Assistant Company Secretary at Vodafone

The Assistant Company Secretary vacancy is based within the Group Finance Business Unit.

The Company Secretary Assistant is a key member of the Corporate Secretariat team, who provides robust, timely and professional support in relation to governance, compliance, stock exchange and listing issues and the management of share schemes. They are recognised as a technical expert with strong corporate secretariat expertise and understanding of how corporate secretariat has an impact across Vodafone.

Key responsibilities for this role will include:

• Maintenance of statutory records and filing of returns to CIPC and regulator for the Insurance Companies (where required);
• Arrange for and co-ordinate non routine company secretarial functions such as formation of companies, take on of companies, deregister and liquidate companies;
• Minute taking and board meeting management;
• Day to day administration duties;
• Plan and co-ordinate the corporate meeting calendar;
• Collation of meeting papers;
• Lead the process with drafting of resolutions and liaison with board members to explain purpose of resolution;
• Assist group secretary with JSE compliance – returns to JSE, sens announcements, paid announcements and advise management team in respect of JSE compliance (listings requirements);
• Assist group secretary with the collation of the integrated report, interim report and other circulars or information to shareholders;
• Manage the corporate governance process and review compliance gaps and provide an analysis thereto to assist the Vodacom team;
• Day-to-day liaison with shareholders and transfer secretaries in regard to administrative issues concerning the share registers;
• Provide support to Group and Vodacom SA finance and investor relations in respect of information on the share register, company law and JSE requirements;
• Provide support and advice to directors and management on their duties and responsibilities;
• Manage a director induction programme for subsidiary companies;
• Ad hoc duties and project work from time to time;
• Manage trust administration and provide guidance with regards to set up of trusts and governance for trustees;
• Assist group secretary with share schemes administration;
• Raise the profile of the company secretary in Vodacom / Vodafone;
• Provide support to the other assistants and members of the secretarial & ethics team;

• Maintain the group organogram and keep abreast of developments with the structure;
• Prepare submissions to regulators and assessment bodies;
• Manage shareholder agreements and provide guidance on compliance and interpretation. Develop shareholder compacts from time to time, in particular with strategic partners and BEE shareholders;
• Shareholder relationship management with the VSA minority shareholders;
• Assist the chairman in meetings and provide guidance as to the law of meetings;
• Assist with governance and meeting management for the Vodacom Foundation and ESOP;
• Enforce and provide guidance around the Vodacom Delegation of Authority (“DoA”) this includes guidance on limits of authority to executives and staff – both
• South Africa and in the International markets;
• Assist with the preparation of the Vodacom Group annual social & ethics report for the integrated report;
• Provide support and co-operation to the Ethics team around best practice in corporate governance;
• Influence executives and staff around doing the right thing to inculcate ethical behaviours; and
• Drafting of policies where required.

The ideal candidate for this role will have:

• CIS, BCom, (3 year degree/diploma)
• Proven professional with some 5 – 10 years’ experience at a senior level
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Ability to work under pressure
• Prepared to work long hours when required
• Excellent English communication skills- both oral and written
• Ability to liaise with senior management and directors
• Supervisory and organisation skills
• Understanding of company law and King IV
• Prepared to travel (African countries) if required
• Need to be assertive
• Business acumen (need to understand the numbers and strategic direction of business)
• Must be able to type and work with software packages and Apps – be digital.