The company secretary's annual work should be defined in the service agreement and connected with the directors' responsibilities. A secretary can organise corporate administration only if the company supplies accurate information and timely approvals.
Agree the recurring scope Clarify annual return preparation and filing, statutory record maintenance, reminders and correspondence. Ask which tasks are included in the annual fee and which changes or special resolutions are charged separately.
Accounting, audit and tax preparation may be supplied by different professionals. Do not assume that a secretarial package includes them because the invoice says “annual compliance”.
Establish an information routine Tell the secretary about changes in officers, address, shares or control. Send the relevant decisions and documents promptly. A yearly questionnaire is useful but cannot replace notifications needed when an event occurs.
Verify completion Request the final filed documents and receipts. Keep the company in control of its records and calendar. A reminder sent by the secretary does not mean a filing has been approved or submitted.
For a remote founder, agree how urgent notices are escalated and who acts if the main contact is unavailable. Review the arrangement before the service renews.
Use the annual meeting with the provider to identify upcoming changes, missing records and unclear responsibilities. The strongest arrangement is a documented working relationship, not an assumption that appointing a secretary transfers every company obligation away from the directors.
Sources and scope
General information, not advice for your individual legal or tax position. Confirm current requirements with the relevant authority or provider.