Deputy Company Secretary / Senior Assistant Company Secretary in City of Westminster

Opera

Summary: Opera is a privately owned financial services group and specialist private wealth and private capital service provider with operations across eight jurisdictions: Bermuda, Geneva, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, London, Mauritius and The Bahamas.

The group administers assets totaling $81bn.

For more information, please visit: Job

Summary

The Senior Assistant Company Secretary will partner with the Group Company Secretary in delivering a high-quality governance and company secretarial service across the Opera Group.

The role will take a leading position in the administration and continuous enhancement of the Group's governance framework, ensuring adherence to legal, regulatory and governance best practice standards across multiple jurisdictions.

Operating as a trusted governance adviser to senior management and directors, the role will be responsible for managing subsidiary governance arrangements, supporting Board and Executive Committee activities, overseeing statutory compliance obligations and contributing to strategic corporate initiatives, including acquisitions, restructurings and governance transformation projects.

The successful candidate will act as a key deputy to the Group Company Secretary, building effective relationships across the Group and helping to foster a strong culture of governance, accountability and corporate integrity.

Key

Responsibilities: The post holder will be responsible for the following corporate secretarial tasks: Governance & Compliance

• Lead the administration of the Group's governance framework across all jurisdictions.
• Oversee the maintenance of statutory registers, corporate records and filing obligations for Group entities.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with relevant company law, regulatory requirements and governance best practice standards across the Group.
• Maintain and enhance the Group's entity management system, ensuring data accuracy and integrity.
• Own and develop governance documentation, including Board and Committee Terms of Reference, delegated authorities, governance policies and related frameworks.
• Support the annual review of governance arrangements and recommend improvements to governance structures, processes and controls.
• Provide governance advice to directors and senior management on company law, governance obligations and best practice requirements.
• Board & Committee Support
• Lead and oversee the governance and administration of designated Board, Committee and Executive Committee meetings across Group subsidiaries.
• Maintain the annual governance calendars.
• Prepare high-quality Board and Committee agendas in consultation with Chairs and senior stakeholders.
• Review and challenge Board papers to ensure quality, completeness and effective decision-making.
• Attend meetings and produce accurate, concise and commercially focused minutes and action logs.
• Monitor the implementation of Board and Committee actions and resolutions.
• Support Board effectiveness reviews, director induction programmes and ongoing director development initiatives.
• Act as Secretary to designated Boards and Committees where appropriate..
• Special Projects
• Support major corporate projects including restructurings, mergers, integrations and legal entity rationalisation initiatives.
• Coordinate governance workstreams associated with strategic transactions and organisational change programmes.
• Support leadership on governance aspects of regulatory changes and emerging governance developments.
• Participate in governance technology initiatives and continuous improvement programmes.
• Corporate Reporting & Regulatory Filings
• Oversee the timely completion of statutory and regulatory filings across relevant jurisdictions.
• Coordinate governance contributions to regulatory submissions, annual governance reviews and other corporate reporting requirements.
• Ensure all corporate records, minutes and statutory documentation are maintained to the highest standard.
• Support the preparation of governance-related sections of annual reports and other corporate disclosures, where required.
• Key Competencies & Skills: Experience
• CGI qualified (or equivalent professional qualification) with significant company secretarial experience gained within financial services, professional services, private company or listed company environments.
• Strong knowledge of corporate governance principles and company secretarial best practice.
• Exposure to governance arrangements across multiple jurisdictions would be advantageous.
• Significant experience supporting Boards, Committees and senior executive forums.
• Experience drafting high-quality minutes and advising senior stakeholders on governance matters.
• Experience supporting corporate transactions, governance projects or organisational change initiatives would be advantageous.

Demonstrable ability to operate confidently with directors, executives and other senior stakeholders.

Previous experience supervising, mentoring or developing junior colleagues, with a demonstrated ability to build capability and foster high performance within a team.

• Personal Attributes
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the confidence to influence and challenge constructively.
• Able to prioritise effectively and remain resilient under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• High levels of discretion, integrity and professionalism.
• Solutions-focused with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Strong technology skills, including experience with governance, entity management systems and technology transformation.
• Key
• Business

Partners

• Board of Directors
• Senior Management Team
• Operating Company Managing Director