Company Secretary at The Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA)

Key Performance Areas 

Compliance and Corporate Governance 

• Fulfil all statutory duties of a Company Secretary in accordance with the applicable legal framework. 
• Provide the directors of USAASA with guidance as to their duties, responsibilities and powers. 
• Making the directors aware of any law relevant to or affecting the Agency. 
• Research and maintain knowledge and expertise on related governance legislation and requirements by tracking legislation changes, participating in relevant forums and engaging with relevant stakeholders monthly. 
• Monitor the activities of USAASA to ensure compliance with its own policies and procedures. 
• Prepare all necessary governance and compliance documentation, such as Board resolutions, Board Charter and Terms of Reference of the Board Committees. 
• Facilitate effective relationships and communication between the Board, Executive Management, Parliament and the Department by facilitating effective information sharing sessions and coordinating that messages transferred are consistent and accurate as required. 
• Provide advise relating to the interpretation of the relevant Legislation to the Board.
• Coordinate the Board evaluation process as required by the King IV Code on Corporate Governance. 

 Board and Sub-Committee Support and Administration 

• Provide legal and governance advise to the board and board sub-committee 
• Ensure that the Board is informed and technically abreast of all changes in legislation affection USAASA. 
• Attend and take minutes of at Board and Exco meetings, including Committees. 
• Ensure that the proceedings of the Board and Board Committees are properly recorded and that minutes of meetings are circulated to the members of the Board in a timely manner after approval of the Chairperson of the Board and Board Committees. 
• Oversee the preparation of agendas for all meetings after consultation with the relevant chairpersons and the CEO, ensuring that the agenda is relevant and pertinent to USAASA’s business imperatives. 
• Ensure that the Board and Board Committee charters and terms of reference are reviewed annually. 
• Ensure that action plans are in place to address issues identified in terms of the Board’s annual assessments. 
• Manage that all Board and Board Committees documents are stored and managed according to the required security standards by monitoring filling and general document management monthly. 
• Communicate decisions and action items to Executive Management. 
• Responsible for the induction of new Board Members. 

 Strategic Development and Operational Planning 

• Drive the development, implementation and annual review of an overall strategic planning for USAASA and ensure that the departmental (DCDT) activities are aligned to the USAASA Strategy, Annual Performance Plan and the Board Committee goals outcomes. 
• Participate in developing the USAASA and USAF Strategy through engagement in the strategy workshops and interventions, providing corporate governance input and feedback and submitting relevant strategic input and documentation required for the final strategy by the agreed deadline. 

Financial Management 

• Manage the Board and its Sub-Committees meeting budget by tracking and trace expenditure and address non-compliance within defined procedures and timelines.
• Ensure sufficient internal control measures are implemented for adherence to PFMA, USAASA and other relevant legislation and regulations. 

 People Management 

• Ensure implementation of Human Capital processes and procedures to control / regulate workplace conflict. 
• Manage and Monitor performance of the team. 
• Develop capacity of the Board Secretariat unit through developing skills and competencies. 

Qualifications and Experience 

• A degree in Law or equivalent relevant qualification. 
• LLB would be an added advantage. 
• Admission as an Attorney. 
• Member of Chartered Governance Institute of Southern Africa (CGISA) or Institute of Directors of South Africa (IODSA) 
• 08 to 10 years of relevant experience, with at least 5 years in the public sector.
• Experience in managing relationships with Boards, regulatory authorities, and government stakeholders. 
• Demonstrable knowledge of Corporate Governance, Corporate Law, PFMA, National Treasury Regulations and King IV.