Company secretary

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• training with a professional body

University

You'll need a foundation degree or degree in a relevant subject like:

• business
• law
• accountancy
• public administration

You'll also need relevant business experience in areas like:

• pensions or insurance
• personnel
• accounts and credit control
• purchasing
• office management

You could get valuable work experience during your studies by doing a placement year or summer internship.

Entry requirements:

• at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You could start by doing a higher national diploma in business management or law. Then you can apply to join a company as a trainee company secretary.

Entry requirements:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher national certificate or higher national diploma

Apprenticeship

You may be able to become a company secretary by doing a Governance Officer Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship.

You might also get into this type of work by completing a Solicitor Level 7 Non-Degree Apprenticeship.

Entry requirements:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

OtherRoutes

You can take professional qualifications offered by The Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland to become a company secretary.

You'll begin by doing the Chartered Secretaries Qualifying Scheme, which starts at foundation level. You can join at a more advanced level if you already have a relevant qualification, for example in law.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Skills:

• administration skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with others
• to be flexible and open to change
• excellent written communication skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• excellent verbal communication skills
• business management skills
• maths skills
• a good memory
• sensitivity and understanding
• a desire to help people
• customer service skills
• knowledge of English language
• knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
• thinking and reasoning skills
• concentration skills
• the ability to read English
• active listening skills

What you'll do:

Company secretaries make sure that directors follow company law and finance rules.

In this role you could:

• prepare yearly company reports
• control share option schemes and pay profits
• provide legal advice to directors and board members
• deal with other professionals like lawyers and auditors
• send company information to Companies House or the Stock Exchange
• keep up to date with policy, legal and statutory requirements for the business

Location : You could work in an office.

Salary:

Starter : £26,000
Experienced : £90,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

37 - 39 hours a week

Working Pattern is evenings occasionally

Career Path:

With experience, you could become a company's chief executive or managing director.

You could also work freelance as a consultant or a part-time company secretary for several smaller businesses.