We are currently recruiting a Corporate Secretary for a Permanent contract.
This role is hybrid, both working from home and in our Edinburgh hub. The role requires regular travel to London.
We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly between home and the hub to suit their needs and preferences, in line with our hybrid working policy.
Colleagues are able to work their hours flexibly, in line with core business hours and requirements. We also offer formalised flexible working agreements.
The starting salary is either £66,310 or £75,525 (if the successful candidate has legal qualifications).
To apply, please send a CV and cover letter to HRsupport@actuaries.org.uk by the closing date of 14 July 2024.
Interviews will take place in the week of 22 July.
Purpose of the job
The responsible senior manager within the Executive for leading the delivery of the corporate secretary function of the IFoA and its subsidiaries, in the UK and internationally. This role is responsible for ensuring that the IFoA maintains high standards of governance and that Council, the Board and other designated key Committees are supported in a way as to enable their effectiveness in delivering the Royal Charter objectives.
Acting as a key point of connection and communication between the elected, appointed, and executive leadership and other stakeholders.
This role should act as an exemplar of good practice for governance and secretariat service and be available to mentor and advise throughout the organisation as required.
Responsible for the delivery of successful General Meetings and elections, ensuring the integrity of all relevant processes.
Responsible for promoting and sustaining good corporate governance practice and acting as gate-keeper in relation to organisational compliance matters.
Dimensions
- Part of the General Counsel Group, with administrative resource to support workload
- Deliver a full secretariat service to Council, Board, and agreed key Committees (e.g., Audit and Risk Committee, Appointments Committees)
- Managing relationships with the Board Chair, President, and Chairs of agreed key Committees
- Maintain the budget for key governance activity and responsibilities
- Governance lead for organisation with c160 staff, and over 32,000 members in over 100 countries
- Maintain the organisation’s key governing documents and corresponding manuals/procedures and lead on regular review of such documentation, ensuring, through collaboration with appropriate senior stakeholders, that these key documents support good governance practice and the delivery of the IFoA’s objectives
- A gatekeeper of organisational compliance matters, e.g. compliance with governance framework, processes and procedures and also more broadly in relation to anti-bribery, modern slavery, sanctions and other related compliance matters.
- Liaison with the IFoA’s oversight body on corporate governance at the IFoA.
- Play a leading role in the governance review project currently underway.
- The role requires regular travel (including possible overnight stays), particularly to attend in-person meetings (most frequently taking place in London).
Principal accountabilities
- Advising and supporting the Chairs of the Board, Council, and key Committees on their governance responsibilities, levels of authority and areas of oversight in line with policy and general best practice
- Updating and promulgating clear and understandable rules, regulations, governance manuals and authorities to ensure the IFoA complies with best governance practice, in addition to its legal and statutory requirements
- Leading, identifying and delivering opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of governance functions.
- Leading on devising and delivering Council and Board induction and training programmes.
- Proactively engaging the Chairs in organising, recommending and preparing agendas for and producing appropriate minutes of bodies where a full secretariat service is provided
- Ensuring decisions and required actions made in Council, Board and Committee meetings are communicated to the relevant staff and stakeholders and that subsequent actions are pursued and reported back
- Maintaining registers of interests of Council members, Board Chair and Directors, Executive Directors, and key Committees Chairs and members
- Dealing with correspondence, collating information and writing reports as required
- Contributing to meeting discussions as and when required, and advising on the governance implications of proposed policies/decisions
- Keeping informed of changes in relevant legislation and the regulatory environment and recommending appropriate action
- Ensuring Board, Council, and Committee members, plus Executive staff and volunteers, are aware of governance requirements and are suitably inducted / trained on their appointment and kept abreast of requirements throughout their tenure
- Building strong internal relationships across IFoA to support and ensure implementation of governance rules
- Oversight of Corporate Secretary support (e.g., external agency support and/or permanent staff)
Main contacts
Internal
- Board Chair
- President (as Chair of Council)
- Key Committee Chairs
- General Counsel Group
- CEO Team
- CEO
- Executive Leadership Team
- Other colleagues providing support to Board, Council or key Committees (e.g., Engagement team)
External
- Legal and professional advisors
- Other service providers (e.g., election administrators) supporting IFoA governance
Decisions and complexity
- The role holder will have executive responsibility for the recommendation of Rules, Regulations and Governance Manual to ensure best (and effective) practice consistent with our Charter objectives
- Scheduling and agenda planning for Board/Council/key Committees, supporting appropriate and at-pace decision-making
- How best to promulgate and monitor/enforce governance best practices throughout the organisation
- Ensuring effective communications with members of the Board, Council, and key Committees, and that their views are reflected back to the key leadership
- Making sure the Charter, Bye-laws, Rules, Regulations and Governance Manual are well understood
- Tracking interests and conflicts of members of Board, Council, and key Committees, and advising on those conflicts where appropriate
- Advising Chairs on their governance responsibilities, levels of authority, where matters are appropriately delegated (or otherwise), agenda items and future matters for consideration
Impact
The role is visible amongst the senior leadership and office holders, and is key to good governance and decision-making.
Knowledge and experience
Essential experience
- Qualification as a Solicitor or Chartered Secretary
- Prior company secretary experience within a corporate environment
- Good relationship skills – engaging and approachable while remaining able to “get things done”
- Experience working with Boards
- Understanding of best practice in governance
- Excellent communication skills
Desirable experience
- Membership body experience
- Professional Regulator experience
- Understanding of financial markets
- Exposure to Public Affairs activity
IFoA’s values
The role holder will be a beacon of integrity in the IFoA given the responsibility over governance matters. The Corporate Secretary role-models our values and behaviours.
- Member-focused: We put members at the heart of everything we do
- Action-oriented: We work hard, we work smart, and we take pride in getting things done, valuing action over perfection
- Forward- and outward-looking: We’re always looking to be bold and improve, innovate and take the next step
- Team-driven: We work in partnership, advancing together as one IFoA
Alternative format and adjustments
Please email the HR Team if you require:
- any information regarding our vacancies in an alternative format
- any adjustments to support you to fully participate in any part of the application and recruitment process
Any information shared will be used only to enable us to make reasonable adjustments to support candidates to participate in the recruitment process. It will not inform selection decisions.
You can reach us at HRsupport@actuaries.org.uk.
