Group Company Secretary

Group Company Secretary

Location: London (Hybrid)

Full Time – 35 hours

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Who are Just?

We’re a FTSE 250 Financial Services company who specialise in retirement solutions and right now, our world is moving pretty quickly. With the defined benefit buy in / buy out space growing each year, Just continues to annually grow its business by over £4bn of assets.

We are a purpose driven company with compelling and credible goals. Quite simply, we help people achieve a better later life. We achieve this by providing competitive and innovative products, services, financial advice and guidance to help our customers achieve security, certainty and provide them with peace of mind in retirement.

That’s who we are. We’re a company on a mission: to become a beacon for the entire retirement industry. Because we believe everyone deserves a fair, secure, and fulfilling retirement.

Purpose

To provide Company Secretarial support and advice to the Just Group plc Main Board, Board Committees, Regulated Entity Boards and its related Committees by delivery of a high quality and effective company secretarial and corporate governance service.

Job Role Accountabilities fall across:

• Board/Committees
• General Co Sec
• Leadership and Team Management
• Governance Framework
• Maintain competence

Examples of Key Activities

• Providing on-going Company Secretarial support to Main Board and Board Committees, planning, calendar and agenda setting, meeting logistics and arrangements, Board paper preparation and co-ordination, circulation of papers via Diligent, meeting attendance, minutes and follow up actions.
• Monitoring compliance with corporate governance, legal and regulatory requirements to provide governance support and guidance to Board and Committees.
• Co-ordinating the annual performance evaluation of the Board, Committees and Directors and supporting the delivery of the action plan.
• The operation of the Group’s share incentive plans and ensuring that there they operate smoothly. Including the best way to satisfy vesting awards.
• Manage the relationship with the Company Registrar, control of issued share capital, dilution limits and block listing applications.
• Ensuring best practice corporate governance is maintained in accordance with industry guidance within the UK Corporate Governance Code, Listing Rules, PRA and FCA as appropriate.
• Horizon scanning for all new regulations and guidance in relation to governance regulation and advising the Board and Executive as appropriate, including preparing and implementing actions plans to ensure compliance where necessary.
• Managing the efficient administration of each of Just Group’s corporate structure and overseeing compliance by each entity with applicable statutory, regulatory and governance requirements, to include the timely filing of returns to Companies House.
• Managing the annual board and committee rolling agendas and the annual review process for the Matters Reserved for the Board, Terms of Reference for the Committees and key governance documents.
• Responsible for the Company’s technical RNS announcements.
• Developing the capabilities of the Company Secretariat team to ensure it remains fit for purpose over time. Utilise available technologies to assist in this development.

Qualifications

Essential for the role

• Educated to degree level, or equivalent
• Professional qualification at appointment (e.g. ICSA or Lawyer)

Desirable

• ICSA Chartered Secretary (ICSA), or progress towards qualification.
• CII regulatory module CF1, or equivalent
• Master of Business Administration

Skills and Knowledge

• Leadership and influencing skills.
• Excellent problem analysis and resolution skills. Ability to work to tight deadlines and manage projects/actions.
• Excellent verbal, written communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to present complex financial concepts in a clear and concise manner.
• Knowledge of relevant legal and regulatory requirements, Companies Act 2006, Listing Rules, Market Abuse Regime, UK corporate governance principles and practices.
• Understanding of the products and services provided by the Group. Understanding of business processes.
• Understanding of people resource requirements.
• Strong IT skills, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Diligent Board Books.

Experience

• Strong company secretariat listed PLC experience preferably gained in financial services sector.

Company Benefits

• A competitive Salary, Pension Scheme and Life Assurance
• Along with 25 Days Annual Leave plus an Additional Day on us for your Birthday
• Private Medical Cover and Income Protection, just in case
• A generous and highly achievable bonus scheme – paid annually based on individual and company performance against targets
• Opportunity to progress within your career both in-role and within the company
• FREE access to the Headspace App, a 24/7 Employee Assistance Helpline and Trained Physical & Mental Health First Aiders (On-Site)
• A variety of Employee Funded Benefits available to you via our Online Benefits Portal
• Plus, several additional purchase options available for you and your loved ones

Why Just?

We are committed to building a more sustainable business and have publicly committed to reduce our scope 3 emissions to Net Zero by 2050 and our scope 1 and 2 emissions to Net Zero by 2025. We’ve made good progress so far and encourage our people to make small and meaningful changes in their everyday lives, so that we can protect our planet for future generations.

Diversity, Equity and inclusion (DE&I) is a key priority for Just as part of our overall strategy and ensuring all of our people feel proud to work at Just. We have joined a number of initiatives including the Race at Work Charter, designed to improve outcomes for employees from underrepresented backgrounds. We also run a Reciprocal Mentoring scheme for employees from a BAME background, those with a disability and those who identify as LGBTQ+. There are multiple employee network groups, which champion issues including race, gender, social mobility and neurodiversity.

What’s clear about working at Just is that we care. We care about our customers, our purpose, our environment, inclusivity, wellbeing and most importantly - each other.

At Just we encourage a flexible and agile working environment for the majority of our opportunities. Get in touch with us to discuss in more detail.