At Keywords Studios we are using our passion for games, technology and media
to create a global services platform for the video games and entertainment
industries. Our aim is to become the “go to” provider of technical and
creative 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 games and entertainment 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.
The ultimate parent company in the Keywords Studios' group (the Group ),
Keywords Studios plc (the Company ), is admitted to trading on AIM, the
London Stock Exchange market (KWS.L). See www. keywordsstudios.com for
further information.
Job Summary
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 together across 70+
facilities in 26 countries.
Keywords Studios now has 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 General Counsel & Company Secretary on company
secretarial, governance, compliance and other legal matters globally. In
addition, the Deputy Company Secretary will manage the Group's Company
Secretarial Assistant.
As part of this role, you are going to be a key member of the team focusing on
a wide variety of duties, including supporting and advising the board of
directors of the Company (the Board ) and the Group's legal and
corporate functions more generally. This exciting role will give the
successful individual the opportunity to influence a critical element of our
business, helping to take us to the next level of our strategic growth plans.
Joining our team as Deputy Company Secretary offers an exciting opportunity to
be part of a globally recognised video games and entertainment company at the
forefront of innovation. If you have a passion for governance and company
secretarial matters, and the gaming or technology industries, and you thrive
in a dynamic and creative environment, we would love to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities and Activities
Supporting the Company Secretary: Assisting with Board and subsidiary
matters, corporate governance and the Group's compliance with its legal
and other obligations (including the AIM Rules, the Market Abuse
Regulations, DTR5 and the Companies Act 2006), monitoring legislative
developments and best practice, managing the Company Secretarial Assistant
and responding to shareholder enquiries.
Board and Committee Meetings: Assisting with the operation of the
Board and committee meetings, including by:
- planning the meetings and related logistics,
-preparing agendas;
-writing and collating reports and papers for distribution to the Board prior
to meetings;
-liaising with the Chair, the other directors and other stakeholders;
-attending and taking minutes at the meetings;
-following up on arising matters; and
-co-ordinating foreign Board trips.
Announcements: Assisting with the preparation, authorisation and
issuance of RNS announcements in conjunction with the Company Secretary,
Board, investor relations team and external advisers.
Registers: Maintaining statutory books and records of the Board and
its committees, and those of the Company's subsidiaries, and liaising with
the Company's registrar.
Filings and Annual Returns: Assisting with the preparation of Group
company minutes and resolutions and co-ordinating the filing of forms and
annual returns.
Market Abuse Regulations: Maintaining confidential and insider lists,
PDMR and PCA details and issuing briefings and communications to persons
on those lists and to PDMRs as part of induction.
Share Dealings: Refining policies and procedures and preparing and
maintaining all requisite registers, consents to deal, communications and
announcements.
Policies and Procedures: Maintaining and developing appropriate legal
and governance policies, procedures, associated training and monitoring.
Share Schemes Management: Assisting with the management of the Group's
employee share schemes, taking a lead role in the annual grants and
maturity of offerings and managing the Group's external scheme
administrator, employee benefit trust and block listing.
Corporate Governance: Monitoring developments in corporate governance
and best practice, recommending the implementation of or changes to
policies, processes and reporting requirements to align with developments,
and preparing governance updates for the Board.
Induction of Directors: Assisting the Company Secretary with the
induction of new directors and drafting induction documents.
Dividends: In conjunction with the Company's registrar, paying
dividends and managing the dividend reinvestment programme.
General Meetings: Taking the lead on the project management, and
compliance requirements, of the Company's AGMs and EGMs, including
drafting the materials, responding to proxy agency correspondence,
preparing Q&As for the Board, drafting of the Chair's script, managing the
delivery of directors' proxy votes and liaising with the Company's
registrar.
Annual Report: Leading the production and delivery of the Annual
Report, including by producing first drafts of the corporate governance
report, committee reports, directors' report and other statutory
information taking into account related guidance and institutional body
best practice guidance working, in particular, with the investor relations
team.
Modern Slavery Act Statement: Drafting the annual Modern Slavery Act
statement for the Group and ensuring that it is published in compliance
with legislation.
Board and Committee Evaluation: In conjunction with the Company
Secretary, assisting with the annual evaluation of the Board, the
committees and the directors, with an external evaluation every three
years.
Corporate Website: Regularly reviewing the corporate website to ensure
regulatory and governance aspects are kept up to date and to working with
others on any re-development projects.
Qualifications and Core Competencies
Experienced company secretary or deputy company secretary who has worked
at a FTSE100 or FTSE250 main market listed company.
Qualified lawyer or company secretary and a member of The Chartered
Governance Institute.
Experience in dealing with internal management teams and comfortable with
interfacing with an experienced and knowledgeable board of directors.
In-depth knowledge of the AIM Rules, the Market Abuse Regulations, DTR5
and the Companies Act 2006.
Computer literate, proficient in Word, Outlook, and Excel and experience
of tools such as Diligent Boards and Diligent Entities.
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.
Good at networking and relationship building.
Organised, accountable and dependable 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
required).
Keywords Studios is dedicated to following a well-established Equal
Opportunities Policy. We endeavor to create a workplace which provides for
equal opportunities for all employees and potential employees.
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY
Keywords Studios is strongly committed to protecting your personal
information. By sending your CV/Resume, you are agreeing to our terms and
conditions and consent to your data being managed and retained in accordance
with our data privacy and retention policy (
https: // www. keywordsstudios.com/privacy-policy ).