At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead corporate governance operations and support the Board at CLS.
- Company: Join CLS, a key player in the global FX ecosystem.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, parental leave, wellbeing support, and hybrid working options.
- Other info: Enjoy a collaborative culture with excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic financial services environment.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in corporate governance with strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 120000 £ per year.
About CLS
CLS is the trusted party at the centre of the global FX ecosystem. Utilised by thousands of counterparties, CLS makes FX safer, smoother and more cost effective. Trillions of dollars' worth of currency flows through our systems each day. Created by the market for the market, our unrivalled global settlement infrastructure reduces systemic risk and provides standardisation for participants in many of the world's most actively traded currencies. We deliver huge efficiencies and savings for our clients: in fact, our approach to multilateral netting shrinks funding requirements by over 96% on average, so clients can put their capital and resources to better use. CLS products are designed to enable clients to manage risk most effectively across the full FX lifecycle – whether through more efficient processing tools or market intelligence derived from the largest single source of FX executed data available to the market.
Our ambition to make a positive difference starts with our people. Our values underpin everything that we do at CLS and define our working environment:
- Pivotal purpose
- Trusted guardian
- Targeted innovation
- Facilitate connections
- Delivering excellence
- Inclusive culture
What you will be doing
- With oversight from the Corporate Secretary, lead the day‐to‐day operations of the corporate secretarial function at CLS.
- Oversee governance support for the Board and its Committees, including agendas, materials, resolutions, minutes and governance records.
- Ensure governance processes are consistent, robust and regulator‐ready, reflecting CLS's role as a systemically important Financial Market Utility.
- Act as a senior internal advisor to the Corporate Secretary, on corporate governance matters, fiduciary duties, conflicts of interest and entity governance matters.
- Own assigned governance documentation, including committee charters, governance policies, manuals and procedural standards.
- Oversee corporate maintenance and statutory compliance for CLS legal entities, including constitutional documents, filings and required registrations with the US and the UK.
- Lead governance‐related risk and control activities within the Chairs' Office, including ownership of relevant RCSAs.
- Coordinate governance‐related responses to internal audit, regulators, and external auditors.
- Develop, and set quality standards for corporate secretarial and committee support staff.
- Manage director compensation.
- Prepare director conflicts of interest reviews.
- Oversee divisional policies and procedures.
- Partner closely with Legal, Risk, Compliance, Finance and Internal Audit to ensure governance practices align with CLS's risk management and control framework.
What we're looking for
- Extensive experience (10 yrs) in corporate governance, board operations or corporate secretarial functions within a regulated or systemically important financial services environment.
- Strong understanding of governance expectations applicable to a regulated entity.
- Demonstrated experience supporting Boards and Committees at a senior level.
- Exceptional drafting, editorial, and quality control skills for board level documentation.
- Proven ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion when handling high confidential information.
- Strong internal partnership skills, with the ability to influence across senior stakeholders.
- Experience leading and developing teams and setting high standards for governance execution.
- Comfortable operating with autonomy in a high stake, deadline‐driven environment.
- Strong familiarity with governance filing requirements in the US and the UK.
- International travel to quarterly in person board/committee meetings is required.
Professional qualifications / certifications
- Bachelor's degree required.
- Advanced degree (JD, MBA, Chartered Secretary Qualification (UK) or equivalent) strongly preferred.
- Professional governance qualification (e.g. CGI (UK), or CCGP (US) highly desirable).
Our commitment to employees
- Holiday – UK/Asia: 25 holiday days and 3 'life days' (in addition to bank holidays). US: 23 holiday days.
- 2 paid volunteer days so that you can actively support causes within your community that are important to you.
- Generous parental leave policies to ensure you can enjoy valuable time with your family.
- Parental transition coaching programmes and support services.
- Wellbeing and mental health support resources to ensure you are looking after yourself, and able to support others.
- Employee Networks (including our Women's Forum, Black Employee Network and Pride Network) in support of our organisational commitment to embrace and always be learning more about inclusivity.
- Hybrid working to promote a healthy work/life balance, enabling employees to work collaboratively in the office when needed and work from home when they don't.
- Active support of flexible working for all employees where possible.
- Monthly 'Heads Down Days' with no meetings across the whole company.
- Generous non‐contributory pension provision for UK/Asia employees, and 401K match from CLS for US employees.
- Private medical insurance and dental coverage.
- Social events that give you opportunities to meet new people and broaden your network across the organisation.
- Annual flu vaccinations.
- Discounts and savings and cashback across a wide range of categories including health and retail for UK employees.
- Discounted Gym membership – Complete Body Gym Discount/Sweat equity program for US employees.
- All employees have access to Discover – our comprehensive learning platform with 1000 courses from LinkedIn Learning.
- Access to frequent development sessions on a number of topics to help you be successful and develop your career at CLS.
Executive Director, Deputy Corporate Secretary in London employer: CLS Group
At CLS, we pride ourselves on being a leading employer in the financial services sector, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters inclusivity and innovation. Our commitment to employee well-being is reflected in our generous holiday policies, flexible working arrangements, and robust professional development opportunities, ensuring that every team member can thrive both personally and professionally. Located at the heart of the global FX ecosystem, we provide our employees with unique insights and experiences that contribute to their growth and success in a pivotal role within a systemically important financial market utility.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Executive Director, Deputy Corporate Secretary in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the financial services sector, especially those who have experience with corporate governance. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into CLS's values and mission. Show us how your experience aligns with our pivotal purpose and targeted innovation. Tailor your responses to reflect our commitment to excellence and inclusivity.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just wait for job postings! Keep an eye on our website and apply directly through it. This shows initiative and gives you a better chance of standing out in the crowd.
✨Tip Number 4
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers. Focus on articulating your governance experience and how you can contribute to CLS’s mission of making FX safer and smoother.
We think you need these skills to ace Executive Director, Deputy Corporate Secretary in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in corporate governance and board operations. We want to see how your skills align with our values and the specific requirements of the Executive Director role.
Showcase Your Experience:Don’t just list your previous roles; explain how your extensive experience has prepared you for this position. Use examples that demonstrate your ability to manage governance processes and support senior stakeholders effectively.
Be Clear and Concise:When drafting your application, clarity is key! Use straightforward language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate well-structured documents that are easy to read and understand, especially when it comes to board-level documentation.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. This ensures that your application goes directly to us and allows you to keep track of your application status easily. Plus, it’s super simple!
How to prepare for a job interview at CLS Group
✨Know Your Governance Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid understanding of corporate governance principles, especially those relevant to regulated financial services. Brush up on CLS's governance structure and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their expectations.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading teams and managing governance processes. Be ready to discuss how you've set high standards for governance execution and how you can bring that expertise to CLS.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your judgment and discretion in handling confidential information. Think of scenarios where you've had to navigate complex governance issues and be prepared to explain your thought process.
✨Connect the Dots with Stakeholders
Demonstrate your ability to partner with various internal teams like Legal, Risk, and Compliance. Prepare to discuss how you've influenced senior stakeholders in the past and how you plan to foster those relationships at CLS.