Company Secretary

As a Company Secretary you are responsible for ensuring that a company complies with its legal and regulatory obligations under Irish company law, including filing returns with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) and maintaining statutory registers. You act as a key adviser to the board of directors on matters of corporate governance, ensuring that board meetings are properly convened, that minutes are accurately recorded, and that decisions are implemented in line with the Companies Act 2014. You liaise with directors, shareholders, auditors, solicitors, and regulatory bodies to keep the organisation operating within the law. In larger organisations you may oversee a governance team, manage share schemes, and advise on changes to company structure or ownership.

A strong Leaving Certificate, particularly with Business, Accounting, or English at Higher Level, provides a useful foundation. Most practising Company Secretaries hold a Level 8 Honours Bachelor degree in law, business, or a related discipline as a minimum starting point. The recognised professional qualification in Ireland is the Chartered Governance Institute (CGI) qualification, typically obtained at postgraduate level (NFQ Level 9), which includes the Chartered Governance Qualifying Programme. Many candidates complete a relevant postgraduate diploma or Masters in Corporate Governance, Company Law, or a related field alongside CGI study. Some large organisations accept candidates with a strong legal background who then pursue CGI membership. There is no statutory registration body for Company Secretaries in Ireland, but CGI Fellowship (FCIS) or membership (ACIS) is widely expected by employers in the corporate and listed-company sector.