Company Secretarial
Keeping on top of corporate governance and regulatory compliance has never been more difficult for businesses. Our company secretarial services can ease this pressure so you can focus fully on your business.
Get StartedWhat are company secretarial services?
There is a lot more to company secretarial work than the name might suggest. Company secretarial isn’t the day to day admin of running a company but is the maintenance of a company’s statutory record ensuring that the correct information about shares, officers, registered office, accounting reference date and much more are correctly shown on Companies House.
Your company is required to follow the Companies Act 2006, comply with legislation that governs your business, and meticulously maintain records including holding meetings, interactions with shareholders and stakeholders, and any contact with government authorities.
Company secretarial tasks although increasingly important, are also very time-consuming. Being compliant is likely a priority for all businesses, but it can put a strain on your resources which makes it easy for it to be forgotten until it becomes a problem. Our secretarial team can efficiently manage all your compliance milestones, freeing up your employees to focus on their main roles and the operations of the business.
Why are company secretarial services important?
The majority of businesses work hard to adhere to legal and regulatory frameworks. However, a changing regime of rules and regulations for businesses can put pressure on the in-house team trying to manage new developments across other areas.
Companies that can always be one step ahead with their statutory compliance obligations will benefit from improved performance and smoother control processes and procedures in their business. Secretarial support can be essential to minimising risks and reducing exposure to the expense of defaulting compliance, such as through fines, prosecution, or director disqualifications.
What are the benefits of outsourcing your company secretarial duties?
Using experienced and knowledgeable accountants like us to take care of your company secretarial duties can be highly beneficial to your business in a number of ways.
Effective management of your duties and responsibilities
A company secretary carries out a lot of admin including preparing essential documents, noting changes in the company, and keeping a record of shares and transfers. Outsourcing these tasks will help to make sure you are following good business practices and meeting your legal obligations.
Make the most of professionals in the field
You will have the benefit of our knowledge and experience. We have a deep understanding of the processes and can provide a tailored service to suit your business.
Save money on training costs
By outsourcing your secretarial work, you won’t need to spend time or money on training a new employee as we already have the knowledge, skills, and qualifications to complete the tasks.
Take advantage of the latest and best technology
Accountants like us utilise the latest technology which you will benefit from without having to the spend the time and money installing and maintaining these systems.
Eliminate risk to your business
One of the biggest benefits of outsourcing is removing any risk to your business. Following all legal requirements is vital to avoiding fines or even criminal proceedings. By letting us handle your company secretarial work you can feel confident that everything will be completed accurately and efficiently, so you don’t have to worry about something going wrong, mitigating the risk of financial penalties.
How we can help you
Jan McDermott Chartered Accountants specialise in all areas of accounting and tax support for businesses including company secretarial services. If you need help managing your corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and other business obligations our friendly team of chartered accountants are here to support you and relieve the secretarial pressure from you. Not only will this give you peace of mind but also frees up more of your time to focus on running your business.
Get in touch with our specialists today to take control of your company secretarial duties.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Company Secretary handles administrative, compliance, and corporate governance tasks. For Private Limited Companies in the UK, a Company Secretary is optional, but for Public Limited Companies (PLCs), it’s mandatory.
- Maintaining statutory registers (shareholders, directors, PSCs).
- Filing annual accounts and confirmation statements with Companies House.
- Preparing board meeting agendas and minutes.
- Managing share issues, transfers, and dividends.
- Ensuring compliance with the Companies Act and corporate governance standards.
Yes, for Private Limited Companies, a director can also serve as the company secretary. However, for PLCs, the secretary must have relevant qualifications or experience.
Late filing can result in penalties, possible prosecution, and even strike-off of the company from the register. Penalties for late accounts range from £150 to £1,500 depending on how late they are.
- Changes to directors, secretaries, or PSCs must be reported using the relevant forms
- Online filing via Companies House Web Filing is often the fastest way.
Whether a company has a Company Secretary or not, we can assist with all of the filings and changes that a company might need to make in its lifetime.
We will not act as your Company Secretary, but we will assist you in ensuring you stay compliant with your company secretarial responsibilities
If you want to discuss this any further, contact us today if you would like to know more about our services, or to book a free video or face-to-face consultation.
Alan Robson
They provide us with a fully outsourced finance function so that our own team can focus on our business. They implemented Xero software from day one of the company meaning that we have real-time visibility of our business at all times, The monthly management accounts meetings we have with Jan really add value to decision-making and strategic planning and we wouldn’t be without them.
Peter Broxton
Their professionalism, expertise and client care are outstanding and they have supported our growing business no end. They look after everything from our bookkeeping, VAT, annual accounts, as well as claiming Research & Development tax relief, preparing budgets and forecasts and assisting with grant claims. The whole team are always responsive, friendly and reliable and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for a trustworthy and efficient firm to look after their business finance requirements.
Scott Hackett
I moved my accounts over to Jan at the beginning of the year and have been extremely impressed with her attention to detail and precision. She’s made it easy for me to understand and manage all the key aspects of my accountancy, as well as offering useful suggestions of ways to improve and make things work more efficiently for me and my business. I’d highly recommend Jan and her team to anyone looking for professional, friendly, and reliable accountants that truly get to know you and offer a tailored service.”
Alistair Evans
Jan McDermott & Co have been our accountants for over 15 years and have not only ensured our accounting records are accurate and legal, but also provided us with first class advice to help us grow. They recommended our move to Xero accounting software which has revolutionised our business, allowing us to create predictable income through the use of Go Cardless Direct Debits, and streamlining our day to day accounting operations. Jan and her team are friendly, easy to work with and take time to understand a particular problem or situation. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to any business that wants an accountancy firm they can grow with and depend on.