Are you passionate about openness, respect, and collaboration? So are we. Join us as our Deputy Company Secretary and become an integral part of a team dedicated to mutual responsibility and crafting a meaningful legacy.
In this pivotal role, you will be a cornerstone of our (LLP) business’s long-term health and sustainability, driving growth while navigating a diverse array of legal and compliance matters across our global operations. Your expertise will be crucial in shaping our future.
Here at Buro Happold, expect the exceptional.
From the projects you will work on to the clients we work with. From career-defining opportunities to an inclusive and diverse practice where we all contribute to a more equitable world. From our reputation to our relationships. Wherever your Buro Happold career takes you, it’ll be anything but ordinary.
Your next role
Join us and be surrounded by exceptional opportunities in an environment alive with innovation and possibility. Your new team has a willingness and curiosity to see possibility and potential in everything – from the most iconic projects to our everyday conversations.
Buro Happold has a clear strategic plan, excellent learning culture and entrepreneurial mindset that will allow you to thrive.
You’ll be part of something bigger than us all where sustainability, equity, social and performance outcomes matter. Buro Happold is committed to doing the right thing, even when that’s the hardest thing. This is a genuine opportunity to make impact - and leave real legacy.
Key duties
- Act as senior legal counsel, providing legal research, Board Papers, and supporting the Company Secretary on legal matters. Manage external legal advisors.
- Provide company secretarial support, including board minutes, resolutions, statutory filings, and engaging notary services.
- Advise on compliance documentation and processes, including LLP agreements and Articles of Association.
- Conduct confidential internal investigations into compliance breaches and report findings to senior management.
- Design and implement global compliance programs (Data Protection, Modern Slavery, Conflicts of Interest, etc.).
- Offer legal advice for the UK Property Portfolio and BAU legal support requests.
- Provide ad hoc legal advice on employment and supplier contract disputes, and summarize complex legal advice.
- Manage legal risks and oversee the annual renewal process for Global Cyber Insurance and Director and Officer insurance.
- Lead Co Sec support for the Annual Audit cycle, including Director sign-off of accounts and Audit Committee meetings.
- Advise directors on statutory duties and promote corporate governance best practices.
- Ensure compliance with laws and regulations, develop legal and compliance frameworks, and provide training.
- Monitor regulatory developments and update internal policies accordingly.
- Prepare Board updates on legal and compliance issues.
- Assist with board support activities, including writing and circulating minutes and monitoring actions.
- Manage the Annual Director Refresh and work with global company secretarial services.
- Support Group Treasury, Finance, Tax, and Risk functions, and provide guidance on new office compliance.
- Lead global compliance initiatives and develop online compliance training.
- Provide ad hoc legal support for business development initiatives and interim procurement support.
- Line manage a Company Secretarial Executive, overseeing tasks and mentoring.
- Support strategic development projects such as acquisitions and refinancing.
- Work with senior leaders on legal, compliance, and risk issues, providing strategic recommendations.
- Maintain policies and procedures for legislative compliance.
- Provide ad hoc employment advice and guide HR policy.
- Deputize for the Company Secretary on legal and compliance matters, ensuring group companies comply with legal obligations.
Your skills and experience
- You'll be a qualified solicitor and ICSA graduate with significant PQE experience and prior in-house legal and Co Sec experience.
- Demonstrable technical and analytical skills, commercial acumen and solid commercial property background capable of advising on issues arising from the partnership property portfolio.
- Ability to recognise issues of strategic, legal or reputational importance to the firm and evaluate and advise how they should be addressed.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills with ability to interact knowledgeably with and impact both internal and external parties.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to convey technical information to a wide variety of audiences.
- The ability to engage with staff at all levels and provide guidance to minimise the legal, risk, financial and reputational impact on the firm.
What we offer
- Attractive salary and benefits package including car allowance (10%), life assurance, private medial insurance, and income protection.
- Performance incentive scheme - up to 8% of basic salary.
- Holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum (exclusive of bank holidays) and flexible holiday arrangements.
- Generous company pension scheme - 10% employer contribution.
- Flexible benefits including cycle scheme, dental insurance, optical cover, travel insurance, season ticket loans, and corporate discounts.
- Enhanced parenthood leave policies.
- 3pm finish on the last Friday of the month.
- A strong commitment to your continuous development. Whatever stage in your career, we have a learning and development programme that will enable and empower you.
- Entitlement to two memberships to professional bodies or subscriptions
- A commitment to your wellbeing through a comprehensive employee assistance programme and wellbeing activities.
- A supportive and inclusive environment that will welcome you through social and outreach activities from the Young Employees Forum to mentoring.
At Buro Happold, everyone else’s extraordinary is just our everyday.
Apply today and be a part of our legacy.
A place for everyone
Buro Happold values an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of how you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers.
Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds, and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive.
We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing differences allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.
Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact recruitment@burohappold.com so we can work with you to support you throughout your application.
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