Company Secretary

Job Description:

Company secretaries make sure that directors follow company law and finance rules.

Job Category:
Legal

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
Illustration of employee looking at workspace

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.