Deputy Company Secretary

The Governance Function comprises a small team aligned to the Office of General Counsel which supports the Chair, Board and Executive Committee) at Canary Wharf with responsibility for the management of the governance and meetings infrastructure supporting the Board (and its committees) and the Executive (and its committees). The role involves working closely with Executive leadership, Chair, Chief Risk Officer, General Counsel, Board members, Committee Chairs and Independent Non-Executives., The main purpose of the role is to provide end to end meeting support for the UK Board and Board Committees as well as acting as the main Business Lead on all system of quality management controls. There is also an expectation that this role would cover other Executive and Board Committees as and when needed. This role reports into the Group Head of Governance and Legal Counsel. This is a Senior Manager level role.,

• support the Group Head of Governance at a number of the main KPMG Boards, as well as acting as Secretary to the UK Board and other Board committees (including the Group Audit and Risk Committee;
• Providing end to end meeting support, including preparing agendas, following up on action points, drafting accurate and timely minutes and reviewing and updating annual plans;
• support the Group Head of Governance and Executive Lead to the INEs and ANEs in governance matters relating to KPMG UK's Independent Non Executives and Audit Non-Executives;
• support the Group Head of Governance as the named Business Lead on all System of Quality Management Governance Controls which includes:
• Oversee root cause analysis and design of remediation plans (including target dates and success measures), working alongside control owners where necessary to ensure plans are achievable and capable of remediating the relevant finding/deficiency on a timely basis.
• Monitor status of actions in KIM to ensure action plans are being delivered on time, paying particular attention to findings with no action plans, changes in target dates and overdue actions. Ensure KIM is being regularly updated by finding/control owners and provides an accurate view of remediation status. Follow up with finding/control owners as required and escalate any significant issues via Partner Sponsor and/or SoQM Delivery Group
• Where relevant, and with input from finding owners, maintain SoQM deficiency and CT SCF deficiency logs - providing updates to COFO risk and controls lead and Exco sponsor on a bi-monthly basis
• Establish processes to ensure that control owners (or their delegates) are -
• Maintaining accurate DCDs, identifying changes on a timely basis and notifying the SoQM team where updates are needed
• Retaining adequate documentation to evidence the operation of their controls which meet the expectations of CAP team; and
• Providing confirmations and key control attestations on a timely basis (as required)
• Monitor status of DCDs in their area to ensure changes are being made promptly and new controls are being implemented on a timely basis
• Act as the first point of escalation for any issues relating to the design, operation, testing or remediation of SoQM controls
• Attend the monthly SoQM Delivery Group meeting to share good practice and provide update on the operation (or failure) of relevant SoQM controls in their area
• Cascade and amplify messaging and comms distributed by 1st line central, SOQM SME and CAP teams
• Input into needs assessment for training and technical updates for SoQM component owners, process owners, control owners and operators
• Understanding the CAP team testing timetable relevant to their area, and ensuring that control owners/operators understand and can deliver to the requirement timetables and understand and can deliver the required level and quality of documentation
• Work with SoQM, CAP teams and control owners to provide assistance in resolving delays in either remediation, implementation or delivery of relevant elements of firm wide controls or delays in receiving information for testing
• Understand the key requirements of SoQM for their capability/component, the interaction of controls relating to relevant processes and how these mitigate identified process risk points
• Understand relevant process risk maps and associated process narratives, including which SoQM controls are owned and/or operated by their teams
• Identify and build relationships with key stakeholders with SoQM responsibilities in their area (component owners, process owners, control owners, operators and their delegates
• Implement process (designed by 1st line central team) for the review and update of process risk maps and narratives on a cyclical basis. Business Lead to identify risk maps for review/update, facilitate updates (i.e. through workshops) and ensure SoQM SME is included to review changes from a technical perspective
• Provide input into, and review output of the quarterly UK iRAP, including review of proposed source materials and new controls prior to recommendation to Risk/Ops exec for approval
• Work with SoQM Team, other Business Leads (as necessary) and Control Owners to design new controls identified through the UK and/or Global iRAP process, ensuring they are implemented on a timely basis
• provide line management, including oversight, guidance, coaching and mentoring;
• Providing effective and seamless cover for the other members of the Governance team during periods of annual leave;
• provide oversight of the company secretarial compliance obligations for the KPMG UK subsidiaries; and
• have other responsibilities, including leading on various governance projects, including drafting sections of the firm's Transparency Report, updating and amending terms of reference and providing formal governance advice.
  
  We are seeking an experienced and proactive company secretarial governance professional, who is keen to develop their career, governance knowledge, skills and experience in a regulated business environment. They are likely to have 8+ years relevant experience and will possess the following skills and experience:
• ACG/FCG qualified or qualified solicitor with relevant experience
• an extensive knowledge of company secretarial practice and its application;
• experience of interpreting and applying governance codes;
• extensive board level experience, having attended and managed Board and Committee meetings in a sophisticated business environment;
• strong written communication skills, including the ability to draft high quality formal minutes (informed by good judgement and governance best practice) with excellent attention to detail and produced to tight deadlines;
• excellent communication skills, with a proven ability to build effective relationships and develop respect, trust and credibility at all levels, including with senior stakeholders;
• project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage stakeholder expectations and take a proactive approach to forward planning;
• line management experience, including providing oversight, guidance, coaching and mentoring; and
Proficiency in technology, specifically Microsoft teams

KPMG is part of a global network of firms that offers Audit, Tax, Pensions, Legal, Consulting, Deal Advisory and Technology services. Through the talent of over 16,000 colleagues, we bring our creativity and insight to our clients' most critical challenges. With offices across the UK, we work with everyone from small start-ups and individuals to major multinationals, in virtually every industry imaginable. Our work is often complex, yet our vision is simple: to be the clear choice for our clients, for our people and for the communities we work in., Every day our firm performs better because of how we work together, as one team, each the best at what we do. The difference we make shines through to our people and our clients. We're KPMG Business Services (KBS). We're a cross-functional team, bringing together experts across a wide range of critical activities which help to grow, run and protect our business. From HR and Learning, Finance, Procurement, Facilities and Operations, through to Risk and Legal, Corporate Affairs, and Market Development, our approach is focused on driving the improved performance of the firm. We work shoulder to shoulder with our client-facing teams and we focus on delivering our services in ways which help to drive efficiency, improve quality and enhance our firm's brand and reputation.