Company Secretary & Head of Governance

£75,000

London | Hybrid working - fully remote may also be an option with travel for key meetings essential

Are you an experienced governance professional who can build trust at Board level and turn complex requirements into effective ways of working?

We are recruiting a Company Secretary for an established charity with a strong social purpose. This is a senior role with a broad remit across governance, risk, compliance and organisational assurance, offering the opportunity to strengthen Board effectiveness and support organisational change.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will act as a trusted adviser to the Chair, Trustees, Chief Executive and Executive Leadership Team.

The role

You will lead the governance function, ensuring the charity has the structures, frameworks and processes needed for effective decision-making, accountability and long-term sustainability.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing strategic governance advice to the Board and senior leadership team.
• Leading Board and committee support alongside the Governance Coordinator.
• Developing governance, risk and assurance frameworks, including risk appetite and reporting arrangements.
• Leading annual assurance and internal audit planning, monitoring the implementation of recommendations.
• Improving Board effectiveness through governance reviews, skills assessments, trustee development and succession planning.
• Overseeing trustee recruitment, elections, induction and the delivery of the AGM.
• Maintaining oversight of regulatory compliance, statutory submissions, governing documents and organisational policies.
• Supporting organisational transformation and embedding continuous improvement in governance practices.

About you

You will bring substantial experience leading a governance function and advising Boards and senior executives. You will be comfortable balancing strategic leadership with practical delivery and exercising sound judgement on sensitive matters.

We are looking for:

• Demonstrable experience leading governance, risk and assurance frameworks.
• Experience working within a complex regulated environment and supporting governance change.
• Strong knowledge of charity and company law and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Excellent communication and report-writing skills, with the ability to present complex issues clearly at Board level.
• Confidence building relationships with trustees, senior leaders, colleagues and volunteers.
• A degree or equivalent qualification, alongside evidence of professional development in corporate governance.

Experience within a charity or membership organisation would be particularly valuable. CGI qualification, or progress towards it, is desirable.