Company Secretarial Associate (12-mth FTC)
About BII
British International Investment is the UK’s development finance institution, owned by the UK Government. With a mission to solve the biggest global development challenges, we aim to create a virtuous circle of investment and impact. Your contribution will be essential.
It won’t be easy: we do the hardest work in the most complex markets. Be prepared to test your skills, get creative and say your piece as you take on high-profile work as part of a diverse team of exceptionally smart, passionate people.
In return, you can take your career to all-new places in a culture that rewards curiosity and collaboration, and balances high performance with wellbeing.
BII at a glance
75 years supporting sustainable business growth in developing and emerging markets
£8.1 billion in net assets
1,400+ businesses invested in
950,000 workers in the businesses we support
£9 billion in new investments planned in the next 5 years
600+ people in our diverse global team
3 key development objectives: Productive | Sustainable | Inclusive
The pitch
The Company Secretarial Associate will play a pivotal role in the Company Secretary team, combining providing excellent service to the British International Investment Board and subsidiary Boards with the opportunity to learn and grow as part of a collegial team. This role will involve boardroom experience and the opportunity for direct contact with non-executive directors. The role will support the Group Company Secretary and Deputy Company Secretary on technical company secretarial matters, preparing advice and managing a busy schedule of Board and committee meetings.
Team and role overview
- The Company Secretary team advises and supports the Board of British International Investment on corporate governance matters.
- The team manages all aspects of Board governance, including meeting management, Board materials support, advice to the Board on succession planning, corporate governance and corporate compliance.
- The team manages and/or oversees the corporate governance of British International Investment’s subsidiaries, both in the UK and overseas, focusing on Board composition, filings and meeting governance.
- The team manages meetings of the Executive Committee and the Operations Committee and provides meeting support to the Markets Committee.
Responsibilities
- Taking responsibility for making corporate filings in the UK and work with overseas company secretarial advisers to ensure that filings for BII’s overseas entities are made in good time.
- Drafting corporate documentation, including Board and shareholder resolutions, for BII plc and its subsidiaries, annual general meeting papers and the Company Secretary’s report to the Board.
- Assisting with the production of Board and Committee packs and paper preparation, including the drafting of agendas and papers.
- Assisting with the preparation of directors’ induction packs.
- Arranging for documents to be sealed or stamped and arranging for documents to be notarised and apostilled.
- Work closely with BII’s central functions, including Finance, Legal, HR, Compliance and Treasury to assist with any ad hoc company secretarial requirements, advice and requests.
- Maintain, keep up to date and manage filings using Diligent Entities, BII’s database for group entities.
- Maintain the BII Group structure chart and ensure that notifications in respect of any changes are communicated appropriately.
- Dependent on level of experience, directly managing one or more committees and/or subsidiary Boards, including collating and distributing meeting materials, managing meeting logistics, taking minutes and following up actions.
- Collating corporate information for know-your-client requests about British International Investment from third parties.
- Supporting management of the company’s corporate insurance policies.
About you
- Successful candidates will have a background in corporate governance and/or corporate law. They will have governance experience in an impact-driven organisation (such as an impact investor or charity), or in a public sector organisation or a financial services or investment firm. They will be keen to learn and take on new opportunities to aid their development, as well as contributing to ongoing efforts to use technology to streamline processes.
Essential skills:
- Around 2-4 years’ experience in a company secretarial or governance role
- Experience using Diligent Entities or a similar entity management system
- Motivated and proactive, with great attention to detail
- Flexibility in working styles to suit business needs (e.g., in cross-functional teams, independent working)
- Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
- Excellent time management, prioritisation and organisation and the ability to manage and meet competing deadlines
- Core Microsoft applications, including Word, PowerPoint, Teams, Excel, SharePoint and Outlook
- Desirable skills:
- Qualified company secretary (e.g., GradCGI, ACG, FCG) or a qualified lawyer with experience in a relevant field
- Boardroom experience, including drafting agendas, liaising with directors, preparing meeting packs, writing minutes and coordinating Board or committee logistics
- Experience using board materials distribution software applications
- Candidates should be strongly motivated by BII’s development mission and ideally demonstrate some commitment to development or social goals through previous executive or non-executive activity.
Our cultural values
We look for team members who aspire, as we do, to work at our best and to be:
- Impact-led, commercially rigorous
- Tenacious in the face of challenges
- Collaborative and caring
British International Investment is committed to diversity and inclusion and welcomes all applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation or educational background.
Salary: Competitive
Please provide a cover letter with your application
