Senior Assistant Company Secretary

About us

You’ve probably heard of Autotrader, but do you know what we’re all about?  

We’re the UK’s leading automotive marketplace, a heritage brand, and a tech darling of the stock market. We bring together vehicle buyers and sellers to give them real choices. Cars may be what we're best known for but we’re also the place for pretty much everything else on wheels, from e-bikes to caravans. 

In the automotive world, change is a constant, that’s why we take our job of untangling the complex car-buying journey very seriously. 
 
At our core, we’re all about people. We go our own way while embracing diversity and celebrating our differences. We dedicate ourselves to the idea that we work better together. 

Autotrader is a beautiful, surprising and vibrant place to work. We might not be for everyone, but we could be perfect for you. 

About the job

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Assistant Company Secretary to join our team, ideally with a legal background. You'll support the business by providing high-quality Company Secretarial and Board support, and support the legal team with general legal duties. Your role carries a high degree of responsibility and independence, involving contact with Executives, Directors, and external stakeholders. You'll act with decisiveness and professional integrity to ensure Autotrader adapts to regulatory requirements and remains legally compliant.You'll line manage a Trainee Company Secretary and also benefit from a network of resources, including support from our in-house legal team and external advisors.

You will support the Group Company Secretary by advising on board matters, corporate governance, LSE/FCA requirements, best practices, regulatory and shareholder enquiries, and deputising for the Company Secretary when required. You will manage and develop the Trainee Company Secretary, lead the arrangement of PLC Board, Subsidiary Board, and Committee meetings, and be a core member of the Annual Report team. You will coordinate the Annual General Meeting, prepare and release stock exchange announcements, and manage the ongoing Share Buyback scheme.

You will manage corporate transactions with the support of external lawyers and the Legal team, maintain statutory records and books for all Group companies, and ensure all Companies House filings are made. You will maintain the Company’s insider lists, manage processes related to Share Dealings and clearances, and work with the Reward team and Share Scheme Administrators on administering various share schemes. You'll also maintain and regularly review relevant sections of the corporate website to ensure regulatory and governance aspects are up to date.

Full or part time options available

What we're looking for

• Legal or CGI qualification in the UK with in-depth knowledge of relevant legislation (Companies Act, Corporate Governance Code, Market Abuse Regulation)


• Experience of working with listed companies (either in-house or significant client experience)


• Adaptable and able to deal with a high-pressure environment


• Excellent communication at all levels with strong attention to detail 


• Able to act with discretion and integrity


• Experience advising on board matters, corporate governance, LSE/FCA requirements, best practices, regulatory and shareholder enquiries


• Experience managing and developing people


• Experience with Share Buyback schemes


• Experience with general legal matters, including litigation, corporate, commercial, or regulatory issue

During our application process, you will be asked two questions to help us learn more about you and how you align with our values. These will be used as part of our selection criteria, to determine if we progress your application further.

Benefits

We’re offering a salary of £70,000 - £80,000, plus an additional 10% of your salary awarded to you in shares each year. These awarded shares will become yours in yearly instalments over the next three years, and you can choose to either sell them or keep them as shares. 

You'll have 28 days holiday per year, and that's in addition to bank holidays and half day closures on Christmas and New Year's Eve.

That’s not all. You'll be enrolled in our pension scheme, where our standard contributions are 7% and employee contributions are 5%. We also have comprehensive private medical cover, enhanced family leave provisions, a car salary sacrifice scheme, share-save options, and much more. 

We always want to give you the support you need and help prioritise your wellbeing, that’s why we provide access to 24/7 online GP and dentist, as well as specialist support for assisted fertility, gender dysphoria, menopause, period care plans and lots more.  

On top of all that, our hybrid model, Connected Working, combines the best of both worlds – office and home working. You’ll have two fixed weekly office days for team collaboration and one more of your choice to suit your work-life balance.  

Additionally, we have our remote-first periods at set times during summer and winter. During these periods, you can work remotely anywhere in the UK and from certain locations abroad.