Legal - Office of the Secretary - Executive Director

You will join the Office of the Secretary (“OTS”) which sits within the Firm’s Legal function, and partners with senior management, control groups, lines of business and corporate units to promote effective governance of the Firm. OTS operates primarily through teams located in New York City, London and Hong Kong. In EMEA, OTS has a presence in London, Dublin, Luxembourg and Frankfurt.

In this role you will oversee and deliver corporate governance and company secretarial services to the Firm’s subsidiaries that operate within EMEA. You will work closely with EMEA and global leadership in delivering the strategic and operational objectives of OTS, and be responsible for managing a small team of company secretaries and governance professionals.

If you are a commercially astute individual with extensive experience of operating within a high-performing corporate secretariat, with the ability of rapidly building credibility and influence with key stakeholders, then this role is for you.

Job Description

• Provide proactive advice to EMEA boards and senior management on corporate governance matters that relate to legal entities that operate within the business;
• Oversee and deliver day-to-day corporate governance and company secretarial services in respect of EMEA legal entities, including board/board committee governance and legal entity management;
• Lead and deliver against ad hoc projects and/or corporate transactions including legal entity rationalisation and reorganisations that may arise, working with multiple stakeholders;
• Monitor changes in corporate legislation and the financial services regulatory environment and take or recommend action as appropriate;
• Oversee and coordinate information flows to EMEA legal entity boards and board committees, by proactively driving the agenda-setting process with the relevant board or committee Chair and partnering with relevant stakeholders on the preparation of board and committee meeting/briefing materials;
• Act as an effective channel of communication for EMEA legal entity board members, with a particular focus on non-executive directors;
• Oversee and coordinate board member onboarding, induction and ongoing training, in conjunction with relevant stakeholders; and
• Provide mentoring, technical coaching and training to direct reports and support their professional development.

Required qualifications, capabilities, and skills

• Strong degree-level academic background;
• Qualified Company Secretary, Corporate Governance Professional or Corporate Solicitor
• Track record of leadership on corporate governance and company secretarial matters within a high-profile environment, including extensive interaction with non-executive directors;
• Track record of delivering change and driving corporate governance best practice within a regulated environment;
• Detailed understanding of corporate governance matters impacted by changing law and regulations in the financial services industry;
• Strong team management skills, with experience in coaching and developing individuals

Preferred qualifications, capabilities, and skills

• Excellent report drafting and minute taking skills;
• Impeccable integrity;
• Emotional intelligence and gravitas, to develop and maintain effective working relationships with board members and senior management;
• Adaptable approach;
• Self-motivated and goal-oriented;
• Ability to work independently, in a team and manage and develop a team;
• Strong written and verbal skills, and an effective communicator with maturity to deal effectively at all levels of the organisation; and
• Able to prioritise, handle time pressure and manage multiple projects at the same time, with flexibility to adapt to and manage shifting expectations appropriately.