HOW DOES A COMPANY SECRETARY DO FOR A LIMITED CORPORATION?
INTRODUCTION
A company secretary is a professional who is responsible for ensuring that a limited corporation complies with all relevant laws and regulations. They also play a vital role in the smooth running of the company, providing advice and support to the board of directors and shareholders.
The specific duties of a company secretary will vary depending on the size and complexity of the company. However, the company secretary will always play an important role in ensuring that the company is well-run and that its interests are protected.
Some of the key responsibilities of a company secretary:
- Administering the company’s corporate records: This includes keeping track of the company’s articles of association, memorandum of association, shareholder register, and board minutes.
- Convening and organizing board meetings: This includes sending out notices of meetings, preparing agendas, and taking minutes of the meetings.
- Ensuring that the company complies with its legal obligations: This includes filing annual returns with the registrar of companies, paying taxes, and complying with other regulatory requirements.
- Providing advice to the board of directors: This includes providing legal advice, financial advice, and other strategic advice.
- Acting as a liaison between the board of directors and the company’s shareholders: This includes communicating with shareholders, responding to shareholder enquiries, and ensuring that shareholders‘ rights are protected.
Addition to these tasks, the company secretary may also be responsible for a variety of other duties, such as:
- Signing documents on behalf of the company.
- Overseeing the company’s secretarial staff.
- Managing the company’s website and social media accounts.
- Organizing company events and functions.
Some of the advantages and disadvantages of having a company secretary for a limited corporation:
Advantages
- Compliance: A company secretary can help to ensure that the company complies with all relevant laws and regulations. This can save the company time and money, and it can also help to protect the company from legal liability.
- Efficiency: A company secretary can help to improve the efficiency of the company by streamlining processes and procedures. This can free up the board of directors and other senior executives to focus on more strategic matters.
- Advice: A company secretary can provide advice to the board of directors on a wide range of matters, including legal, financial, and strategic issues. This can help the board to make better decisions and to avoid costly mistakes.
- Communication: A company secretary can act as a liaison between the board of directors, the shareholders, and other stakeholders. This can help to ensure that communication is clear and effective, and it can also help to build relationships between the different parties.
Disadvantages:
- Cost: A company secretary can be a cost, especially for small businesses. However, the cost of a company secretary is often offset by the benefits that they can provide.
- Time commitment: A company secretary may require a significant time commitment, especially for small businesses. This can be a disadvantage for businesses that are short on time or resources.
- Skills: A company secretary needs to have a range of skills, including legal, financial, and administrative skills. This can make it difficult to find a qualified company secretary, especially for small businesses.
