The Role of the Company Secretary

The company secretary is the chief administrative officer of the company and shares various responsibilities with directors under the Companies Act. Private companies are no longer obliged to appoint a company secretary although most continue to do so.

This is because the associated duties and requirements remain – for example, if there is no company secretary then directors must understand and fulfil responsibilities. 

This role holds a strategic position of considerable influence at the heart of an organisation’s governance. It is in everyone’s interest to ensure the secretary is the right person for the job, understands what’s involved and gets adequate support in their role. 

The Role of the Company Secretary course is designed to equip you with the tools and knowledge to carry out this critical and complex position. You will learn how to engage with the wider corporate aims of your organisation, ensuring the outcomes you produce and deliver are aligned to the broader organisational goal. 

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this programme, participants will understand: 

• The basics of company law and governance 
• The legal and other responsibilities and duties of a company secretary, and how they are changing 
• What a company secretary should know, the questions they should ask and what to do when problems arise 
• How to influence colleagues at the highest levels, with effective communicating and negotiating necessary solutions 
• How to support your board’s strategy and drive the business performance agenda 
• How to identify the deployment of power, and understand and influence boardroom behaviour 
• Recognising board dynamics, developing relationships, and engaging stakeholders 
• Improving your confidence and ability to operate in the boardroom setting and executive level environments 
• The importance of strong attention to detail and writing clearly and concisely 
• Taking in and processing large amounts of information 
• The importance of being trustworthy and keeping information confidential as required 
• Setting priorities, managing your role and career to meet organisational needs 
• Delegation, multi-tasking effectively, and taking the initiative