Assistant Company Secretary in Newcastle upon Tyne

We're looking to recruit an Assistant Company Secretary on a fixed term basis, to cover maternity leave.

NorthStandard’s Corporate Governance team is responsible for delivering meetings of the Group’s Members, Boards and Committees as well as managing the framework of policies, procedures and processes that support Group Directors to perform their duties in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and in a manner that provides accountability, fairness and transparency to our Members, regulators and other stakeholders.

Working closely with the Group Company Secretary and other team members, you will be responsible for providing excellent company secretarial support to several key Boards, Committees and internal management ‘feeder’ committees, with a particular focus on the governance of audit, risk and investment activity.

Key forums within scope of delivery include:

• Group Audit, Risk and Investment Committees
• NorthStandard EU Audit and Risk Committees
• Reinsurance Working Group
• Sanctions Committee

What will you be doing?

Key responsibilities will include:

Meeting Planning - support the maintenance and communication of the Group’s rolling meeting plan. Seeking input from internal and external stakeholders on the plan and helping to ensure it is appropriately and clearly communicated in a timely manner to enable effective forward planning.

Meeting Delivery - for forums within scope of delivery:

• Ensure that the standing agenda items for meetings are clearly documented and actioned.
• Ensure that all agenda items required in addition to standing agenda items are appropriately captured, tracked and actioned.
• Prepare agendas, papers and minutes of meetings.
• Attend meetings (including domestic and international travel where required) and oversee the provision of physical and virtual meeting facilities to enable the effective participation of all attendees.
• Ensure that agendas and papers for meetings are circulated in a timely manner in accordance with departmental service levels.
• Ensure that minutes are circulated in a timely manner in accordance with departmental service levels.
• Ensure that meeting actions are appropriately captured, tracked and communicated in a timely manner in accordance with departmental service levels.
• Maintain an up to date record of attendance at meetings.

Corporate Administration - provide support to the Group Company Secretary and Company Secretary in relation to corporate administration and filings.

Board Performance - provide support to the Group Company Secretary and Company Secretary in relation to annual Board performance appraisals.

Board Succession & Development Planning - provide support to the Group Company Secretary and Company Secretary in relation to annual Board succession and development planning activity.

Director Recruitment, Induction and Onboarding - provide support to the Group Company Secretary and Company Secretary in relation to recruitment, induction and onboarding activity.

Fitness & Propriety Assessments - provide support to the Group Company Secretary and Company Secretary in relation to fitness and propriety assessments and regulatory applications/notifications.

Conflicts of Interest - provide support to the Group Company Secretary and Company Secretary in relation to the assessment, recording and monitoring of Directors’ interests and the management of actual or potential conflicts of interest in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and Group policies.

Information Requests - provide support to the Group Company Secretary and Company Secretary in responding to information requests from the Group’s internal and external auditors.

Policies & Procedures - support the management, drafting and updating of policies, procedures and controlled documents

About you - Skills/Qualifications/Experience

• Minimum of 3 years ‘hands on’ experience providing end to end company secretarial support to Board level governance forums.
• Excellent drafting and organisational skills.
• Flexible and adaptable - willing to learn on the job, comfortable working across different systems and processes and adapting your approach to tasks in order to achieve the best outcomes under different circumstances.
• Experience of collaborating with and influencing colleagues and other stakeholders at all levels of the organisation and across geographical and cultural boundaries.
• Experience of working effectively under pressure and proactively managing your own workload to meet deadlines in a busy environment.
• Comfortable with change, bringing a positive and solutions focused outlook when overcoming challenges in the course of your work.
• Holds or is working towards relevant qualifications in corporate governance (e.g. CGI).
• Experience of corporate governance within a regulated insurance or other financial services sector.
• Experience of corporate governance within a mutual or non-profit organisation.

Who we are

We are a specialist marine insurer and a member of the International Group of Protection and Indemnity clubs, owned by its shipowner members and controlled by a board of directors drawn from its membership. We’re one of the world’s leading and most influential P&I Clubs. Employing over 600 people globally, we provide an unmatched depth and breadth of expertise to our members.

Our culture and what to expect from us

Our culture is hugely important to us enabling us to fulfil our brand promise, ‘Taking on tomorrow, together’. Together we are empowered, inquisitive and courageous, giving the best of ourselves to our colleagues, customers, members and the communities we serve.

We provide excellent service to members, build long‑lasting relationships built on trust and understanding, and treat our colleagues in the same way. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, we all act as role models and celebrate our cultural principles.

We provide our people with a fantastic benefits package including:

• 27 days annual leave per annum + bank holidays (rising with length of service).
• Private Medical Insurance.
• Life Insurance
• Structured learning and development with support towards obtaining professional qualifications that are relevant to your job.
• An onsite gym in our Newcastle office and much more…

Salary from £48,500, depending on experience