The role of the Company Secretary remains vital to the smooth running of any company as they fulfil key legal, regulatory, risk and compliance obligations.
Here at Phoenix, we continue to see an increasing demand amongst our clients for Company Secretarial professionals across multiple sectors. Unsurprisingly, a career as Company Secretary is a profession which many are actively pursuing given the strong employment and career progression opportunities in Ireland and further afield, coupled with attractive financial packages.
The Corporate Governance Institute (“CGI”) is running a new 3.5 hour course “The Effective Company Secretary” course which is suitable for:
Experienced Company Secretarial professionals seeking to home their skills
Directors who are looking to keep up to date with the role of the Company Secretary
An emerging/aspiring director or professional seeking to pursue a career in this area.
I was delighted to have the opportunity to find out more about CGI’s newest offering from experienced Company Secretary and Chairman, Gerry Ryan, who facilitates this course.
1. What topics will I cover in this course?
Throughout this course you will deepen your understanding of
Roles and responsibilities of the Company Secretary such as admin, how to run board
meetings, record keeping, the execution of documents and the management of advisory
duties.
Relationship Management - Learn how to build strong relationships with the board and
key stakeholders , becoming a trusted advisor and acting as a liaison between the
executive and the board.
Leadership - Learn how to effectively model good leadership behaviour in relation to
good corporate governance, such as organisational and communication skills, fostering good working relationships with the board and how important personal values are in order to be effective
Technology - Develop a solid understanding of the company secretary's role when it comes to adopting and deploying new technologies in the boardroom. Learn how to analyse the benefits and disadvantages of deploying technology so that risks and opportunities are properly assessed.
2. What is the duration of this course?
The course runs for a total of 3.5 hours and is completely online
3. Will I lose access to the course if I do not complete it within a certain time frame?
You will have six months to complete your course and the assignment.
4. Who will be teaching this course and what is their background?
Gerry Egan will be heading up this course. Gerry is an experienced chairman, company director and company secretary with over 30 years of experience in a commercial state company where he held several senior executive roles and led significant transformation programmes. He currently serves on the boards of Carmichael and Dóchas.
5 .Who is this course best suited to?
Company secretaries wanting to sharpen their skills and become more effective in their role
Directors who are looking to keep up to date with the role of the Company Secretary
An emerging/aspiring director who works in key governance reporting areas or a
professional who wants to build a path towards being a company secretary
6. Is there an assessment at the end of this course?
Yes, there will be an online assessment upon completion of the course and you will then be provided with certification.
7. What will I gain from enrolling in this course?
This course is designed and delivered by highly experienced company secretary practitioners, who have gained extensive experience in this field. Throughout, you will learn using real life case studies, videos and supplementary reading materials while learning completely at your own pace. No previous experience is required to undertake this course as you will cover key concepts and in depth analysis.
8. Is there much opportunity for progression as a Co Sec?
As good governance grows in importance the role of Company Secretary is becoming ever more vital as a trusted adviser to the board.
9.What piece of advice would you give to someone considering a Co Sec career?
Maintain your personal integrity and strive to do the right thing, always.
10. Do I have to be a lawyer?
No, but it is essential to have an understanding of the basics of company law.
11. Is the Co. Sec a member of the Board?
They may be a Director of the company or not.
12. What skills do I need?
Good organisation skills, ability to develop strong professional relationships, effective writing.
Company Secretary Webinar:
Gerry Ryan will be hosting a Webinar on the 6th of July at 13:00 - information can be found here
https://www.thecorporategovernanceinstitute.com/webinar/what-makes-a-great-company-secretary/
Certification landing page:
https://www.thecorporategovernanceinstitute.com/the-effective-company-secretary/
Please don’t hesitate to contact me or a member of the Phoenix team for any career related queries or to hear about the exciting roles we are currently recruiting for.
Please click here for our salary guide