Assistant Company Secretary

FEM; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 620,000; Full time

Job summary

FEM is seeking an Assistant Company Secretary at its Head Office, based in Johannesburg, to support governance, regulatory compliance, and board administration.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in law, Commerce, Corporate Governance or related field, plus governance qualifications. 2–3 years’ governance/secretarial experience is expected, with ability to coordinate board meetings, draft minutes and maintain records. Applicants must liaise with regulators and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level degree in a relevant field required; governance body membership advantageous.
• 2–3+ years of governance or company secretarial experience expected.
• Experience with Companies Act and King IV principles desirable.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate Board, Board Committee, shareholder and stakeholder meetings; prepare governance calendars, agendas and Board packs.
• Draft minutes and resolutions; monitor Board decisions and support evaluations and induction.
• Provide governance-related support to directors and ensure clear communication with regulators, executives and shareholders.
• Maintain statutory registers, governance records and company documentation; coordinate regulatory filings.
• Support Annual General Meetings and other shareholder engagements; assist with governance reviews and risk assessments.

Skills

Governance coordination

Board administration

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in law/Commerce/Corporate Governance/Business Administration

Company Secretarial qualification or governance certification

Postgraduate qualification in Corporate Governance/Insurance/Risk Management

Job description

FEM is looking to appoint an Assistant Company Secretary at its Head Office, based in Johannesburg. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the overall objective of this role is to support the Company Secretary in ensuring the effective implementation of corporate governance practices, regulatory compliance, and board administration. The incumbent will be responsible for coordinating governance processes, supporting Board and Committee activities, maintaining statutory records, facilitating regulatory compliance obligations, and contributing to the overall effectiveness of the organisation's governance framework.

The successful candidate's responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:

Supporting the Company Secretary in maintaining high standards of corporate governance and regulatory compliance across the organisation. Key responsibilities include coordinating Board, Board Committee, shareholder, and stakeholder meetings; preparing governance calendars, meeting schedules, agendas, and Board packs; drafting minutes and resolutions; monitoring the implementation of Board decisions; and supporting Board evaluations, director induction, and ongoing development initiatives. The role will also provide governance-related support to directors and facilitate effective communication between directors, executives, shareholders, regulators, and other stakeholders.

The incumbent will further be responsible for maintaining statutory registers, governance records, and company documentation, coordinating statutory returns, regulatory filings, and governance submissions, safeguarding corporate records and legal documentation, and supporting Annual General Meetings and other shareholder engagements. In addition, the role will assist with governance reviews, regulatory inspections, governance risk assessments, and the maintenance of compliance risk registers, while working closely with Risk, Compliance, Internal Audit, Legal, Regulators, Auditors, and Service Providers to ensure adherence to legislative, regulatory, and governance best practices.

The minimum requirements of the position are a bachelor’s degree in law, Commerce, Corporate Governance, Business Administration, or a related field, together with membership of a recognised governance professional body. A Company Secretarial qualification, governance-related certification, postgraduate qualification in Corporate Governance, Business Administration, Insurance, or Risk Management, or a professional qualification in Corporate Governance or Chartered Governance will be advantageous.

Candidates must have a minimum of 2 to 3 years' experience in corporate governance or company secretarial functions, together with a sound understanding of the Companies Act and King V principles.

In exchange for the candidate's successful services, FEM offers a competitive total cost to company remuneration package with attractive benefits.

We have offices regionally in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg. This position will be based in Johannesburg.

People with disabilities are welcome to apply.

FEM promotes the principles of Employment Equity, and the appointment of this candidate is at FEM's sole discretion.