Company Secretary

Job description:

The Corporate Secretary will be responsible for end-to-end management of all corporate secretarial compliances for the company's operations in India as well as coordinating with external consultants for corporate secretarial compliances in other international jurisdictions such as Ireland, Netherlands, USA and Australia. This role will act as the central point of contact for all corporate secretarial matters, ensuring consistent governance and timely compliance globally.

Key Responsibilities:

India Specific Compliances (End-to-End Management):

Statutory Filings & Records:

• Ensure timely and accurate filing of all statutory forms, returns, and documents with the Registrar of Companies (ROC), Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), and other regulatory authorities in India.
• Maintain and update all statutory registers, minute books, and other corporate records in accordance with Indian company law.

Board & Committee Meetings:

• Prepare and circulate notices, agendas, and board packs for Board meetings, Committee meetings (e.g., Audit Committee, Nomination and Remuneration Committee, CSR Committee), and Annual General Meetings (AGMs).
• Track and ensure the implementation of resolutions passed at Board and Committee meetings.

Corporate Governance:

• Advise on best practices in corporate governance, legal requirements, and secretarial compliance issues under Indian laws.
• Ensure compliance with Secretarial Standards issued by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).

Regulatory Adherence:

• Monitor changes in the Companies Act, 2013, SEBI regulations, Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), and other relevant Indian laws (e.g., labor laws, environmental laws, competition laws) and advise the management on their implications.
• Ensure compliance with CSR regulations, advise on CSR initiatives, and monitor their implementation.
• Liaise with regulatory authorities such as ROC, SEBI, RBI, and other government departments as required.

International jurisdictions

• Act as the primary point of contact for external legal and secretarial consultants across various international jurisdictions.
• Oversee and coordinate the timely completion of corporate secretarial compliances in other countries, ensuring adherence to local laws and regulations.
• Review and validate reports and filings prepared by external consultants.

Global Governance Consistency

• Work towards harmonizing corporate governance practices across all international entities where feasible.
• Maintain a global overview of the company's legal entities, list of applicable compliances, timelines and their compliance status.
• Maintain a centralized repository for global corporate secretarial records and documents.
• Ensure consistent and accurate data flow related to global entities for internal reporting and decision-making.

Qualifications:

• Member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) (ACS/FCS).

Experience:

• Minimum 5-8 years of post-qualification experience in a corporate secretarial role, with significant experience in managing compliances for global companies (preferably, US headquartered companies).

Must haves:

• In-depth knowledge of Indian Company Law, SEBI regulations, FEMA, and other relevant corporate laws.
• Strong communication skills and fluency in English.
• Good interpersonal skills with ability to work collaboratively across teams.
• Attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining high compliance standards.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.