What picture come to mind when you hear the words Company Secretary? Do you see a young lady sitting at the front desk of your office? In that case, you are very wrong.

Company secretaries are the primary source of advice on the conduct of business and this can span everything from legal advice on conflicts of interest, through accounting advice on financial reports, to the development of strategy and corporate planning.

A Company Secretary is not a receptionist! He is the oil that drives the Company.

Company secretaries in all sectors have high level responsibilities including developing governance structures and mechanisms.

Company secretaries are the company’s named representative on legal documents. It is their responsibility to ensure that the company and its directors operate within the law. He manages the secretariat or the administrative functions of the company. This department carries out many of those non-core functions which helps the company run effectively and efficiently.

With the increasing focus in recent years on corporate governance, the role of the company secretary has grown in importance. In many ways, the secretary is now seen as the guardian of the company’s proper compliance with both the law and best practice. 

If the company is an engine, you may liken the Company secretary to engine oil. He lubricates the business engine and ensures that it runs properly. It convenes director and shareholder meetings and records proceedings at these meetings. It oversees legal matters, updates statutory registers, and ensures that the company complies with relevant laws and regulations.

The company secretariat ensures that every transaction is properly documented and manages relationships with shareholders and investors. Without the engine oil called the company secretariat, the corporate engine slowly grinds itself into destruction. The company usually ends up having problems with their investors or the government.

Do you require further assistance? UBR Corporate Services provides company secretarial services to businesses of every size.