Company Secretary

[youngguy]

I need to change my company secretary from my accountant and appoint a family member. I want to be clear on exactly what they need to do so I can set their expectations and give them an idea of how long it takes.

As this has been a role that my account has fulfilled since I set up the Ltd (2 months ago) I have no idea what a secretary does!

I know that legally the CS is responsible for maintianing statutary registers and recording company meetings but in reality what do they have to do?

Is it just a question of them signing a minute note at the end of the year for Divi's, and countersigning a few documents?

[sathyaram_s]

I’m currently in the process of doing this … This is the mail from my accountant about the procedure :

Your friend will need to complete the attached 288a to be appointed as
company secretary, once we receive the completed 288a back from you we will
complete a 288b form to resign our position and send both off to Companies
House to action the change.

Well, about the duties of cosec, as part of the monthly fees, my accountant provides advice on the statutory requirements for running the company.. I double-checked with them and they will continue to provide advice … When they were the company secretary, they signed any documents that a cosec is supposed to sign (don’t remember what they were ;-) … IIRC, there were very few docs that mandated cosec to sign) , but from now, it will be my friend and not the accountant who signs these companies house documents …

Check with your how the services will change if you change the cosec …

I need to change my company secretary from my accountant and appoint a family member. I want to be clear on exactly what they need to do so I can set their expectations and give them an idea of how long it takes.

As this has been a role that my account has fulfilled since I set up the Ltd (2 months ago) I have no idea what a secretary does!

I know that legally the CS is responsible for maintianing statutary registers and recording company meetings but in reality what do they have to do?

Is it just a question of them signing a minute note at the end of the year for Divi's, and countersigning a few documents?

[Nixon Williams]

I need to change my company secretary from my accountant and appoint a family member. I want to be clear on exactly what they need to do so I can set their expectations and give them an idea of how long it takes.

As this has been a role that my account has fulfilled since I set up the Ltd (2 months ago) I have no idea what a secretary does!

I know that legally the CS is responsible for maintianing statutary registers and recording company meetings but in reality what do they have to do?

Is it just a question of them signing a minute note at the end of the year for Divi's, and countersigning a few documents?

Very easy to change a form 288a appoints a new secretary and a form 288b removes an existing one.

The role of Company Secretary is very limited with small companies and this has been reflected in the latest Companies Act, the need to have a Company Secretary for most small companies will be removed from 06/04/08.

Alan

[TheFaQQer]

My company secretary signs all the cheques, company documents, contracts etc.

[xoggoth]

Not a lot basically. On Companies House website you will find a list of statutory duties. Signing off divies is not one of them but you should issue a tax certificate.

[VectraMan]

My company secretary signs all the cheques, company documents, contracts etc.

Surely a director should sign contracts.

On that note, am I right in thinking the co. sec. can be a director but isn't necessarily a director?

[JKnz]

Surely a director should sign contracts.

On that note, am I right in thinking the co. sec. can be a director but isn't necessarily a director?

Correct. Until April 2008 the sole director can't also be the secretary. If you have 2 directors, 1 can be secretary or have one director and someone else like friend or family member as secretary.