Company Secretary

Wicklow Dementia Support (WDS) is seeking the services of a Company Secretary. WDS is a voluntary organisation, whose main objective is to provide support to people with dementia in Co. Wicklow to enable them maintain their identity, interests and independence living life to the fullest in their own home and community, while also meeting the needs of family carers for social engagement and respite.

WDS is registered as a charity and as a company in Ireland and is governed and managed by a board of trustees. 

Responsibilities 

The role of secretary is to ensure compliance to all relevant legislation. The secretary has duties under company law and common law in his or her capacity as a company secretary, for example preparing and filing annual returns with the Companies Registration Office. The secretary also has duties under the 2009 Charities Act.

The following are relevant legislations, including but not limited to

•  Charities Act 2009 & Charity Regulator Governance Code (2021), ensure CRA register is maintained and updated.
• Companies Act 2014, ensure CRO register is maintained and updated.
• Helping to ensure that Board members file all relevant statutory returns and information with the Charities Regulator including compliance to 
• Service Level Agreement with the HSE
• Employment legislation
• Health and Safety legislation
•  General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 and 
• Contractual obligations.

Administration

• Preparing for board and annual general meetings.
• Ensuring the WDS constitution and Governance Manual are complied with including a quorum at all meetings.
• Setting agenda in consultation with the board chair
• Recording meeting minutes
• Issuing draft minutes to Board members for consideration after board meetings and dealing with any subsequent requests for corrections to be made before they are formally approved
• Storing all approved board minutes ensuring all are signed by the board chair
• Send out notification and documents for review and discussion 2 weeks before any meeting
• Recording and following up on actions
• Attend all board meetings
• Tracking progress with the strategic plan
• Collect and correlate data for all WDS activity

Person specifications 

The following competencies are required,

• Understanding and knowledge of the role and responsibilities of a Charity Trustee and company governance;
• Knowledge of the services provided by WDS
• Knowledge of the code of governance for Charites in Ireland
• Experience at an appropriately senior level role which directs and contributes to organisational and strategic development;
• Demonstrable leadership qualities
• Demonstrable decision making and judgement;
• An ability to ensure that the Board is aware of the relevant legislation and any changes that are implemented.
• Understand risk management