Company Secretary
Job Description:Company secretaries make sure that directors follow company law and finance rules.
Job Category:What you will do:
In this role you could:
- prepare yearly company reports
- control share option schemes and pay profits
- provide legal advice to directors and board members
- deal with other professionals like lawyers and auditors
- send company information to Companies House or the Stock Exchange
- keep up to date with policy, legal and statutory requirements for the business
Skills:
You’ll need:
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
As well as:
- administration & organisational skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others (teamwork)
- to be flexible and open to change (adaptable)
- excellent written communication skills
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
- excellent verbal communication skills
Entry Requirements:
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- training with a professional body
University
You’ll need a foundation degree or degree in a relevant subject like:
- business
- law
- accountancy
- public administration
You’ll also need relevant business experience in areas like:
- pensions or insurance
- personnel
- accounts and credit control
- purchasing
- office management
You could get valuable work experience during your studies by doing a placement year or summer internship.
College
You could start by doing a higher national diploma in business management or law. Then you can apply to join a company as a trainee company secretary.
Apprenticeship
You may be able to become a company secretary by first qualifying as a solicitor through a degree apprenticeship.
Other Routes
You can take professional qualifications offered by The Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland to become a company secretary.
You’ll begin by doing the Chartered Secretaries Qualifying Scheme, which starts at foundation level. You can join at a more advanced level if you already have a relevant qualification, for example in law.
Restrictions and Requirements
This may vary from country to country, but in the UK, to be the secretary of a public limited company (PLC), you’ll need to qualify with The Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland or already be an accountant, solicitor or barrister.
Working Hours and Environment:
You could work in an office.
Career Path & Progression:
With experience, you could become a company’s chief executive or managing director.
You could also work freelance as a consultant or a part-time company secretary for several smaller businesses.