Corporate Secretarial Manager

Withers KhattarWong LLP

Job title:     Corporate Secretarial Manager

Division:     Business  |  Corporate team

Location:    Singapore

Withers KhattarWong LLP is amongst the largest international law firm in Singapore.  We are a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located across five continents in 17 offices.

Our broad global platform allows us to guide clients through the legal challenges inherent in the ever-changing international landscape. As our client, you will receive quality advice on diverse legal and tax issues through the services of one law firm with a single communication.

Internationally, we have made a reputation for ourselves as the leading law firm for private capital; our clients include public and private companies founded by successful families, MNCs, financial institutions, international brands, family offices and HNWIs, charities and not-for-profit organisations, amongst others. We pride ourselves for our role in helping our clients achieve success.

The team

Our Singapore and London offices have full company secretarial ('CoSec') teams which provide expert services to support clients both directly and indirectly through the various teams and departments within the Firm.

In Singapore, the team is an integral part of our large corporate and private client practices.  They provide company secretarial services to our private and publicly listed clients owned by the Firm's ultra-high net worth and corporate client base.  Our CoSec team are instrumental to the business and the Manager is key to ensuring the team provides the highest quality corporate secretarial services up to our clients' expectations.

The Manager will also work closely with the Firm's corporate lawyers, who will provide the necessary guidance as and when required.

The role

This role will lead, manage and oversee the CoSec team, to ensure provision of efficient corporate secretarial services to public and private listed companies.  It involves managing and overseeing a broad portfolio of clients from inception to dissolution and managing the commercial activity of, as well as overseeing the continued development of the CoSec team.  

Over and above knowledge and experience, this role will suit an individual who is ambitious, innovative and has strong business acumen, with the experience and aspiration to bring forward a team of professionals which will provide a high-quality company secretarial function to their clients.

The role will involve:

1.     Managerial responsibilities

• Autonomously, and as an ongoing responsibility, review, implement and maintain the CoSec team's processes and procedures to ensure the team is delivering an effective and efficient product to the business and external clients. 
• Implement and oversee available software/applications to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the team's processes & procedures and align with global systems where possible. Provide upgrade/improvement initiatives to ensure the team is functioning at their operational 'best'.
• Working together with the Firm's management team towards cultivating, growing, and further enhancing the CoSec team's book of business
• Continued training, mentoring and performance review of team members, ensuring they have the technical and 'soft' skills to support their internal and external client network
• Manage communications with clients, partners and colleagues
• Create client alerts for local regulatory and legal changes
• Preparation of customary legal documents
• Conduct international searches
• Provide due diligence support

2.     General Corporate Secretarial Support

• Management of end-to-end corporate secretarial functions from establishment to striking off process, including, but not limited to:
  • amendments to company constitution
  • share allotment and/or share transfers
  • preparation of board meetings and AGMs documentations (e.g. minutes, resolutions and articles of association)
  • Filing of Annual Returns
  • maintenance and upkeep of statutory registers

This list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive.  It is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for the performance of this position and as such, the role may also include the undertaking of additional tasks as required.

Key Skills and Experience

• Experience in an established CoSec practice, ideally within a professional services environment
• ICSA qualification is essential and membership with SAICSA will be highly regarded
• In-depth ACRA knowledge as well as general working knowledge of other corporate entity management platforms (eg. CAS 360)
• Enthusiastic about providing exceptional client (external and internal) service
• Strong commercial awareness, financial aptitude and with the integrity to handle highly confidential information appropriately
• Excellent communication skills and high levels of interpersonal skills, and of course, able to stay calm under pressure
• Organised, conscientious and highly detail-oriented and
• Technically competent and importantly, an ability to use your initiative to adapt and think laterally
• Enjoy being a team player, with a flexible and can-do attitude and approach
• Self-motivated and goal focussed, you will enjoy change and variety, and thrive under pressure

The Essentials

• This role is part of our fee-earning team and is a business partnering role within our Corporate team. 
• The Corporate Secretarial Manager reports into a dedicated Corporate Partner, and has additional reporting lines to other partners across the Division, depending on workflow.
• From time to time, the incumbent will have the opportunity to be involved in our wider firm social & cultural activities.  We think this is a great thing!
• Our Firm operates under a 'Mobile Working' arrangement.  As such, and with due consideration for the needs of the business, requirements for in-office activities as well as maintaining strong engagement with the team and colleagues within the office, the Corporate Secretarial Manager will have the opportunity to divide their time working in or external to the office.
• Business hours:  Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 6:00pm however given the nature and scope of the role, flexibility in availability is required.
• We provide 25 annual leave days per annum + an annual "Wither's Day"

About Withers Worldwide

A law firm focused on people and collaboration

For the past 125 years, Withers has supported some of the world's most remarkable people and organisations at defining moments in their lives.

We are the only international law firm focused on successful individuals and private capital, working closely with founders, investors and family offices. We also advise governments, charities, global brands and start-ups of all shapes and sizes.

Many of our clients are shaping the future and creating solutions to tackle many of the world's problems.  It makes for a fascinating and challenging practice. Our role is to get to know each individual client, find out where they want to be, and help them to get there – whether they are building a business, looking after their family, involved in a complex dispute or protecting their finances for the future.

To meet their unique needs we are exceptionally collaborative, working together across teams and time zones.

We are agile, focusing on strategy rather than rigid ideas and traditional hierarchy. It is a truly flexible working culture that puts people first.

Join us to be part of a team that is always looking to the future. Where initiative, big ideas and bold moves are always encouraged. Where you can truly be yourself.

Equal Opportunities Employment Statement

It is the policy of Withers to provide equal opportunities for all employees in relation to recruitment, training and promotion.  Decisions in these areas will be made only by reference to the requirements of the job and shall not be influenced by any consideration of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic and national origin), religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

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