Corporate Administration

The Chartered Secretary is regularly employed in a position of strategic responsibility for administrative operations within and across the organisation. The aim of the module is to instil knowledge and key skills in handling the responsibilities of corporate administration in both the strategic and functional contexts, to develop competence in advising the Board and leading teams in administrative best practice, and in ensuring compliance with external regulation and internal procedures.

At the conclusion of this module, the candidate will be able to:

• Understand the scope of strategic and functional administration and apply it within the employing or client organisation.
• Access information sources and deliver knowledge and information internally to the optimum benefit of the organisation and its needs.
• Evaluate the requirements of the legal and regulatory environment in corporate administration, advise the Board accordingly, and ensure compliance.
• pension schemes, insurance and risk, and physical corporate assets.
• Understand the impact of corporate taxation on administration and ensure taxation compliance within systems.

Evidence of assessed pre-requisite knowledge and understanding in the following disciplines must be demonstrated through the Institute's examinations, or those of equivalent qualifications which have been approved as meeting the Institute's required curriculum and standards:

Strategic and Operations Management
Corporate Law

Role and Functions

The role and functions of the corporate administrator. Administration as a support service in organisations. The concept of best practice. The sources and application of guides to best practice.

Knowledge and Information

The sources of information on law, regulation and administrative best practice. Copyright and intellectual property, including asset protection. Trademarks and patents. Information, data and technology as a corporate resource. Technological change and innovation: internet and website applications and management. Security and integrity of information; control of access. Data protection legislation. Confidentiality.

The Human Resource

Employment law and regulation. The employment contract. Concepts of added value and continuous improvement. Securing and monitoring the people resource: human resource planning, recruitment and selection, job descriptions and person specifications. Maximising performance: job design; job enrichment; reward and recognition systems; job evaluation. Training and development. Performance appraisal. Working with consultants. Health and safety at work: legislation and practice. Environmental issues: legislation and best practice.

Pensions, Insurance and Risk

Pensions: their relevance and purposes. Scheme types - occupational, state, personal. Stakeholder pensions and group personal pensions. The management and proper control of pension schemes. The impact of legislation. Funds and their management. Principles and practice of trusteeship; administrative secretaryship and support. The duties of trustees in law. Trust deeds and rules.

The nature of corporate and business risks; management and control. Corporate liability and the implications. Insurance classes, types and uses for companies. The insurance market; brokers and intermediaries. The use of consultants and advisers. Disaster planning.

Corporate Taxation

The impact of corporate taxation: Corporation Tax; Sales, Value Added or Goods and Services Taxes, Income Tax. Corporate responsibilities under law and regulation.

Corporate Assets

The management of physical assets. Facilities administration: role and functions. Security and the application of systems. Purchasing principles and procedures.