Senior Assistant Company Secretary at Ninety One

• The Senior Assistant Company Secretary is a highly demanding role requiring exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and a strong ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing legal and governance advice, including minute writing, ensuring the organisation’s compliance with corporate governance regulations, statutory obligations, and best practices.

In this role you will:

Corporate governance & compliance

• Provide expert advice on corporate governance best practices, directors’ duties, and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure compliance with the South African Companies Act, King IV principles, and other relevant governance frameworks.
• Develop, implement, and oversee corporate governance policies, processes, and compliance frameworks.
• Monitor and assess regulatory updates, advising senior leadership on governance-related legislative changes.
• Advise and support on the refinement of Ninety One’s global governance framework.

Board & committee support

• Have responsibility for a portfolio of committee and/or board meetings together with the administration of those meetings.
• Have responsibility for a number of day-to-day support functions, working closely with team members to maintain an efficient and professional company secretariat function across Ninety One.
• Support and facilitate board and committee meetings, including agenda setting, board pack preparation, and minute-taking.
• Ensure effective management of board resolutions, governance records, and compliance reporting.
• Provide governance training and advisory support to subsidiary company board members, executives, and other stakeholders.
• Assist in drafting, maintaining, and reviewing board and committee charters, governance manuals, and policies.

Legal & risk advisory

• Advise on legal and compliance risks impacting the organization’s governance and regulatory obligations.
• Support contract negotiations and reviews to ensure compliance with regulatory and corporate requirements.
• Assist with due diligence, risk mitigation strategies, and entity structuring from a governance perspective.
• When required, provide legal guidance on commercial and corporate transactions, ensuring alignment with governance standards.

Technology & Process Automation

• Implement and oversee the automation of governance and compliance processes using technology tools.
• Leverage board portal software (e.g., Diligent) and entity management platforms to improve efficiency.
• Support digitalisation initiatives to enhance reporting, governance compliance tracking, and regulatory submissions.
• Train internal teams on the adoption of technology-driven governance solutions.

Stakeholder & Regulatory Engagement

• Act as the primary point of contact for senior managers, Executive Directors, Non-Executive Directors, regulators, and governance-related stakeholders.
• Engage with industry bodies, legal advisors, and corporate governance networks to stay abreast of best practices.
• Support internal leadership with strategic governance and compliance decision-making

You should consider applying if you have:

• Law degree
• Experience using entity management platforms and board portals (e.g., Diligent, GEMS, or similar tools) is an advantage.
• Qualified company secretary
• Strong working knowledge of the South African Companies Act, King IV, and applicable governance legislation.
• Experience in statutory filings with CIPC and corporate compliance matters.
• Proven ability to advise senior leadership and boards on corporate governance and legal matters
• Some of the attributes we look for in a person are:
• The ability to build and maintain meaningful relationships
• The ability to ‘approach and own’ and
• A strong belief in doing the right thing
• Driven by results
• High conviction and be comfortable sharing opinions
• Ability to analyse, interpret and assimilate information
• A curiosity about technology and its potential to drive innovation