Company secretary

Company secretaries make sure that directors follow company law and finance rules.

In this guide

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

In this role you could:

  • prepare yearly company reports
  • control share option schemes and pay profits
  • provide legal advice to directors and board members
  • deal with other professionals like lawyers and auditors
  • send company information to Companies House or the Stock Exchange
  • keep up to date with policy, legal and statutory requirements for the business

Working environment

You could work in an office.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could become a company's chief executive or managing director.

You could also work freelance as a consultant or a part-time company secretary for several smaller businesses.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • administration skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • excellent written communication skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

To be the secretary of a public limited company (PLC), you'll need to meet the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. You can get more information about this from the The Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland.

Most relevant

  • Law - Company secretaries ensure that directors and the organisation comply with company law, including the Companies Act and other statutory requirements. They provide legal advice to board members and deal with regulatory bodies like Companies House, so a strong understanding of legal principles is essential.
  • Business - Company secretaries work at the heart of how organisations are run, dealing with corporate governance, board meetings, and strategic decision-making. They need to understand how businesses are structured, how shares and dividends work, and how companies report their performance.
  • Accounting - Company secretaries prepare annual company reports and manage share option schemes and profit distributions. They need to understand financial statements, auditing processes, and how company finances are reported to regulators and shareholders.
  • English Language - Company secretaries draft formal reports, board minutes, legal documents, and communications to regulators and shareholders. Precise, clear writing is critical because these documents have legal significance and must be accurate and unambiguous.

Also relevant

  • Economics - Company secretaries need to understand the broader economic and regulatory environment in which businesses operate. Knowledge of how markets, financial systems, and government policy affect companies helps them advise directors and keep the business compliant.
  • Mathematics - Company secretaries work with financial data when preparing company reports, managing share schemes, and calculating profit distributions. Being comfortable with numbers and able to interpret financial information accurately is an important part of the role.
  • Politics - Company secretaries need to stay up to date with changes in government policy and regulation that affect how businesses operate. Understanding how legislation is made and how political decisions shape the business environment helps them anticipate and respond to new requirements.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • training with a professional body

You'll need a foundation degree or degree in a relevant subject like:

  • business
  • law
  • accountancy
  • public administration

You'll also need relevant business experience in areas like:

  • pensions or insurance
  • personnel
  • accounts and credit control
  • purchasing
  • office management

You could get valuable work experience during your studies by doing a placement year or summer internship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

You could start by doing a higher national diploma in business management or law. Then you can apply to join a company as a trainee company secretary.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher national certificate or higher national diploma

More Information

You may be able to become a company secretary by doing a Governance Officer Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship.

You might also get into this type of work by completing a Solicitor Level 7 Non-Degree Apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

You can take professional qualifications offered by The Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland to become a company secretary.

You'll begin by doing the Chartered Secretaries Qualifying Scheme, which starts at foundation level. You can join at a more advanced level if you already have a relevant qualification, for example in law.

Professional and industry bodies

You can join The Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland to:

  • get professional recognition
  • find training opportunities
  • make industry contacts

Further information

You can find out more about how to become a company secretary from The Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland.

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