Company Secretarial Assistant

A leading UK law firm with a network of offices from the South Coast to Scotland, working together as one national team. An innovative practice and the first top 100 law firm to achieve “Gold Standard” Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm. The lack of barriers between departments, a real lack of hierarchy, zero tolerance for arrogance and pomposity makes Shoosmiths a fantastic place to work.

The Company Secretarial Team needs a very organised, friendly, pro-active and confident person to work in the busy Milton Keynes company secretarial team.  This recruitment is to replace a leaver.

This person would be responsible for carrying out company secretarial tasks, predominantly for private companies. The ideal candidate will be familiar with UK company law. They will be based in or near Milton Keynes. Experience of working in professional practice (such as a law or accountancy firm) might be useful.

Experience in and confidence when using Diligent software (was Blueprint) is essential – we need someone able to use Diligent confidently every day.

Incorporations:

Using Diligent, incorporating companies (limited by shares and by guarantee), property management companies and LLPs – more than 150 electronic incorporations a year.
Preparing both hard copy and electronic statutory books to be supplied to internal legal staff and external clients.

Company secretarial:

Providing excellent company secretarial services to a wide range of clients, from single companies to large groups of well-known companies.
Assisting with the maintenance of the statutory records and documents of our 330+ client companies, managing the relationships with shareholders and providing input into corporate restructurings.  This will include audits and updates of the records of group companies for clients.
Assisting with advising on registers of people with significant control (PSC registers).
Using Diligent daily.
Electronic filing using Diligent, and occasionally web filing documents at Companies House.
Drafting a wide range of board and shareholder resolutions including resignations, appointments, share allotments, name changes and company dissolutions.
Preparing dormant company accounts.
Dealing with administrative tasks relating to company secretarial matters.
Helping with daily post forwarding for our registered office service clients.

Property management companies:

Providing excellent company secretarial services to property management companies and property developer clients.
Dealing with handovers of residents’ management companies to residents.

Technical skills:

Confident using Diligent
Good use of grammar.
An eye for detail and able to spot errors.
Good IT skills.  Able to use Word and Excel.
Innovative and able to find the most efficient ways to carry out tasks.
Able to work in a busy team.

Personal skills:

Has common sense and a positive “can do” attitude.
Able to work independently with a good sense of responsibility and ability to “own” a task until it is completed.
Organised, efficient and precise.
Open minded about developing and adopting new ways of team working.
Self-confident and not shy of asking questions.
Demonstrates initiative and really thinks issues through. 
Good communicator who is professional and friendly. 
Enjoys working in a small team which is part of the wider corporate division.

Shoosmiths is a committed Equal Opportunities employer promoting equality of opportunity. This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.