislation and regulation, and keeps board members informed of their legal responsibilities. Company secretaries are the company's named representative on legal documents, and it is their responsibility to ensure that the company and its directors operate within the law.

It is also their responsibility to register and communicate with shareholders, to ensure that dividends are paid and to maintain company records, such as lists of directors and shareholders, and annual accounts. Despite the name, the role is not clerical or secretarial.

Employers of company secretaries include local and national government, charities, accountants, banks/financial institutions, housing associations, law firms etc.

This Company Secretary job description example includes the list of most important Company Secretary duties and responsibilities as shown below. It can be modified to fit the specific Company Secretary profile you're trying to fill as a recruiter or job seeker.

Company Secretary Duties and Responsibilities

Company Secretary job description should contain a variety of functions and roles including:

  • Maintaining current awareness about company law;
  • Providing legal/financial advice during and outside of meetings.
  • Implementing procedural/administrative systems;
  • Administering pension schemes and share issues;
  • Dealing with company/staff insurance policies;
  • Managing contractual arrangements with suppliers/customers;
  • Financial and HR administration;
  • Keeping a register of shareholders and liaising with them on behalf of the company.
  • Writing reports;
  • Collating information;
  • Providing support to committees and working parties such as the Board of Directors etc;
  • Handling correspondence before and after meetings;
  • Convening and servicing annual general meetings (AGM)/meetings (producing agendas, taking minutes; conveying decisions etc.);
  • Managing office space/premises/property;

Company Secretary Requirements / Skills / Qualifications

Company Secretary job description should include these common skills and qualifications:

  • A degree in Law is preferable. A degree in finance, governance or business and administration may be considered.
  • Training and induction of non-executives and trustees,
  • Management of employee benefits such as pensions and employee share schemes,
  • Insurance administration and organisation
  • Negotiation of contracts,
  • Risk management
  • A good head for numbers
  • Interest/knowledge in company law
  • Excellent communicator
  • Strong attention to detail,
  • Ability to write clearly and concisely.
  • Professional, tactful, hardworking and extremely well organised.
  • Ethical, diplomatic and independent – you’ll often act as a board confidante.

As a hiring manager, recruiting an ideal Company Secretary starts with crafting a good job description. Use this Company Secretary job description template to save yourself time and help you attract the most qualified candidates. Feel free to revise it to meet your specific needs.

Job seekers interviewing for the role of a Company Secretary may also reference it in preparation for the interview.