PERM - STPD - Corporate Governance Group - Deputy Company Secretary - Director

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Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn't perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we'll always strive to be better, we're proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.

Section 1 - Details

Job Title / Corporate Title: Deputy Company Secretary and Co-Head of Company Secretariat/ Director
Department / Group: Strategic Planning Department - Corporate Governance Group
Responsible to / Line Manager: EMEA Group Company Secretary/Managing Director
Direct Reports: 2, comprising:
1 Vice President
1 Associate
Location: London
Date Prepared: November 2024
Certification regime: Out of scope

Section 2 - Purpose of Job

• To act as the Company Secretary for SMBC Nikko Capital Markets and SMBC Derivative Products and to oversee the delivery of effective company secretarial services to that group of companies.
• To lead and oversee the provision of company secretarial services to all entities and meetings other than SMBC Bank International.
• To assist the EMEA Group Company Secretary and other Deputy Company Secretary/Co-Head of Company Secretariat in managing and ensuring the efficient and effective operation of the Company Secretariat.
• Oversee and proactively seek to enhance the corporate governance arrangements of relevant entities in EMEA, ensuring they meet the required regulatory and legal standards and, as appropriate, best practice considerations. In connection with this, the role holder is required to monitor regulatory, statutory and industry developments, offer proposals for change and oversee the practical implementation of proposals made.

Section 3 - Background

• The role holder plays a leading role by providing advice and support on governance matters.
• Working with the governing bodies and senior management team, the role holder will help the EMEA Group Company Secretary and other Deputy Company Secretary/Co-Head of Company Secretariat in leading the Group to facilitate the governing bodies' formal decision-making processes; support the Directors and senior management team; and manage the relevant organisations' corporate record-keeping requirements. The role holder is required to influence and provide advice to senior stakeholders in these matters.
• The role holder is expected to support the Directors, particularly non-executives, in discharging their responsibilities.
• The regulatory expectations placed on the EMEA Group in respect of governance continues to increase and the role holder is expected to manage these expectations, together with those derived from other sources, such as changes to company law.

Section 4 - Facts / Scale

• The Company Secretariat comprises eight other positions, with a further four positions in the Senior Managers Regime Team. The role holder will have two direct reports.
• Frequent interaction with Board Directors and members of the senior management team.

Section 5 - Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Line management responsibility and broader responsibility to advise and promote the development of other members of the Group.
• Assisting and providing advice to colleagues in the Group on the development of their plans of work, ensuring that all deliverables are met in a timely and professional manner.
• Responsible for delivering high quality company secretarial services to all relevant entities. The role holder will work closely and in a collegiate manner with the other Deputy Company Secretary/Co-Head of Company Secretariat and all other members of the Group to deliver these services. This is a key attribute given that all members of the Group undertake work across multiple legal entities.
• Providing advice and training to Directors and senior employees on their Board roles and responsibilities.
• Working closely with the EMEA Group Company Secretary and other Deputy Company Secretary to put in place the annual and ongoing plan of Board and Committee engagement, including ensuring all required items are considered and approved.
• Assisting Board Chairs to discharge their roles.
• Assist the EMEA Group Company Secretary in preparing the non-financial disclosures for the Annual Report and Accounts of all relevant companies, including SMBC Bank International and SMBC Nikko Capital Markets.

Section 6 - Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Detailed knowledge of corporate governance requirements for regulated firms, including knowledge of wider corporate governance considerations (essential);
• Good knowledge of UK company law (essential);
• Strong written and verbal communication skills (essential);
• Knowledge of the regulatory rules relating to the Senior Managers Regime (essential);
• Qualified Company Secretary (essential);
• Experience of senior-level stakeholder engagement and management, specifically independent non-executive Directors, gained within a regulated firm (essential); and
• Line management experience (essential)

Section 7 - Challenges

• To be successful in this role, the role holder needs to be a skilled and experienced communicator, both verbally and in writing. The role holder will need to be able to command the respect of the most senior people in the organisation and, for this, will need to ensure that he/she has a detailed understanding of the areas of regulation, legislation and industry best practice for which they are responsible.

We recognise our role as a bank to support social change and welcome all applications, including those from groups often under-represented in financial services. We value the uniqueness of professional and personal backgrounds and perspectives as they play a vital role in continuing the sustainable growth of our organisation. We'll ensure reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process are offered due to a disability or long-term condition whenever requested.