Advert close date: 23rd May 2024

Purpose of role: As a leadership position, the Company Secretary leads on and ensures the best in class compliance, coordination and administration of the Board and Committees (both within and between meetings). As an integrated part of the team, this role is key in ensuring that The Crown Estate’s governance and best practice are followed and evolve alongside the business. The Company Secretary manages a small team and reports into the Chief Executive with direct accountability, and access, to the Chair of the Board on defined areas of delivery.

Main Accountabilities:

• Accountable to the Chair for discharging the role of Company Secretary at Board meetings, including the delivery of best in class secretariat support to the Board. Accountable for maintaining and evolving The Crown Estate’s corporate level governance and delivering a best in class secretariat service to the Board and its Committees
• Responsible for leading and ensuring high quality administration and operation of the key Executive committee, exercising delegated authority of the Board
• Ensuring papers are delivered for Board and other meetings covered by the role in a timely manner and to a standard which meets the requirements of the enterprise and those attending the meeting.
• Responsible for advising and supporting the business on general governance matters in line with best practice governance standards.
• Ensure compliance, from a governance perspective, with the Framework Document between The Crown Estate and HM Treasury, statutory and regulatory requirements and corporate best practice.
• Liaison with the Chairman and Chief Executive in preparation for meetings, including preparation of agendas and organisation of offsite meetings and strategy away days.
• Review and propose updates as required to governance processes and, in particular, to the Board and Committee Terms of Reference on at least an annual basis.
• Accountable for ensuring that The Crown Estate’s legal and regulatory obligations are properly reflected in The Crown Estate’s ethical position, in service of its purpose, working closely with the Executive Director for Purpose, Sustainability and Stakeholder.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of the business as a member of the senior leadership team and support the design and delivery of an efficient and effective, compliant operational capability.
• Support the delivery of the Annual Report, being accountable for the content of the governance sections.
• Liaise with the Legal and Compliance teams on matters of governance and process.
• Manage, supervise and provide training as required to the Secretariat team.
• Overall responsibility for managing the delivery of the annual Board events calendar.
• Overall responsibility for arranging training and development for Board Commissioners and Counsellors.
• Overall responsibility for ensuring high quality administrative support to Board Commissioners and Counsellors
• Lead in the preparation and creation of the Governance section of the Annual Report and Accounts and act as a member of the core Annual Report and Accounts team.
• Prepare and present high quality Board/Committee/Group meeting reports.
• Responsible for the timely production of high quality Board and Committee packs.
• Lead on and maintain an up to date Governance Framework
• Work with the Head of Legal and Company Secretary to onboard and induct new Board Commissioners and Counsellors.
• Responsible for the Board budget.
• Manage the sharing of sensitive and non-sensitive documents as requested by internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage company secretarial matters ancillary to The Crown Estate’s joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries.

Knowledge, experience and skills:

• Demonstrable experience of performing as a group or major corporate division’s most senior company secretary. Alternatively, should have:
• a strong knowledge of corporate governance.
• Substantial experience of preparing Board and Committee packs, including using Diligent.
• Team management experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with experience of managing relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders and an ability to positively influence senior and highly experienced individuals.
• A high level of organisational rigour and content quality assurance including attention to detail and a desire to achieve the highest personal and corporate standards.
• Ability to translate governance requirements into practical business focused solutions.
• Demonstrate a capability to stimulate new and innovative thinking and act as an advocate for change, supporting the team and wider organisation in consolidating towards a compliant, effective and efficient operating model. Exposure to the FRC’s UK Corporate Governance Code and, ideally, the work of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities whilst working to tight deadlines.
• Self-starter with clear focus on delivery to agreed timescales.
• Able to effectively delegate and organise others.
• Work collegiately with ability to recognise and execute independence where the role requires.
• Demonstrate an ability to adapt in to new areas compliance and governance as the businesses strategies evolve to manage risk. Willing to take personal responsibility to pursue and complete tasks.
• Willingness to challenge views and requirements of senior personnel
• Acts with customers in mind and follows through on deliverables.

Our recruitment process
We are committed to inclusion and diversity, proudly supporting the Disability Confident employer scheme. We offer flexible application methods and adaptations throughout our recruitment process to ensure candidates have the best possible opportunity to showcase their skills.

If you require any adjustments or have questions about the application process, please contact us at careers@thecrownestate.co.uk.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to lead our ethics and compliance efforts. Apply now to become the driving force behind our continued success in upholding the highest standards of integrity and compliance.

Advert Closes: 23rd May 2024