About Northern Trust:

Northern Trust, a Fortune 500 company, is a globally recognized, award-winning financial institution that has been in continuous operation since 1889.

Northern Trust is proud to provide innovative financial services and guidance to the world’s most successful individuals, families, and institutions by remaining true to our enduring principles of service, expertise, and integrity. With more than 130 years of financial experience and over 22,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

Role:

We are currently recruiting for a London-based EMEA Head of Corporate Secretarial within Northern Trust’s International Legal Department. 

This is a key governance and management role to support and oversee and Corporate Secretarial services for all of Northern Trust’s legal entities across Europe and the Middle East (EMEA).   

The role holder will report into the General Counsel International who is based in London.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Oversight of Legal Entity Governance Across EMEA

Manage direct reports in Saudi Arabia, Guernsey, Ireland and the UK and help to oversee the company secretarial function for NT legal entities in those locations plus oversee support to the entity in LuxembourgEstablish and maintain a common set of practices, procedures and standards across EMEAShare know-how, training and best practice across the regionWork collaboratively with other Company Secretarial colleagues in the US and APAC

Board Relationship Management

Principal point of contact for Boards, Non-Executive Directors (“NEDs”) and Independent Non-Executive Directors (“INEDs”) and other senior functional and business unit executivesCollaborating with internal counsel and where needed external counselLiaising with the internal audit, external auditors, and other key stakeholdersResponsible for onboarding new directors to Boards (including INEDs)  

Board & Committee Meetings

Oversee the production of board packs for meetings and agree the board meeting timetables each year.Oversee the maintenance of the master governance calendar.Attend certain Board and Committee meetings and ensure production of full minutes.Note Action Points arising at board meetings and ensuring their completion by all parties

Corporate Governance guidance

Review the latest key Corporate Governance guidance and propose enhancements to ensure that Northern Trust continues to meet industry best practiceProvide guidance on regulatory, reporting and complianceMonitor changes in corporate law and regulation ensuring all legal entities remain compliantReview policies and procedures and terms of reference for the Boards, Board Committees and other governing body committees

Department management

Manage a medium-size team across various locations in EMEA – provide leadership and guidance to partners, fostering an environment that encourages partner participation, team work and communicationOversee the establishment and growth of a robust and standardised model of governance support for Boards and Executives across the regionDevelop and help the department to evolve and share resources and identify efficiencies

Other

Working collaboratively with the EMEA CAO office (including the Conduct Office) on key strategic projectsAssisting in information requests to regulators and external advisorsProviding input in respect of legal entity change, regulatory change and any M&A projects impacting NT legal entities in EMEAMaintain bank mandates and/or authorised signatory lists as requiredMaintain statutory records and ensure timely filing of returns, financial statements and statutory returns

Skills / Qualifications:

The successful candidate will benefit from having:

ICSA qualified and/or graduate with a law degree10+ years experience in company secretarial preferably with a large, UK regulated financial services firmProven track record of leadership experienceStrong experience of managing people.Strong knowledge of UK company law, corporate governance and applicable financial regulations.  Knowledge and experience and/or exposure to company law and governance in Guernsey, Ireland, Luxembourg and Saudi Arabia is idealExcellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders from the first and second line of defence and at various levels across the firmGood experience of working with senior executives at a regional levelA record of leading teams including remotely to deliver both business as usual work to a high standard as well as key developments and improvementsOrganised with strong time management skills, accuracy and attention to detailKnowledge of Diligent Boardbooks and Diligent Entities (Blueprint) would be beneficial Computer literate, particularly with Microsoft Office programmes

Working with Us:

As a Northern Trust partner, greater achievements await. You will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture in an organization where financial strength and stability is an asset that emboldens us to explore new ideas.

Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to assisting the communities we serve! Join a workplace with a greater purpose.

We’d love to learn more about how your interests and experience could be a fit with one of the world’s most admired and sustainable companies! Build your career with us and apply today. #MadeForGreater

Reasonable accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at MyHRHelp@ntrs.com.

We hope you’re excited about the role and the opportunity to work with us. We value an inclusive workplace and understand flexibility means different things to different people.

Apply today and talk to us about your flexible working requirements and together we can achieve greater.