Company Secretary

About Withersworldwide

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.

The role

This role is for an experienced manager to head the company secretarial team in London and provide support to all the Withers' divisions where corporate governance and company secretarial guidance may be required, ensuring transactions are closed efficiently and accurately and providing consistency of service and quality control across the teams. The successful candidate will also be responsible for maintaining the developing relationships with company clients between transactions, providing seamless support and company secretarial services to a mix of companies, LLPs, charities and other entities. The successful candidate will be a key member from the start, whilst also working alongside other colleagues in the wider Withers family, providing mutual support across the practice groups. The candidate will have gained management level professional services experience at a firm recognised for its corporate work and be looking for a role that offers direct client contact, considerable responsibility and accountability and the opportunity to be part of an international law firm.

Areas of focus and responsibilities

• A role model and effective manager able to deliver company secretarial operations and various transactions supported by a small team.
• Manage priorities and critical decisions to support the team.
• The ability to be able to mentor and guide junior members of the company secretarial, trainee and/or paralegal teams. 
• Being part of the wider Withers team collaborating on delivering changes in corporate law together with changes to internal systems and services. 
• Support of corporate transactions, including drafting board resolutions, shareholder resolutions, waivers and consents, as well as ensuring company books are updated and share certificates and Companies House filings are prepared and completed.
• Oversight and management of the company secretarial function (including client correspondence and routine annual Companies House filings), as such tasks relate to the Withers clients.
• Acting as an initial point of contact for client queries (internal and external).
• Preparing and filing dormant company accounts. 
• Arranging formation of new companies.
• Managing the firm's process agent function.
• Assisting with company reorganisations. 
• Undertaking due diligence of company books and Companies House during transactions; and
• Managing the billing of company secretarial matters and assisting the credit control team with collections of outstanding invoices.

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

Key skills and experience

• ICSA qualified company secretary with excellent knowledge of Companies Act 2006 and a proven experience in company secretarial matters (circa 8-10 years' experience) 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Effective team leader - able to manage and work effectively in an established, close-knit team.
• Excellent technical ability and solid drafting skills.
• Experience of running a sizeable caseload on own initiative, with a high level of organisational and time-management skills.
• Experience of building relationships with new and existing clients both in person and over the telephone.
• Experience of writing up and maintaining statutory registers via Diligent Entities.
• Experience in filing across the multiple Companies House platforms. 
• Experience of the Charity Commission 'My Charity Commission Account' service is not essential but would be an advantage.

The essentials

• Working hours: 9.30am – 5.30pm but flexibility is a must
• Hybrid working
• Flexible benefit package

Information for Recruitment Agencies

Withersworldwide endeavours to recruit and fill vacancies directly. However, when we do need to engage with agencies, Withersworldwide operates a preferred supplier list and will not be accepting unsolicited applications from non-PSL agencies for this role.

Equal Opportunities Employment Statement 

It is the policy of Withersworldwide 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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