“Who makes a good corporate secretary?” This is a question that all companies need to ask when searching for corporate secretarial services. It is not only about the scope of work but also about the personality of the company secretary. Since having a company secretary in Singapore is mandatory, companies have to ensure they are getting the best in the market. 

They Should be Diligent

A good company secretary ensures that they complete their tasks correctly. They should strive for perfection in everything they do because some mistakes could cause irreparable damage to the company, including its operations. This is especially important when filing papers to meet regulatory demands. The company director should always assume there are mistakes. This assumption will force them to go through all legal documents multiple times before submitting them. 

Honesty

A company’s secretary’s integrity should be non-negotiable for every company. This position requires one to be honest, even when it comes to delivering sensitive information. The company secretary holds a position where moral standards cannot be compromised. The board, shareholders, and regulatory bodies should be in a position to trust the company secretary’s word. 

The documents they file should also be treated as the true representation of the company’s status. If a company secretary is found to be compromised, it may bring to question all the documents they have filed, which will ruin the company’s reputation. It may also cost the company time since it will put all other activities on hold for an audit to be carried out. 

Right Qualification

In addition to the conditions set by ACRA for company secretaries, those providing corporate secretarial services should also have the right qualifications. For example, the company secretary should be knowledgeable about the Singapore Companies Act. They should also have any of the following qualifications. 

• At least three years experience in corporate secretarial Singapore. 
• Registered public accountant.
• Qualified member under the Legal Profession Act.  
• Registered member of the Singapore Association of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators. 
• Member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore. 

The company secretary doesn’t need to have all these qualifications. However, any of these qualifications will show the company secretary can be trusted with duties associated with their role. 

Good Communication Skills

Many people, including the board and management, within the corporation look up to the company secretary for guidance. They are expected to communicate clearly and in a language that everyone can understand. Their role is to understand policies and clarify why they are important. 

They should help the board and management understand why they need to perform certain tasks, such as filing tax returns and making adjustments to the corporation to satisfy the regulations. People providing corporate secretarial Singapore services should have experience communicating with people of all kinds, including experts in corporate governance. 

Strategic Planner

A good company secretary should have the foresight to consider the company’s long-term goals. The company secretary is expected to act in the interest of the company. They should plan for the future, especially if their actions will affect the organisation’s growth. For example, the company secretary should know that any delays in filing tax returns will attract fines or negatively affect the company’s reputation. 

These are some of the qualities of a good corporate secretary. While their core objective is to provide corporate secretarial services, their personality also matters. They should be self-driven and have the right temperament to serve in this position.