Companies Act 2006

Question 1

Section 271

Answer 1

“All public companies in the UK must have a company secretary”.

Question 2

Section 273 (qualifications of the company secretary)

Answer 2

1. Have one or more of the following qualifications:
   - have been a secretary of a public company for at least 3 of the last 5 years immediately preceding their appointment
   - is a member of one of the following professional bodies:
   
   • institute of chartered accountants in England and Wales
   • institute of chartered accountants of Scotland
   • the association of chartered certified accountants
   • the institute of chartered accountants in Ireland
   • the institute of chartered secretaries and administrators
   • the chartered institute of management accountants
   • the chartered institute of Public finance and accountancy, and
   • is a qualified barrister or solicitor
2. Be a person who appears to them to have the requisite knowledge and experience to discharge the functions of the secretary.