Corporate Secretary Associate

Job title : Corporate Secretary Associate

Description

• The Company Secretary & Legal Officer will be responsible for overseeing the company's corporate governance, legal affairs, and regulatory compliance.
• The role ensures adherence to Free Zone regulations, the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), and other applicable Nigerian laws while providing legal advisory services, managing corporate secretarial functions, mitigating legal risks, and maintaining effective compliance management systems.

Key Responsibilities
Corporate Secretarial & Governance:

• Organize Board, Management, and Shareholder meetings, including preparing meeting agendas, minutes, resolutions, and supporting documentation.
• Maintain statutory registers and corporate records, ensuring timely filings with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and relevant Free Zone Authorities.
• Ensure compliance with the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), applicable corporate governance codes, and Free Zone operational guidelines.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the company, the Board of Directors, regulators, and other statutory bodies.
• Coordinate annual returns, corporate filings, board evaluations, and other statutory obligations.

Legal & Regulatory Compliance:

• Provide legal advice on commercial transactions, employment law, corporate governance, and industrial relations.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and vet contracts, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), vendor agreements, leases, and Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and regulatory risks while coordinating with external legal counsel where required.
• Ensure compliance with Free Zone regulations issued by the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), or other applicable Free Trade Zone regulators.
• Coordinate regulatory inspections, audits, permit renewals, and licence renewals.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and advise management on their potential impact on business operations.

Compliance Management:

• Administer and enhance the organization's compliance management systems and digital governance tools.
• Monitor compliance deadlines relating to licences, permits, tax exemptions, Free Zone levies, and statutory reporting requirements.
• Maintain compliance dashboards, automate reporting workflows, and provide periodic compliance reports.
• Conduct internal compliance reviews and support compliance awareness and training across the organization.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Law (LL.B) or a related discipline.
• Membership or certification with the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) is required.
• An LL.B qualification is an added advantage if not the primary qualification.
• Call to the Nigerian Bar is an added advantage.
• Minimum of 5 years' post-call experience, preferably within a manufacturing, Free Zone, or other highly regulated environment.
• Practical experience working with Free Zone regulations, including NEPZA, OGFZA, or similar regulatory authorities.
• Hands-on experience using compliance management software and digital governance platforms.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of Nigerian corporate, commercial, labour, and industrial laws.
• Sound understanding of corporate governance principles and regulatory compliance.
• Excellent legal drafting, contract review, and negotiation skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and attention to detail.