Head of Company Secretarial Department (Designate)

The Firm:

HW Fisher is a top 30 audit and advisory firm. We are a commercially astute organisation with a personal, partner-led service aimed at entrepreneurial small and medium enterprises (SMEs), large corporates, Not for Profit organisations and high-net worth individuals.

Our clients come from many different backgrounds and are active in all branches of commerce and industry. Our reputation is grounded in quality, delivering premium advisory services efficiently and cost-effectively.

Founded in 1933, the practice comprises 28 partners and approximately 300 staff supplying a range of services spanning audit, corporate taxation, private client services, VAT and forensic accounting, together with a range of sector groups offering specialist industry knowledge.

The Department:

The Company Secretarial Department is a very busy area of the firm which deals with a large number of clients.

The work of the department covers a wide spectrum from routine confirmation statements and accounts approval minutes to share buybacks and capital reductions. The department works closely with the corporate tax, the corporate finance and the audit departments – providing company law and secretarial advice and services on a wide variety of matters.

The Role:

This is a senior role within the firm. We are looking for an individual with strong company secretarial and management experience in a legal or professional services environment with the CGI/ICSA qualification to join our team.

The successful candidate will work with the current head of department until their retirement in due course.

Duties & Responsibilities:

The role is varied in nature and the responsibilities will include the following:

• Management of the Company Secretarial Department
• Setting company secretarial standards and policies for the firm
• Overseeing the department budget and setting client fees
• Responsibility for a portfolio of clients, both the provision of an annual compliance service and event driven transactions
• Providing advice and assistance to other departments within the firm and other members of the Company Secretarial team
• Providing training within the Company Secretarial team and the wider firm, as necessary
• Other ad hoc duties in line with the role

The Candidate:

The successful candidate will have wide ranging experience working in a company secretarial department within a practice environment and will have experience managing both people and a department.  They should demonstrate the following qualities:

• A genuine interest in and enthusiasm for company secretarial law and practice together with excellent technical skills
• The ability to be innovative and have an open and flexible approach to tasks
• Good administrative, organisational and people management skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Self-motivation as well as being a good team player and able to work collaboratively with colleagues
• Commercially focussed
• Excellent client care skills
• Ability to work quickly and accurately when under pressure

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate a solid understanding of UK corporate law and regulatory requirements, in particular in relation to documentation drafting and corporate record keeping in accordance with UK company legislation, and an appreciation of the upcoming corporate transparency and register reform.  The manager of the Company Secretarial Department will be expected to set the ‘company secretarial’ tone for the firm and lead on changes necessitated by new legislation.

Experience of using Diligent Entities company secretarial software would be a distinct advantage, although, if required, training will be provided.

The Benefits:

• Salary: competitive
• Group Life Cover
• 25 days holiday on commencement
• Buying and Selling Holiday Scheme
• Hybrid working policy – at least 2 days in the office a week, with a core hours system in place
• PHI (Permanent Health Insurance)
• Contributory Private Health Scheme
• Non-Contributory Health Cash Plan
• Season Ticket Loan (after qualifying period)
• Discounted Gym Membership
• Discounted Tastecard
• Perkbox Membership
• Pension Scheme
• Cycle voucher scheme

To apply for this position please send a CV and covering letter to Michael Fraser at mfraser@hwfisher.co.uk.