Company secretaries play a critical role in helping organisations maintain strong governance, meet regulatory requirements and support effective decision-making at board level.
Despite the title, modern company secretaries are far more than administrators. They are trusted advisers to boards and senior leadership teams, providing guidance on governance, compliance, risk management and corporate best practice.
The responsibilities of a company secretary can vary significantly depending on the size and structure of an organisation. In private companies, the role may focus on statutory compliance and board support. In listed companies and regulated sectors, company secretaries often hold senior positions with responsibility for governance frameworks, shareholder engagement and regulatory reporting.
What Is a Company Secretary?
A company secretary supports an organisation in meeting its legal, regulatory and governance obligations while helping the board of directors operate effectively.
Company secretaries act as a central point of coordination between directors, shareholders, regulators and senior management teams.
Typical responsibilities include:
- Advising the board on governance matters
- Coordinating board and committee meetings
- Maintaining statutory records
- Managing regulatory filings
- Supporting shareholder communications
- Ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and governance codes
To learn more about the broader role, read our guide on Company Secretary Responsibilities.
Company Secretary Job Description at a Glance
| Typical salary | £50,000–£90,000+ per year |
|---|---|
| Reports to | Chair, CEO, General Counsel or Board of Directors |
| Key focus areas | Governance, compliance and board support |
| Common sectors | Financial services, listed companies, healthcare, housing, professional services and not-for-profit organisations |
| Qualifications | CGI qualifications, legal, accounting or compliance background |
| Career progression | Assistant Company Secretary → Deputy Company Secretary → Group Company Secretary |
For more information on salaries and market trends, read our Company Secretary Salary Guide (UK 2026).
Download the Company Secretary Job Description
Use our downloadable Company Secretary Job Description template as a starting point for your vacancy. It includes the role summary, reporting line, key responsibilities, skills, qualifications, competencies and working relationships.
Download the Company Secretary Job Description
The template is intended as a practical starting point and should be adapted to reflect your organisation’s governance structure, regulatory environment and requirements.
What Are the Main Duties of a Company Secretary?
The responsibilities of a company secretary vary between organisations, but core duties typically include the following.
Organising Board and Committee Meetings
Company secretaries coordinate meetings by:
- Preparing agendas
- Circulating board papers
- Recording minutes
- Tracking actions and decisions
- Maintaining annual meeting schedules
Effective board administration helps ensure directors receive the information they need to make informed decisions.
Maintaining Statutory Records
Company secretaries are responsible for ensuring corporate records remain accurate and up to date, including:
- Registers of directors and shareholders
- Articles of association
- Statutory books
- Governance policies and procedures
Ensuring Regulatory Compliance
A key part of the role involves helping organisations comply with:
- The Companies Act 2006
- Companies House filing requirements
- Corporate governance codes
- Sector-specific regulations
Company secretaries monitor deadlines, coordinate filings and advise on regulatory changes.
Advising the Board
Modern company secretaries often act as governance advisers to directors and senior leaders.
They may provide guidance on:
- Board effectiveness
- Governance frameworks
- Conflicts of interest
- Director responsibilities
- Regulatory developments
Managing Shareholder Communications
Responsibilities often include:
- Coordinating annual general meetings (AGMs)
- Preparing shareholder notices
- Managing voting processes
- Supporting investor communications
What Should a Company Secretary Job Description Include?
A strong Company Secretary job description should explain the actual scope of the appointment rather than relying on a generic list of governance duties.
It should include:
- Job title and reporting line
- Employment type and location
- Role summary
- Board and committee responsibilities
- Statutory and regulatory duties
- Group or subsidiary responsibilities
- Team leadership requirements
- Skills and experience
- Professional qualifications
- Key working relationships
The responsibilities should reflect the organisation itself. A Company Secretary supporting a private growth business will not have the same remit as someone advising the board of a listed or regulated group.
Company Secretary Duties by Organisation Type
The role can differ significantly depending on the organisation.
Private Companies
Company secretaries in private businesses often focus on:
- Companies House filings
- Maintaining statutory registers
- Supporting board meetings
- Ensuring legal compliance
Listed Companies
Company secretaries in listed organisations typically have broader responsibilities, including:
- Supporting compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code
- Coordinating market disclosures
- Supporting shareholder meetings and governance-related investor engagement
- Advising board committees
- Supporting ESG and governance reporting
Regulated Sectors
In sectors such as financial services, healthcare and housing, company secretaries may also support:
- Regulatory engagement
- Risk management frameworks
- Internal governance reviews
- Compliance reporting
What Skills Does a Company Secretary Need?
Successful company secretaries combine technical knowledge with strong interpersonal skills.
Key skills include:
- Excellent communication
- Attention to detail
- Organisation and time management
- Commercial awareness
- Problem-solving ability
- Integrity and discretion
- Stakeholder management
- Leadership and influencing skills
The ability to build strong relationships with directors and senior executives is particularly important.
Do You Need Qualifications to Become a Company Secretary?
There is no single route into the profession.
Many company secretaries have backgrounds in:
- Governance
- Law
- Accounting
- Risk and compliance
- Corporate administration
Professional qualifications from the Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland (CGIUKI) are widely recognised and can support career progression.
Relevant experience in governance, compliance or board support roles is often equally valuable.
Assistant Company Secretary vs Company Secretary
Assistant company secretaries typically support senior governance professionals and focus on operational responsibilities such as:
- Preparing board papers
- Maintaining statutory records
- Coordinating meetings
- Managing regulatory filings
Company secretaries usually hold broader responsibilities, including board advisory work, governance leadership and strategic oversight.
Career progression often follows this path:
Assistant Company Secretary → Deputy Company Secretary → Company Secretary → Group Company Secretary
How Has the Company Secretary Role Changed?
The company secretary role has evolved significantly over the past decade.
Historically focused on administration and compliance, today’s company secretaries are strategic advisers who help organisations navigate increasingly complex governance environments.
Growing responsibilities include:
- ESG reporting
- Board effectiveness reviews
- Risk oversight
- Stakeholder engagement
- Governance transformation initiatives
When Should Organisations Hire a Company Secretary?
Organisations may need dedicated company secretarial support when:
- The business is growing rapidly
- Governance requirements become more complex
- New investors join the organisation
- The board expands
- The company enters a regulated market
- An IPO or major transaction is planned
Experienced company secretaries help organisations build robust governance frameworks while reducing compliance risk. If your organisation is looking to appoint a governance professional, our company secretary recruitment specialists can help identify experienced candidates across listed companies, regulated organisations and growth businesses.
Company Secretary Job Description Frequently Asked Questions
What are the five duties of a company secretary?
Key duties include maintaining statutory records, organising board meetings, ensuring regulatory compliance, supporting shareholder communications and advising directors on governance matters.
Do you need qualifications to be a company secretary?
Formal qualifications are not always required, but many professionals complete governance qualifications through CGIUKI or have legal, accounting or compliance backgrounds.
Is a company secretary higher than a director?
No. Directors are responsible for managing the company, while company secretaries advise and support the board.
What makes a good company secretary?
Strong communication skills, attention to detail, commercial awareness, integrity and the ability to influence senior stakeholders are essential.
How much does a company secretary earn in the UK?
Salaries vary depending on experience, sector and organisation size, but many company secretaries earn between £50,000 and £90,000 per year.
Is company secretary a stressful job?
The role can involve periods of high pressure, particularly around board meetings, reporting deadlines and regulatory filings. However, many professionals find the work rewarding due to its strategic importance and variety.
Does a company secretary have any power?
Company secretaries do not usually have executive authority, but they play an influential role by advising boards on governance, compliance and best practice.
Can a director remove a company secretary?
In most organisations, the board of directors has the authority to appoint or remove a company secretary in accordance with the company’s articles of association.
