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Deputy Company Secretary

At Keywords Studios we are using our passion for games, technology and media to create a global services platform for the video games industry and beyond. Our aim is to become the “go to” provider of technical services across a variety of service lines.

We enable leading content creators and publishers to leverage our expertise and capacity across the lifecycle of interactive content. In doing so we empower our clients to remain lean and agile and to focus on creating the most engaging experiences.

Keywords Studios is trusted and relied upon by many of the world’s leading video game companies to work alongside them during concept, development and live operations by leveraging the breadth and depth of our industry leading service lines every step of the way. Keywords Studios plc (the Company) is listed on AIM, the London Stock Exchange market (KWS.L). See www.keywordsstudios.com for further information.

Keywords Studios continues to build world leading capabilities in services that video game and other interactive content creators need. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients working as their external partner, providing access to our teams of experts where and when needed.

People that work at Keywords Studios are passionate, talented, committed and resourceful. Human talent is our most valuable resource and, as a business, we thrive on diversity, celebrate uniqueness and work as together in teams, either physically in one of our 65 facilities across 22 countries around the world or else virtually.

Keywords Studios now have an exciting opportunity for a Deputy Company Secretary to be a part of its growing team. This position will support and report to the Group’s Head of Legal on company secretarial, compliance and other legal matters globally. As part of this role, you are going to be a key member within the team, focusing on a wide variety of duties supporting and advising both the legal and corporate functions.

This exciting role will give the successful individual the opportunity to influence and lead a critical element of our growing business, taking us to the next level of our strategic growth plans.

Requirements

• Providing support to the Head of Legal and the board of directors of the Company (the Board).
• Ensuring the smooth operation of the Board and the Board’s committees, including:
  • meeting planning, logistics, agenda setting and maintenance of calendars;
  • meeting material compilation and distribution;
  • attending relevant meetings and drafting minutes; and
  • following up on action points.
• Overseeing the project management and compliance requirements of the Company’s annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings, including organising meeting requirements and materials, responding to proxy agency correspondence, preparing Q&As for the Board, drafting the chairperson’s script, managing the delivery of directors’ proxy votes and liaising with the Company’s registrar.
• Ensuring compliance with legal and financial obligations, including the AIM Rules, the Market Abuse Regulations, DTR5 and the Companies Act 2006.
• Assisting with the preparation of the Company’s annual report (including governance and committee reports and other statutory or regulatory reports as required), advising on the mailing process and logistics, advising on related shareholder communications and meeting all filing and communications requirements relating to the publication of the Company’s annual report.
• Ensuring ongoing compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation and assisting with the administration of the Company’s insider list, restricted persons list and permission to deal process.
• Maintaining the statutory books and records of the Company’s 26 UK subsidiaries (the Subsidiaries).
• Drafting minutes and resolutions for the Subsidiaries and lodging the required forms and annual returns with UK’s Companies House.
• Overseeing the delivery of company secretarial services to group entities.
• Liaising with internal teams, external advisers and service providers, as appropriate, to ensure global compliance activities are up to date, including the Company’s NOMAD, registrar, lawyers and auditors.
• Assisting with the payment of dividends and the management of the Company share option schemes.
• Leading the company secretarial elements of any corporate actions, including corporate restructurings, group acquisitions and disposals, entity simplification programmes and other corporate actions.
• Monitoring changes in relevant legislation and the regulatory environment and taking appropriate action.
• Ensuring that all relevant statutory filings are made in a timely manner.
• Ensuring policies are kept up to date and approved by the relevant Board committee.
• Providing accurate and timely documentation, legal and regulatory advice and support for policy and decision making as and when required.
• Managing files and working independently to see matters through to completion.
• Identifying inefficiencies in day-to-day operations and making recommendations for process improvements.
• Experienced company secretary or deputy company secretary who has worked for an AIM or main market listed company.
• Qualified company secretary and a member of the ICSA.
• Educated to degree level.
• In-depth knowledge of the AIM Rules, the Market Abuse Regulations, DTR5 and the Companies Act 2006.
• Computer literate, proficient in Word, Microsoft Outlook and Excel wit experience of tools that ensure that enable digital transformation of the function.
• Committed to personal learning and self-improvement, including continuous professional development.
• Strong interpersonal and presentation skills along with the ability to communicate effectively with others at all levels of the organisation.
• Capable of multi-tasking and managing multiple projects by being flexible, organised and able to prioritise and manage own workload.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, high activity environment, on a wide variety of matters and able to handle the requirement to quickly shift from one situation or task to another.
• Solution focused problem solver who is commercially astute and pragmatic.
• Strong research, analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Networking and relationship building.
• Accountability and dependability with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated ability to understand business requirements quickly and then implement actions to meet business objectives.
• Excellent project management and communication skills and strong attention to detail.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CORE COMPETENCIES

• Experienced company secretary or deputy company secretary who has worked for an AIM or main market listed company.
• Qualified company secretary and a member of the ICSA.
• Educated to degree level.
• In-depth knowledge of the AIM Rules, the Market Abuse Regulations, DTR5 and the Companies Act 2006.
• Computer literate, proficient in Word, Microsoft Outlook and Excel and experience of tools that would enable the digital transformation of the function.
• Committed to personal learning and self-improvement, including continuous professional development.
• Strong interpersonal and presentation skills along with the ability to communicate effectively with others at all levels of the organisation.
• Capable of multi-tasking and managing multiple projects by being flexible, organised and able to prioritise and manage own workload.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, high activity environment, on a wide variety of matters and able to handle the requirement to quickly shift from one situation or task to another.
• Solution focused problem solver who is commercially astute and pragmatic.
• Strong research, analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Networking and relationship building.
• Accountability and dependability with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated ability to understand business requirements quickly and then implement actions to meet business objectives.
• Excellent project management and communication skills and strong attention to detail.
• Fluency in English (additional languages are an advantage but not requiredf