Assistant Company Secretary

First Central

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

1st Central is seeking an experienced governance professional to join its Corporate Governance team as an Assistant Company Secretary. The role may be based in Haywards Heath, West Sussex; Salford Quays, Manchester; or Guernsey, with flexible working that allows time at home or in the office. The Assistant Company Secretary supports the Group Company Secretary in delivering company secretarial and corporate governance services across the Group. The role works with Board, Committee and Executive stakeholders, supporting statutory compliance, governance reporting and corporate records. It leads defined workstreams, exercises judgement on routine governance matters, and helps develop robust governance practices as the Group matures. The position also contributes to governance projects and improvements, Board effectiveness support, statutory compliance activities, and the renewal of insurance cover for employees, equipment and premises. The postholder must follow the Group Code of Conduct, Fitness and Propriety policies, Company policies, values, guidelines and relevant standards and regulations.

Requirements

Demonstrable experience in a company secretarial, governance or equivalent professional role, supporting Board, Committee and/or senior executive governance in a regulated, listed or complex corporate environment.
Strong working knowledge of company secretarial practice, statutory compliance and corporate governance processes, with the ability to apply knowledge independently and escalate complex or judgement-based matters appropriately.
Experience preparing and reviewing Board and Committee materials, minutes, action logs, resolutions, statutory filings, governance registers and corporate records.
Experience coordinating governance workstreams, managing competing deadlines and engaging confidently with senior stakeholders, advisers and colleagues across the business.
Knowledge of the Companies Act 2006 and associated statutory filing requirements.
Understanding of the UK Corporate Governance Code, Board and Committee governance, directors’ duties and good governance practice.
Relevant professional qualification, or significant progress towards one, such as the Chartered Governance Qualifying Programme or an equivalent company secretarial/governance qualification.
Commitment to continuing professional development and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of relevant statutory, regulatory and governance developments.
Excellent minute-writing and drafting skills, producing accurate, clear, concise and appropriately balanced records for senior governance forums.
Strong analytical skills and sound judgement, including the ability to identify governance points, manage risk and escalate matters appropriately.
Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy in document production, record keeping and stakeholder communications.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with confidence engaging professionally with senior stakeholders and external advisers.
Ability to work at pace, prioritise effectively and deliver high-quality work against challenging deadlines.
Excellent work ethic and diligence in producing, reviewing and taking ownership of work and responsibilities.
Strong organisational and stakeholder management skills, including coordinating inputs across multiple workstreams.
Good numeracy and literacy skills.
Strong IT and software skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Able to handle information confidentially.
Diplomatic, personable and pragmatic, with initiative and sound judgement, and able to escalate matters appropriately.
Organised and proactive, self-motivated and enthusiastic, and able to work independently and as part of a team.
Flexible, with a positive attitude, and keen to help others and embrace the Company Values.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in financial services, insurance or another regulated sector.
Understanding of the UK motor insurance industry.
Experience using company secretarial or governance systems.

Responsibilities

Support end-to-end company secretarial services for selected Board, Committee and Executive meetings, including forward planning, agenda development, timetable management, paper quality assurance, minute preparation, and tracking actions and decisions through to completion.
Provide governance advice and practical support to meeting chairs, senior stakeholders and paper owners, ensuring processes are clear, proportionate and delivered to a high standard.
Maintain statutory and Group entity information in company secretarial software and related records, including structure charts and corporate information; accurately record and file changes to directors, officers, shareholders and registered details.
Manage and maintain KYC records and processes for Group entities, ensuring information is accurate, complete, current and available for governance, banking, regulatory and due diligence needs.
Lead and coordinate responses to audit, regulatory, corporate transaction and due diligence information requests, reviewing records, collating evidence and liaising with stakeholders.
Support the development, implementation, maintenance and periodic review of governance policies, registers, templates, procedures and process documents, identifying opportunities to improve consistency, controls and service delivery.
Prepare and review governance reports, briefing notes, resolutions, written decisions, certificates and other company secretarial documents for accuracy, evidence and suitability for senior stakeholders.
Support the Group Company Secretary and Company Secretariat team with departmental priorities, governance projects, statutory compliance, Board effectiveness support and governance improvements.
Support renewal of insurance cover for employees, equipment and premises by coordinating inputs and records.
Comply with the Group Code of Conduct, Fitness and Propriety policies, Company policies, values, guidelines and relevant standards and regulations.