Head of Governance & Group Company Secretary

Our Mission

Coventry University Group is a global education group with a mission of Creating Better Futures. We are driven by our passionate belief in the transformational power of education and research to enable and empower our students, colleagues and partners and to improve the world around them. Our people are key to our success and each role contributes to the Group’s ongoing progress in communities around the world.

CU Corporate Services Limited, a wholly owned sister company of Coventry University, is seeking to appoint a Head of Governance and Group Company Secretary to lead our Governance and Secretariat team, to support the successful delivery our 2030 Group Strategy.

The Group comprises a diverse range of entities, including a higher education corporation, private limited companies registered in the UK, and a range of companies and branches registered internationally. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a fast-paced and ambitious education group in the next stage of its evolution.

The Role

We are looking for an experienced, effective and credible individual to provide strategic leadership in corporate governance across the Coventry University Group, which operates within a highly regulated and competitive higher education environment.

The post-holder, as an experienced governance professional, will keep abreast of developments in governance and committee management and ensure that the Group operates in line with best practice.

Appointed at Companies House as Company Secretary for each of the Group’s UK sister companies, you will be responsible for ensuring compliance with company and charitable law, maintaining a register of Directors’ interests, ensuring submission of annual statutory returns, annual reports, auditor's reports and financial statements to Companies House and other regulators as appropriate.

You will be responsible for providing governance and procedural advice to the Chair of the Board of Governors, Vice-Chancellor, Chairs of sister company Boards and Directors in respect of their duties and responsibilities in accordance with relevant legislation to ensure legal compliance. You will provide strategic leadership in respect of good corporate governance across the Group.

The Head of Governance & Group Company Secretary will lead a team of experienced individuals, who will support them in ensuring effective governance across the Group.

Our Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will demonstrate considerable experience in corporate governance and company administration at a senior level, possessing strong knowledge and understanding of the law and practice relating to company administration and governance requirements, preferably relating to the operation and management of a higher education institution.

You will either possess a Company Secretarial qualification or be prepared to undertake the qualification during employment. The ability to travel nationally and internationally is also required.

The Benefits

Along with a competitive salary we offer an industry-leading Rewards and Benefits package which includes:

• Excellent Employers Pension Contribution
• 30 days Annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• New Holiday Purchase Scheme of up to 5 additional days
• Life Assurance 4*Salary
• BUPA Cash Plan
• 50% off Tuition Fees for staff dependants
• CU Reward Scheme – Discounts across a range of High Street/ Online Retailers
• New Electric Car Scheme
• Cycle To Work scheme

Our Culture

As a global education group, equality, diversity, and inclusion are embedded within the fabric of our organisation and are a key focus of our core values. We harness the power and potential of the diverse cultures, backgrounds, abilities, and experiences of our students, colleagues, and partners to create opportunities for all.

Closing date: Sunday 20^th October 2024