Assistant Company Secretary Legal & Cosec · London

Peel Hunt LLP; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in financial services seeks a Company Secretarial professional to support their governance and compliance activities. The role involves assisting with board meetings, statutory compliance for UK subsidiaries and share incentive administration, requiring strong organizational and communication skills as well as relevant qualifications.

Qualifications

• Prior experience in a UK listed company secretariat (3-4 years) is desirable.
• Self-motivated and proactive, able to manage competing deadlines.
• Understanding of corporate governance issues and FCA conduct rules.

Responsibilities

• Assisting in the organisation and preparation for board and committee meetings.
• Maintaining statutory books and registers, supporting compliance.
• Assisting with the administration of share incentive schemes.

Skills

Attention to detail

Time management

Analytical skills

Effective communication

Project management

Education

2:1 degree from university

CGI / ICSA Qualified or Student

Tools

Excel

Job description

1. ROLE SUMMARY AND DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW:

To provide Company Secretarial services to Peel Hunt Limited (an AIM-listed company incorporated in Guernsey) and its group companies, including Peel Hunt LLP (an FCA regulated entity).

2. RESPONSIBILITIES:

BOARD SUPPORT

• Assisting the Company Secretary (COO) and the Head of Governance in the organisation of, and preparation for, board and committee meetings.

This includes:

i. organising the schedule of meetings for the various governance meetings and board training sessions each year;

ii. drafting and agreeing agendas;

iii. liaising with individuals responsible for producing papers; and

iv. preparing and publishing board/committee packs via Board Intelligence.

• Prepare papers for board/committee meetings as and when required (e.g. on governance matters).
• Minuting various meetings, and record, follow up and monitor actions.
• Logistical and administrative support for non-executive directors.
• Organising the board training schedule and assisting with the induction of new board members.
• Assisting with the oversight of corporate governance policies (e.g. board committee terms of reference), ensuring they are kept up to date.
• Supporting the annual effectiveness review process, including drafting questionnaires and analysing the results.
• Other administrative support for the Peel Hunt’s boards and committees.

AGM AND ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

• Support the annual general meeting process, working closely with the registrars.
• Supporting the production of the annual report and notice of AGM.

STOCK EXCHANGE/LISTED COMPANY MATTERS

• RNS & FCA – assisting with the issue of standard Stock Exchange announcements, e.g. directors' dealings, major shareholder holdings, block listing, directorate changes, and notifications to the FCA.
• Maintenance of insider lists.
• Assist with share dealing requests.
• Supporting the management of Peel Hunt Limited’s share registrar and share plan administrator.

STATUTORY COMPLIANCE WORK FOR UK SUBSIDIARIES

• Maintaining statutory books and registers, and managing other key governance processes (e.g. directors' share interests, the insider dealing list etc.).

• Preparing and filing all Companies House forms including change in officers, change in share capital, filing of all the annual accounts and the confirmation statements for all UK subsidiary companies.

• Supporting the Company Secretary and Head of Governance on ad hoc projects, including changes to subsidiary company articles, corporate governance and statutory audits, group re-organisations, purchases of own shares, etc.

SHARE SCHEMES

• Assisting with the administration of share incentive schemes.
• Assisting with the payment of dividends.

OTHER DUTIES

• Assist with maintaining the governance section of the Peel Hunt website.
• Draft procedural notes for company secretarial tasks on an ongoing basis.
• Assist with providing updates on new areas of governance and company law.
• Have an understanding of the regulatory environment, and values and abilities consistent with the FCA conduct rules.

Key Capabilities and Knowledge:

• Strong academic record from GCSEs through to a 2:1 from university.
• Prior experience of working in a UK listed company secretariat is desirable, with demonstrable company secretarial experience (3-4 years).
• CGI / ICSA Qualified or Studying CGI / ICSA qualifications.
• Self-motivated, pro-active and able to manage competing deadlines.
• Flexible attitude, able to cope with unexpected and varied demands.
• Have an understanding of the regulatory environment, and values and abilities consistent with the FCA conduct rules.

Role Competencies:

• Self-starter/proactive
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to work independently
• Effective communicator, able to work with senior executives
• Time management/ability to work to deadlines
• Effective project management and multi-tasking skills
• Minute taking skills
• Analytical and numerical skills
• High level computer literacy, including Excel
• Sound grasp of corporate governance issues

Other: This role is in scope of the Conduct Rules Regime and does not require authorisation from Peel Hunt that the candidate is fit and proper to perform the role.