The Typical Company Secretary' Work Activities

• Organising, preparing agenda for, and taking minutes of meetings
• Dealing with correspondence before and after meetings, collating information, writing reports, ensuring decisions made are communicated to the relevant people
• Contributing to meeting discussions when required and advising members of the legal, governance, accounting and tax implications of proposed policies
• Monitoring changes in relevant legislation and the regulatory environment and taking appropriate action
• Liaising with external advisers, such as lawyers and auditors
• Developing company contracts
• Managing insurance and property issues
• Developing and overseeing the systems that ensure that the private company complies with all applicable codes as well as its legal and statutory requirements

The work of a corporate secretary in a registered private or public company may be more specialised than in a smaller company. For secretaries working within registered companies, particularly large PLCs, the liaison role between management and shareholders, and compliance, may make up a major part of the company secretary's work. The limited company secretary would also be fully involved in share issues, mergers and takeovers. This could include:

• Maintaining the register of shareholders
• Monitoring changes in share ownership of the company
• Paying dividends
• Administering share option schemes
• Arranging the annual general meeting and coordinating production of the annual report
• Monitoring the administration of the company's pension scheme
• Overseeing and renewing insurance cover for employees, equipment and premises
• Engaging in contractual agreements with suppliers and customers
• Managing office space and property and dealing with personnel administration
• Overseeing public relations and aspects of financial management