Company secretary

Company secretaries play a key strategic role in ensuring organisations meet legal, regulatory and governance requirements

As a company secretary, you'll support the board of directors by ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, organising effective governance frameworks and promoting transparency and accountability. To be effective, you'll need a strong working knowledge of the laws and regulations that impact your organisation's operations.

A core part of your duties will involve acting as a key communication link between the board of directors, company shareholders and, where relevant, the organisation's executive management team.

In the UK, all public limited companies (PLCs) are legally required to appoint a company secretary. Company secretaries also work for private companies, charities and not-for-profit organisations, educational institutions, professional bodies and public sector organisations.

The role is also known as head of governance or chief governance officer, reflecting its strategic importance at the centre of organisational leadership.

Responsibilities

As a company secretary, you'll need to:

• advise the chair and the board to ensure they are operating in accordance with rules and regulations
• support the chair in ensuring the effective operation of the board, including advising on procedures and meeting conduct
• facilitate good communication between the board, its committees, senior management, non-executive directors, shareholders and, where relevant, regulators
• manage statutory compliance, including maintaining statutory registers (e.g. registers of members, directors, secretaries and shareholders) and ensuring proper record-keeping
• organise and administer board meetings, committee meetings and annual general meetings (AGMs), including preparing agendas, distributing papers, taking minutes and ensuring decisions are implemented
• file statutory documents with Companies House, such as annual confirmation statements, annual tax returns and reports on share capital
• report material changes to Companies House, including amendments to the company's registered office, officers or share structure
• monitor changes in legislation and regulation affecting the company's operations, advising the board accordingly and ensuring appropriate internal processes are updated
• liaise with external advisers and regulators such as solicitors, auditors, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Charity Commission (if applicable)
• develop and maintain corporate governance frameworks, ensuring the organisation complies with the UK Corporate Governance Code (where applicable) and other relevant codes or standards
• manage shareholder administration, including issuing dividends, maintaining the share register, administering share option schemes and supporting transactions such as share issues, mergers or takeovers.

Depending on the organisation you work for, you may also need to:

• take responsibility for the HR, health and safety, insurance and property matters (particularly for smaller companies or charities)
• monitor the administration of the company's pension scheme, ensuring legal compliance and supporting trustee governance.

Salary

• Salaries for graduate trainees typically range from £20,000 to £35,000, depending on whether you are working in the public or corporate sector.
• Salaries for company secretary assistants can range from £35,000 to £55,000, rising to between £50,000 and £85,000 for assistant company secretaries.
• Senior assistant secretaries may earn between £75,000 and £110,000. As a deputy company secretary, your salary can be in the region of £110,000 to £180,000.
• Salaries for company secretaries and group company secretaries typically range from around £140,000 to in excess of £250,000.

Salaries can vary greatly, depending on the sector you work in (public or corporate), location and the size and type of organisation you work for. Other factors affecting your salary include your experience, professional qualifications and level of responsibility.

Positions in London and the South East typically offer higher salaries. FTSE-listed companies and financial institutions often provide the most competitive packages.

Income data from The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland. Figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

The work is mainly office based, and you'll usually work regular office hours. On occasion it may be necessary to work longer hours to meet regulatory deadlines.

Part-time and hybrid working may be available.

What to expect

• Work is mainly office-based. You may have several other governance staff working for you in a governance team or secretariat.
• As a senior professional, you will often work directly with boards of directors, oversee compliance frameworks and influence corporate strategy.
• Jobs are widely available. Opportunities exist in most major towns and cities, although positions with blue-chip companies are mainly found at head offices in London and other large cities.
• Formal business wear is generally expected.

Qualifications

Although this area of work is open to all graduates, the following subjects may be preferred and may also offer exemptions from some professional exams:

• accountancy
• business management or business studies
• finance
• law.

Some employers prefer candidates with a degree, particularly larger firms where a good honours degree (2:1 or above) is often required. Others may consider applicants with a relevant HND or foundation degree combined with strong interpersonal, organisational and administrative skills.

Many governance professionals work towards qualifications accredited by the Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland (CGIUKI). The main route to chartered status as a Chartered Governance Professional (GradCG) is via the Chartered Governance Qualifying Programme.

This programme is open to anyone, including both entry-level and established professionals, and those moving from legal, financial, compliance and risk careers. Although there are no academic requirements, you'll need to be comfortable studying at postgraduate level (Level 7) in the latter stages.

You may find an opportunity to train while working. Any degree subject is usually acceptable, and this kind of training may be advertised as administrative training schemes for general management trainees. Likely places for these schemes include:

• charities
• local government
• professional services companies
• public limited companies
• the public sector
• share registration agencies.

It's also possible to enter the profession through a Level 4 (Higher) Governance Officer apprenticeship (England). Apprenticeships combine paid work with part-time study for a CGIUKI-accredited foundation qualification. Successful completion of the Level 4 apprenticeship grants exemption from the Foundation Programme of the CGIUKI Qualifying Programme. Find out more about governance apprenticeships.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• excellent verbal and written communication skills
• strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build effective relationships at all levels
• meticulous attention to detail and an organised approach to work
• the ability to prioritise tasks, meet deadlines and perform well under pressure
• numeracy skills
• strong analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• confidence and diplomacy when advising senior executives and board members
• leadership and management (including project management) skills
• the ability to work independently and as part of a team
• integrity, discretion and good judgement when handling sensitive or confidential information
• a strong understanding of corporate governance, compliance and regulatory frameworks
• an understanding of risk management principles and ethical standards
• commercial awareness
• IT proficiency, particularly in governance platforms, databases and Microsoft Office tools
• flexibility and a commitment to continuing professional development.

Work experience

You'll typically need significant professional experience to become a company secretary, and employers usually expect candidates to hold or be working towards a recognised professional qualification.

The most common route is to gain a few years of administrative, governance, legal or financial experience, followed by formal training in company secretarial practice.

Relevant work experience includes roles in the following areas:

• accounts or finance
• compliance and risk management
• corporate administration
• HR and personnel management
• insurance
• law or legal services
• office management
• pensions administration
• procurement or purchasing
• sales or contracts administration.

Experience with governance structures, regulatory compliance, meeting administration and stakeholder management is particularly valuable.

Some graduates qualify as lawyers or accountants before moving into company secretary roles. Others complete professional qualifications through the CGIUKI. Entry-level governance roles such as governance assistant or trainee company secretary also offer a structured way to gain practical experience while studying for professional exams.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Company secretaries work in a range of different organisations in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Only publicly traded companies are legally required to appoint a company secretary. However, it is still necessary for private companies to take responsibility for compliance and liaise with regulatory bodies.

Depending on your own interests and experience, the following types of organisations may offer relevant opportunities:

• accountancy and solicitors' firms
• banks and building societies
• charities and hospitals
• educational institutions
• employers' cooperatives
• healthcare organisations, including the NHS
• housing associations
• insurance companies
• investment trusts
• local and central government
• trade bodies.

It's also possible to find work with a consultancy that provides company secretarial services to companies who outsource this function, or in self-employment as a sole practitioner or in a small partnership.

Look for job vacancies at:

• CGI - Jobs in Governance
• The Law Society Gazette
• LG Jobs
• Third Sector Jobs

Vacancies are also handled by specialist recruitment agencies such as Briefed.

Professional development

Most company secretaries gain chartered status with the CGIUKI. The first step to gaining chartership is usually be completing the Chartered Governance Qualifying Programme.

The programme is divided into two levels, Part One and Part Two, and can be completed alongside your job. There are various entry routes depending on your existing level of qualifications and experience, and it typically takes between two and five years to complete.

The use of a tuition partner is recommended, though self-study is also an option, and the CGIUKI has a list of registered tuition providers on its website.

The CGIUKI also provides a list of validated postgraduate courses as an alternative to the CGQP exams.

On successful completion of either the Chartered Governance Qualifying Programme or a validated Masters degree, you'll become a Graduate Member of the Institute and can use GradCG after your name.

Once you've graduated from the qualifying programme and have six years relevant work experience (or three years if you have a relevant degree or professional qualification), you can apply for chartership as an Associate member. You can then use the letters ACG after your name and the designations Chartered Secretary and Chartered Governance Professional. With further experience, you can qualify as a Fellow (FCG).

As a member of the CGIUKI, you'll need to undertake continuing professional development (CPD) to ensure your professional knowledge, skills and experience remain up to date. They also offer a range of events, conferences and other training opportunities.

Public limited company secretaries may gain chartered status with other organisations, such as the various accountancy bodies.

Career prospects

Gaining chartered status with the CGIUKI is one of the most common routes to developing a successful career in this area and requires tenacity and dedication.

Support with career development varies between employers. CGIUKI offers support through a range of resources, workshops, seminars, conferences and special interest groups, which help professionals in specific sectors share working practices and support each other.

It's important that you keep up to date with developments in legislation throughout your career by reading professional journals, such as CGIUKI's Governance & Compliance magazine, and newsletters. Networking and sharing working practices with other company secretaries, both formally and informally, is also recommended.

Geographical mobility can be helpful for career development, particularly in the early stages. With experience, it's possible to progress to board level or move into a directorate head or department head role. Alternatively, you can set up a business advising clients, act as company secretary for small companies, or work as a company formation agent.