The Children's Society is a leading children’s charity committed to making childhood better for all children in the UK. Our Christian values of love, justice and forgiveness drive our work. Our national network of projects deliver specialist services for disadvantaged children; our schools work, children’s centres and mentoring schemes help children in local communities play a full part in society, while our campaigning creates real change and makes childhood better for all children.

We’re looking to appoint a Company Secretary, reporting to our Director of Business Effectiveness and Audit, to ensure best practice governance standards are met and advise on regulatory requirements. You’ll also provide and ensure good quality commercial advice and good value legal services are available to the developing business of The Children's Society. The role will also include line management of the Legacy Administration Manager and the technical supervision of the Principal Solicitor, Lawyers for Young People.

You’ll be a qualified lawyer, ICSA qualification desirable, but not essential, and have proven post qualification experience in a leading commercial practice. You’ll have good judgement and influencing skills, with strong technical proficiency.

If you share our belief that every child deserves a good childhood, and want to help us to achieve our goals, please apply.

As well as a strong commitment to your development, we offer generous holidays, contributory stakeholder pension, childcare vouchers and flexible working.

The role is London based but home working is available by negotiation.  Hours for this post are 21 per week, working pattern also negotiable.

Job Description

Title:

Company Secretary

Location:

Edward Rudolf House, London

Reward Band:

XKN £46,736 - £53,231 + LW (£3,277) Pro Rata Per Annum 

CRB Level Required:

Standard

Reporting to:

Director Business Effectiveness and Audit

Job Purpose:

• To ensure best practice governance standards are met and provide advise on regulatory requirements from time to time.
• To in part provide and to ensure that good quality commercial advice and good value legal services are available to the developing businesses of The Children’s Society.

Key Activities:

1. To advise the executive Directors on commercial best practice for terms of business.
2. To act as the first point of call for sundry requests for legal advice.
3. To specify the organisational requirement for legal services and work with the Procurement Manager to commission appropriate provision.
4. To advise CEO and Chair on governance best practice including constitutional requirements and opportunities.
5. To ensure high quality induction provided to new Trustees and Committee members.
6. To advise the Internal Audit Department as required in their duty to ensure regulations and regulatory guidance are complied with.
7. To ensure prompt & complete filings with the regulatory authorities including Companies House and the Charity Commission.
8. To line manage the Legacy Administration Manager and provide technical supervision of the Principal Solicitor, Lawyers for Young People.
9. To review technical quality management for internal legal advice (e.g. legacies, children’s rights) from time to time as required.
10. To communicate with staff and volunteers through team meetings and tame briefs in order to inform, discuss and respond to key organisational messages and to develop internal and external communications plans.
11. To assist in special projects from time to time

Attainments:

In order to be considered for this post you will have to demonstrate that you already have:

Experience

• Proven post qualification experience in a leading commercial general practice.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Qualified lawyer.  ICSA qualification is desirable but not essential.

Work based knowledge

• A familiarity with the charity sector and an interest in law pertaining to legacies and to children & young people and working with them is desirable but not essential.

Skills

• Good judgement and influencing skills and ability to command respect of external advisers and colleagues
• Strong technical proficiency
• IT skills in word processing, spreadsheets and email. The Children's Society uses Microsoft Office Applications.

Core Competencies:

In order to be successful in this role you will be able to demonstrate that you have the ability to:

Leading Others

• Provide visionary and inspirational leadership
• Utilize the performance and talents of the organisation to secure real changes in the external world.

Building and Maintaining Relationships

• Broker and negotiate key relations with external and internal stake holders to secure positive outcomes and changes for the organisation. Credible with senior colleagues across The Children's Society, including Trustees.

Communicating with Others

• Convey highly complex and sensitive information on matters which have a major impact on the Society.

Managing Yourself

• Be confident in highly challenging situations and demonstrate courage of own convictions
• Show resiliency, resourcefulness and tenacity in the face of set backs
• Organised self starter with strong completer finisher behaviours

Agreeing and Meeting Targets

• Plan strategically taking into account the three year plan, key stakeholders, and the external environment
• Analyse and forecasts resources requirements to meet challenging goals Innovation
• Clearly establish the opportunity for change in area of responsibility

Managing Resources

• Leads the development of the Society’s Business Plan in area of responsibility
• Ensure robust controls are in place to ensure integrity in managing resources

Providing Services to Others

• Lead and promote a culture which recognises the importance of meeting the needs of others, internal and external, in key aspects of the Society’s operations
• Safeguarding the organisation approach, policy and practice to reflect external regulator requirements and changing needs within your area of responsibility

Special Job Circumstances:

This post has the following special circumstances:

• Antisocial hours may be occasionally required given the national nature of The Children’s Society’s work.
• Travel may sometimes be needed across the UK.
• The role is London based but home working is available by negotiation.
• A regular presence in HQ will be required to enable working relationships to be developed with colleagues

(Please note: if you have difficulty meeting these conditions because of a disability or family circumstances the appointing manager will discuss it with you in order to consider reasonable adjustments to the job or working conditions)

Relevant Personal Characteristics:

So that you personally can succeed in this role and The Society you will require:

• An understanding and acceptance of the principles and values of the organisation.
• At all times to carry out your responsibilities with due regard to the Children’s Society’s commitment to keeping children and young people safe.