The Company Secretary's Handbook: A Guide to the Duties and Responsibilities

All public and private companies are required by law to appoint a company secretary. This guide to the role covers the secretary's duties, including: accounting and finance duties; personnel administration; compliance with employment rights; security of documentation; and insurance and property rights. It contains forms and documentation, and is written in a jargon-free style. Contents......Page 5 Introduction......Page 7 1. Duties of a Company Secretary......Page 9 2. Types of Company......Page 13 Public limited companies......Page 14 Private limited companies......Page 15 Other types of company......Page 16 The limits of liability......Page 18 Checking company names......Page 21 How to check a name......Page 22 Incorporation......Page 24 Buying a company off the shelf......Page 25 Memorandum and Articles of Association......Page 26 The registered office......Page 29 Directors and secretaries......Page 33 Company notepaper......Page 52 Selecting an accounting reference date......Page 57 Choosing an auditor......Page 58 Board meetings......Page 59 Keeping the minutes......Page 64 Statutory books and notices to Companies House......Page 65 6. Keeping the Statutory Records......Page 73 The registers – computer or manual......Page 76 Security......Page 77 Accounts/financial statements......Page 79 Annual general meeting......Page 82 Annual return forms......Page 84 Resolutions......Page 87 Board changes......Page 91 Share transactions......Page 92 Dividends......Page 93 Registration of mortgages and charges......Page 95 Resolving to change the company name......Page 96 Changing Memorandum and Articles of Association......Page 97 Changing auditors......Page 100 Dissolution of a dormant company......Page 103 Appendix A Copies of Companies House Forms Referred to in the Text......Page 107 Appendix B Useful Addresses......Page 163 Appendix C Deregulation of Private Companies......Page 165 Bibliography......Page 167 Index......Page 169