Hybrid Company secretary - Europe at La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec

Job Description

Within the Legal Affairs team in charge of subsidiaries, the successful candidate works with teams located in London, Paris and various other regions (notably Montreal). While showing rigor, professionalism, a propensity for teamwork and good organizational skills, they are responsible for the corporate secretarial services of the La Caisse subsidiaries and structures located in Europe (including the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Sweden) to comply with the subsidiaries’ corporate maintenance and governance requirements.

What you will do

• With the support of external service providers, wherever applicable, and in collaboration with internal teams (in-house legal team, investment team, financial services, tax, cash management, etc.), provide corporate secretarial services as further described below, in relation to about a hundred La Caisse subsidiaries in Europe (including the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Sweden), some of which are operating entities;

• Act as Company Secretary to European investment entities;

  • Manage or support the corporate maintenance of the subsidiaries from their constitution to their dissolution (including merger or amalgamation) in collaboration with various teams;

  • Coordinate board and shareholders’ meetings: prepare, review and validate relevant documents in collaboration with various teams; wherever applicable, attend the board and shareholder’s meetings as Company Secretary, ensure the smooth running of these meetings and prepare the minutes thereafter;

  • Participate in the execution of transactions (acquisitions, dispositions, capitalizations, dividend distributions, incorporations and dissolutions, corporate restructuring, mergers, financings, etc.) in collaboration with the internal legal team and external lawyers;

  • Maintain the physical and electronic books and records of the subsidiaries and keep them up to date including board and shareholders’ minutes and resolutions, annual corporate updates, banking, funds flow documentation and other corporate formalities;

  • Update relevant information on each subsidiary: directors, officers, delegations, investments, shareholdings, etc. through the appropriate technological tools and platforms;

  • Generate reports, lists and organizational charts based on available data and collect relevant information primarily to respond to due diligence (KYC) requests on subsidiaries from internal teams, governmental authorities, partners, external parties or financial institutions;

• Ensure that documents and data are reliable and that their entry and retention are executed and maintained in compliance with the La Caisse records management requirements and protocols, including original investment documentation;

• Collaborate on and update templates for standard resolutions and legal documents;

• Work with legal professionals and paralegals in other La Caisse offices to update information on their subsidiaries:

  • Collaborate with the Cash Management team with regard to banking matters;

  • Obtain signatures while ensuring the compliance of signatures with relevant corporate documents, handle notarisation or legalisation procedures;

  • Help update and communicate delegations of authority;

  • Act as a contact person for requests for information in connection with subsidiaries and holding structures;

• Participate in various Montreal team meetings and assist in transversal projects and initiatives;

• Provide other general administrative support as may be required.

What makes you unique

• Rigourous and detail oriented;

• Dedicated team player;

• Ability to prioritize through multiple requests;

• Shows strong judgment;

• Autonomous and organized.

What you bring

• Hold a diploma / certification / course in law, as a Company secretary, or any other relevant training;

• Around seven (7) years of experience in corporate law, preferably in the financial services sector;

• An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered;

• Have knowledge of relevant companies law legislation;

• Being comfortable in a computerized work environment and proficiency in Microsoft Office, Visio and Englobe applications, an asset;

• Mastery of English, both spoken and written;

• Knowledge of French being a strong asset.

This role is not eligible for a person requiring initial sponsorship as a Skilled Worker, and may not be suitable for a candidate already sponsored in the UK. If you require visa sponsorship, you will be asked to confirm details of your immigration history and sponsorship needs, and any employment in the UK must satisfy the requirements of the law and sponsor guidance.