Deputy Company Secretary (CPT)

What will you do?

The Santam Group of companies has a position available for a seasoned Deputy Company Secretary who will be based in Tygervalley, Cape Town. 

The successful incumbent will provide company secretarial services to the Santam Group of companies by assisting the Group Company Secretary with ensuring compliance will all applicable statutory regulations and corporate governance practices.

He/she will be a key Group governance functionary and will liaise closely with the Boards of directors, executive management, senior management representatives and the heads of control functions by providing strategic input, organizing and facilitating meetings, preparing and distributing meeting packs as well as overseeing and maintaining meticulous and accurate company records. This includes drafting and submitting regulatory submissions on behalf of the Santam Group of companies, oversee statutory audits as well as facilitate effective communication between key stakeholders.

What will make you successful in this role?

    The successful incumbent’s duties will include, but are not limited to, the following: 
o    Overseeing the maintenance, administration and legal entity management of the companies within the Santam Group, by ensuring compliance with applicable local and international regulatory requirements. This includes fulfilling an oversight role over the drafting and management of legal and statutory filings as well as overseeing the Group of companies’ annual returns and CIPC administration;  
o    Prepare, coordinate and distribute Board submissions and meeting packs effectively and within the agreed timelines (including drafting agendas, the minutes of meetings and related Board papers in a concise and accurate manner);  
o    Ensure that the Company’s governance framework is appropriately developed, embedded, maintained and communicated to key stakeholders;  
o    Assist the Group Company Secretary with the administration of Santam’s Board evaluations and statutory and/or corporate governance audits;  
o    Keep abreast of regulatory and statutory changes and policies that might affect the Santam Group of companies. This includes reviewing all amendments to, or regulations and practice notes issued under the auspices of the Companies Act, insurance legislation and/or corporate governance related regulatory requirements and guiding the Boards of directors and executive management on the implication thereof on Santam’s Group of companies; 
o    Assist the Group Company Secretary with ensuring compliance with the Companies Act and other related regulatory requirements and governance standards as well as the Debt and Specialist Securities Listings Requirements of the JSE Limited. This includes drafting and coordinating SENS announcements as and when required; 
o    Assist with overseeing the maintenance of share registers, shareholder communication and coordinating the processing and payment of dividends; 
o    Oversee the maintenance and updating of Company records (both physical and digital) by applying document control. This includes drafting, updating and/or reviewing MoIs, legal, contractual and/or compliance related documentation as and when required; 
o    Maintain and safeguard the confidentiality of all company secretarial, statutory records and other corporate documents in the best interest of Santam and its key stakeholders; 
o    Oversee and assist with the induction, orientation, the ongoing training and empowerment of directors, including assessing the specific training needs of the Board and executive management that are associated with their fiduciary and/or other governance responsibilities;
o    Provide assistance and company secretarial support services to the Group Company Secretary on a continuous basis; 
o    Assist with the safekeeping and updating of Company records, regulatory filings, share certificates, share registers and ancillary governance related registers (e.g. directors and other key person’s declaration of interest registers, Fit and Proper Registers, KYC information etc); and 
o    Oversee and support ad hoc projects to improve company secretarial processes, compliance, corporate governance related aspects and/or investor relations.

Qualification and Experience

An admitted attorney including a post graduate qualification from a reputable tertiary institution
A LLB degree and/or an equivalent Bachelor’s degree in law, Business Administration, Finance, Compliance Management, Corporate Governance and/or a related field.
A Chartered Secretary and/or Chartered Governance Professional qualification would be an advantage. 
Computer literacy (the full MS Office suite) including the ability to demonstrate proficiency with digital Board meeting pack e-platforms.
A minimum of 15 – 20 years of experience in a similar role 
Proven expertise as a seasoned Company Secretary of a group of companies, with a sound knowledge of corporate governance principles and best practices, statutory records, company secretarial administration, regulatory filings, share registers and legal research; 
Able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of corporate laws, corporate governance, corporate ethics, regulatory and non-regulatory compliance frameworks as well as industry standards, business administration, accounting, sustainability and enterprise risk management business practices; 
Able to portrait a sound knowledge and an understanding of the financial services industry and the associated corporate governance practices, the Debt and Specialist Securities Listings Requirements of the JSE Limited, the King Reports on Corporate Governance, general compliance management and ethical business practices applied in a highly regulated environment;  
Proficient at handling the logistics of Board meetings and AGMs (including but not limited to preparing agendas, minutes of meetings and Board submissions);
Able to work independently whilst managing multiple tasks; and
Capable of fostering and maintaining positive relationships with key stakeholders on a continuous 

Skills and Competencies

Exceptional leadership, organisational, workflow, process optimisation and administration skills (i.e. being adept at coordinating governance processes, facilitating Board communications and Board meetings, taking minutes, and record keeping);
Excellent and effective communication and interpersonal skills - to clearly communicate shareholders’, the Board and executive management’s positions both in writing and verbally;
Objectivity skills - by ensuring an armlength and impartial role is being fulfilled between the Board and management; 
Critical-thinking skills - by playing an effective role in developing and implementing practical and generally acceptable corporate governance solutions;
Honesty, reliability and integrity;
Discretion, professionalism and diplomacy; 
Excellent written and verbal communication abilities; 
Enthusiasm for keeping up to date with legislation and regulatory developments; 
Exceptional time management skills; and  
Business acumen
Attention to detail and results orientated;
Logical reasoning and decisiveness; 
Applying a customer centricity approach whilst balancing stakeholders’ needs and expectations;
Demonstrating enhanced, concise and accurate drafting abilities and writing skills;
Effective communication skills;
Flexible, adaptable and resilient;
Able to work under pressure in a fast-pacing environment;
Demonstrating leadership, management expertise and professionalism; 
Punctual and effective time management skills;
Plans, aligns and manages complexity effortlessly;
Organisational savvy; and 
Cultivating innovation and excellence.  

About the Company

Santam was founded in 1918 and listed on the JSE in 1964 under the insurance (non-life) sector. The Group has secondary listings on the Namibian Stock Exchange and A2X Markets Exchange. 
It is a leading South African general insurer with over 108 years’ standing and conducts business in selected emerging markets. 
With its head office in Tyger Valley, Cape Town, Santam is the largest general insurer on the African continent by premium size. The Group specialises in proactive risk management and provides appropriate insurance solutions that suit the changing needs of clients, through a multi-product and multi-channel distribution portfolio that covers various classes of general insurance.
Santam Limited is, furthermore, a subsidiary of the South African financial services group (Sanlam Limited).