Guest guest Posted November 7, 2001 Report Share Posted November 7, 2001 I'm trying to find out what the responsibilities of the Company Secretary role are and having some trouble - can anyone point me in the right direction for chapter and verse/give me some personal experiences? (I've signed on the dotted line to do it for DHs new company but informed consent is ain't!) And while I'm on the subject of roles - if you had to choose an NCT committee role - membership secretary, secretary or chair - which would you choose and why? Which is 'easiest' in terms of workload? -- jennifer@... Vaudin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2001 Report Share Posted November 7, 2001 Ought to be able to find something for you, but I can't atm. My company law book gives the qualifications for company secretaries but not much else. The cop out clause if you're not an accountant or lawyer is " a person... who appears to the directors to be capable of discharging those functions " ie the functions of a secretary, but unhelpfully doesn't say what they are. Secretary is definitely non-committal compared with a director. No-one should become a director without fully understanding what is expected as you can get into all sorts of trouble unknowingly, but I'm sure this doesn't apply for a secretary. I'm co sec for the company that employs me and DH. Basically I just file the right forms at companies house every now and then (annual return, annual accounts, change of address etc). Also supposed to keep the company registers (directors, members etc) and minutes of directors minutes (if any). Only time for a quick search on the web. Found these link through a search engine http://www.butterworthjones.co.uk/Infosheets/company_secretary.htm Very basic info, but gives you some idea. http://www.creditman.co.uk/referenc/cosec.html Bit more details, including some of the legal bumpf, and just about sums it up I think. There are certainly a few books around called The Company Secretary's Handbook or words to that effect. Tolleys (Butterworths) do lots of books in this vein (Amazon came up with a few on a " company secretary " search). Hope that helps a bit Todman Treasurer, Stansted Branch (R5) Mum to , 3¾ > I'm trying to find out what the responsibilities of the Company > Secretary role are and having some trouble - can anyone point me in > the right direction for chapter and verse/give me some personal > experiences? (I've signed on the dotted line to do it for DHs new > company but informed consent is ain't!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2001 Report Share Posted November 7, 2001 Company Secretary's are responsible for ensuring that returns are filed with Companies House and that all other legal requirements of the company are fulfilled, eg. correct procedures for AGM. Also has to sign the accounts. You should bear in mind that should the whole thing go pear shaped, then there is a legal responsibility on the Company Secretary and that not being aware of those responsibilities is no defence. I recommend that you take care to find out exactly what you are required to do. The duties are not likely to be onerous in a small company, could just be a question of signing your name when required to do so, but you should be aware of the implications of such a signature. Sorry if this worries you. The Institute of Chartered Secretaries (www.ICSA.org.uk) do a number of publications which will make things clearer for you. Good luck (Associate member of ICSA), but not worked in the field for 9 years. Company secretary > > I'm trying to find out what the responsibilities of the Company > Secretary role are and having some trouble - can anyone point me in > the right direction for chapter and verse/give me some personal > experiences? (I've signed on the dotted line to do it for DHs new > company but informed consent is ain't!) > > And while I'm on the subject of roles - if you had to choose an NCT > committee role - membership secretary, secretary or chair - which > would you choose and why? Which is 'easiest' in terms of workload? > > -- > > jennifer@... > Vaudin > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 8, 2001 Report Share Posted November 8, 2001 Thanks *so* much for the info folks - I was amazed there was so little in all the business books at the library - though since I was trying to look with [judgmental comment coming up] naughty little boy in tow. I vividly remember DH telling me when he was running the previous business that company secretary is the scary job because that's who goes to prison if there is a contravention - and then he asks me to do it for the new one and is remarkably vague about what is involved - and so are the books - the best I found said things like " responsibilities include... " and then three lines. We do have a pet accountant who DH assures me will deal with all the compliance issues, but... I'm really not a blithe " Oh it'll be fine " person - I like to know what needs doing, what can go wrong and then I can make sure it is fine :-) Trust coffee to come up with the answers - and if I'm quiet for a few days you'll know what I'm reading instead! -- jennifer@... Vaudin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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