Trainee Company Secretarial Assistant

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. 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

We are looking for a bright, self-motivated and professional trainee to work in our Company Secretarial Team which sit in our busy commercial department.  This is an exciting role for a good communicator with a sound level of commercial awareness, an interest in corporate law, excellent attention to detail, and an interest in working with clients.  This role would suit someone who is a graduate and is currently studying for/looking to study the Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland's Chartered Governance Qualifying Programme or who has previous experience in this or a similar role, who is very organised, accurate, and a meticulous multi-tasker who is able to use their initiative.

Experience of working in a fast-paced commercial law or professional services firm is ideal, but not essential.  This is a great opportunity for a team-player, looking to start their legal career in a fast paced and forward-thinking organisation.

Areas of focus and responsibilities

• A client facing role, responding to clients in relation to company secretarial or company procedural enquiries
• Commercial management of own portfolio of companies and projects
• Supporting the compliance cycle of entities, and supporting clients from incorporation to dissolution
• Responding to internal queries on legal, project, and client issues, taking and forwarding messages or redirecting enquiries as appropriate
• Using Diligent Entities to prepare standard forms, e-file records, check data and print registers and reports as required
• Arranging for documents to be notarised and legalised
• Provide assistance with relevant company secretarial updates and training sessions to include the various provisions of ECCTA as they are rolled out
• Preparing and arranging UK and international company searches and liaising with fee earners and others as appropriate
• Using Outlook to track and manage company secretarial workload and queries
• Identifying and sorting post for company secretarial work: to include internal and external redirection in a timely and effective manner
• Producing accurate typed work of the level required from existing templates / standardised text, using any of the software packages and document management systems
• Ad hoc administration tasks as appropriate e.g., checking stock transfer forms prepared in volume against transfers listings
• Filing with Companies House by post, web filing, document upload and/or software filing
• Company due diligence
• Administration of company dividend payments and company share schemes
• Preparation of Statutory Books, both hard and soft copy
• Opening matter files, manual filing, e-filing, archiving, labelling, photocopying and e-mails where required
• Preparing and tracking ID documents for submission to Risk & Compliance department
• Management of the InterAction database to include adding new entries, updating details and undertaking searches as required

The Essentials

• 9.30am to 5.30pm, office based for four days per week
• 12-week probation period
• 4 weeks’ notice period
• Flexible benefit package (including private medical insurance, pension, flexible gym membership, season ticket loan)
• Study sponsorship of CGI qualification course, with study leave

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.