Assistant Company Secretary

Reach plc have an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Company Secretary.

You will deliver a professional and efficient company secretarial service reporting to the Group Company Secretary. This is a broad, stretching role in a small team, covering all aspects of Board support (meetings, minutes and governance), corporate and subsidiary governance, leading the preparation of key Board and Committee sections of the Annual Report as well as assisting with project managing the Annual Report as a whole, and organisation of the AGM.

So, who are we?

We are Reach plc, you might not have heard of us but we have probably met without you even realising it. We are home to the UK and Ireland’s most iconic digital platforms, magazines and newspapers. From the Mirror, Daily Express and OK!, to our regional titles such as the Liverpool Echo, BirminghamLive and the Manchester Evening News (plus lots more), our brands and the stories we cover are as varied as our people. We help all kinds of people share experiences through our stories because we believe this is what makes us human.

Oh, and we should probably also mention that with a monthly readership of 47 million people, Reach is the largest commercial publisher in the UK. At Reach, not only will you feel better understood, you will also feel you understand other people better too.

You will be proactive in developing and implementing best practice, to provide expert advice on the Group’s corporate governance, and pragmatic, commercial and strategic input into company secretarial matters. You will have strong commercial awareness and be able to think creatively to offer ideas and solutions to support the evolving needs of the wider business.

Other duties and responsibilities include:

Corporate

• Annual Report process, including ownership of the governance section and supporting with project management of the report as a whole, providing strategic guidance and support to key stakeholders
• Management of the AGM, including preparation of the Notice of Meeting and ancillary documentation
•  Administration of the corporate calendar, including annual and interim results, the AGM and dividend timetable
• Management of the Company’s Modern Slavery Working Group, including minute taking and action management and drafting the Modern Slavery Statement

Governance, Board and management support

• Oversight of the Board and senior management meeting timetable, including all meetings, offsites and annual requirements
• Attendance and drafting minutes for senior management meetings (Disclosure Committee, Pride of Britain Fund charity) and deputising at board and committee meetings for the Group Company Secretary, acting as secretary to committees when required
• Compilation and circulation of Board and Board Committee packs, including preparation of board papers on governance matters

Transactional and project support

• Manage, advise and support on the company secretarial aspects of any major corporate actions and transactions and any ad-hoc projects as necessary with the ability to deliver projects in a collaborative and collegiate way
• Manage and support on the corporate simplification programme
• Oversight of the maintenance of company registers and statutory records for c250 subsidiaries through Diligent Entities
• Supporting Group Finance on subsidiary report and accounts preparation and approvals

Share plans and share registration

• Manage the Group’s relationship with its registrars
• Responsible for the management of share registration matters and processes, including the dividend process, share forfeiture and small share dealing programmes and the operation of the UK and global sponsored nominee
• Development and implementation of the Group’s all-employee and discretionary share schemes. Ensure alignment of timetables and objectives and adherence to regulations and best practice

Essential experience

• ACG
• Post-qualification experience in a FTSE 350 environment
• Confident in engaging with senior management and Board members
• Able to work effectively as part of a small team
• Excellent written and verbal communications and attention to detail with the ability to deliver complex messages in a simple and creative way
• Understanding of UK Listing Rules, Market Abuse Regulation, Companies Act 2006 and Corporate Governance Code
• Understanding of stock exchange listing compliance requirements and continuing obligations
• Preparation of Annual Report and Accounts
• Share schemes administration including drafting documentation for and overseeing the execution of grants, vestings and exercises as well as share scheme tax returns and associated RNS announcements
• Familiarity with Diligent Entities or equivalent
• Ability to project manage and implement and devise project plans to ensure initiatives are delivered
• Ability to work cross-functionally, collaborating at all levels

We are offering a competitive salary and benefits including;

• Help saving for your retirement - join our pension scheme and we’ll match contributions up to 6%
• 25 days’ holiday per year when you join - after three, five and ten years’ service with Reach, you’ll accrue one additional day of annual leave. We also have a Holiday Purchase Scheme
• Giving back day - an additional day’s leave each year to support a cause close to your heart
• Enhanced family leave - including maternity, paternity and adoption - and you’ll be eligible after just six months’ employment
• Private Healthcare Cash Plan - free health cash plan so you can claim back cash for a range of medical expenses
• As one of the UK’s top 50 Inclusive Employers everyone’s invited to join our events, programmes and networks to celebrate diversity and build an environment where all our people can thrive
• Wellbeing support - including a 24/7 employee assistance programme (EAP) for you and your nearest and dearest
• Awesome career opportunities - you’ll have support from your line manager and a range of learning & development programmes
• We are also a member of the 30% Club, a global campaign aimed at increasing gender diversity at board and senior management levels

Reach plc believes diversity brings benefits for our customers, our business and our people. This is why we are committed to being an inclusive employer and encourage applications from all suitable applicants irrespective of background, circumstances, age, disability, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief and sexual orientation.