How to specialise your career in corporate governance

With The Companies Act 2014, the largest piece of legislation Ireland has ever seen, now in effect as of June 1 2015, demand for company secretarial candidates has seen significant growth.

Demand for qualified, newly qualified and trainee level candidates is equally high at present allowing for great opportunities for junior level candidates looking to specialise their career within Corporate Governance and compliance. 

Steps to take? 

If you are a Level 8 graduates from disciplines such as Accounting, Administration, Business/management, Economics, Finance, Law or Mathematics you have the option of completing a number of postgraduate level courses:

• UCD: Diploma in Corporate Governance
• University of Ulster: MSc Management and Corporate Governance (Block modules held in Marino Institute of Education on Griffith Avenue, Dublin)
• UCD: European Governance & Law Research
• Institute of Public Administration: Governance (Level 9)
• Queens University Belfast: LLM Law & Governance

Trainees must complete a period of relevant on-the-job supervised work experience and pass the four-part examination of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA). Study for ICSA qualifications takes 4/5 years part-time. Degree holders are exempt from the first two parts. Graduates with relevant degrees may be able to qualify more quickly.

By studying Corporate Governance you will learn the Principles of Governance; Governance in the Public and Private Sectors; Governance of Agencies; Best Practice and Professional Models; Ethics; Performance and Accountability; Audit and Assurance; Control and Risk Management and how to Assess Good Governance. 

Career opportunities

Once you are part/fully qualified you will have the opportunity to join a wide range of sectors from Financial Services, Technology, Funds, Pharmaceuticals and within Practice. You will develop and manage strategies to ensure compliance with legal and statutory requirements. The company secretary must also liaise with board of directors, staff, customers, suppliers, media, auditors, lawyers and tax advisers while providing comprehensive legal and administrative support and guidance to the board of directors. 

If you are interested in developing your career within this area visit our Current Corporate Governance/Company Secretary Opportunities such as an excellent opportunity for a Company Secretary Administrator Top 5 firm.