Assistant Company Secretary

What is the role?

To support the Group Company Secretary as follows:

• Provision of a professional company secretarial service and advisory governance services to the Group-level committees and senior stakeholders of Howden Group including preparation for potential future scenarios such as US/UK public listing.
• Appointment as Secretary to Group-level and other boards and committees as appropriate.
• Provision to the Howden Shares team of company secretarial support in HGH shareholder and share capital-related matters; and
• Line management responsibility as appropriate.

What will you be doing?

• Group-level responsibilities including:
• Appointed Secretary to Group-level committees (including ad hoc committees such as Employee and Internal Share Offer), and to other Group or business forums as appropriate, including: (i) advisory governance services; (ii) planning, preparation and circulation of agendas and papers; (iii) attendance at meeting and preparation of minutes; and management of actions arising from meetings;
• Day to day management of HGH Companies Act 2006 compliance, including in the UK Companies House filings and applicable corporate governance, and the maintenance of statutory registers using the Diligent Entities system.
• Prepare and circulate written resolutions of Group-level boards and committees, and Forms of Consent of the HGH Major Shareholders and Investor Directors as required.
• Support colleagues in Finance entity minuting and governance.
• Provide company secretarial support and advice to the Howden Shares team on board and committee documentation and approvals required in relation to HGH equity-related projects and processes including share allotments; share transfers; leaver processes; the internal share offer; shareholder portals and platforms; share buybacks; and shareholder votes.
• Management and update of Company Secretariat team structure and other charts (using Visio);
• Review and update of Group delegated authorities, notably the Group Matters Reserved and Authorisation Matrix summarising HGH authority levels.
• Group-level board and committee terms of reference review and advice, taking account of applicable governance requirements (e.g. Wates, Public Interest Entity, listing rule considerations);
• Support the implementation of consistent company secretarial practices, standards and templates, as appropriate, throughout the Group:
• Support a sound understanding of Financial Conduct Authority regulatory requirements within the Company Secretariat, reflected within board and committee papers, minutes and associated processes.
• Planning of the annual board meeting calendar (dates and matrix of governance agenda items), actions monitoring processes and board governance.
• Support as required to the Group Company Secretary, the Deputy Group Company Secretary and to directors and senior management of the Howden Group; and
• Perform required tasks accurately and efficiently to the required standard and speed.
• Assist the Group Company Secretary on an ad hoc basis where required in Howden Group-level responsibilities including:
• CoSec strategy planning and annual strategy session arrangements / minuting / actions.
• M&A activity, Group-wide large corporate projects (including utilising the project management platform) and ad hoc matters.
• Maintenance and development of the Company Secretariat intranet; Director passport
• Organising AGMs and EGMs of UK Group companies as required; an Hyperion-level Team social events.
• Hyperion-level data proLine management responsibilities TBC but in due course anticipated to include:
• Company Secretarial support as applicable.

What are we looking for?

• Strong written English and minuting skills
• Able to work with people of all levels of seniority
• Technical knowledge
• Legal knowledge and experience
• Accuracy / attention to detail
• Good communication and presentational skills
• Organisational /time management skills and flexibility
• Ability to deal with multiple tasks in a fast-moving environment
• Substantial experience (10+ years) in a company secretarial role
• 5+ years in the insurance industry, routinely minuting board meetings
• UK/US listed plc experience
• ACIS essential. Legal qualifications and experience useful.