A secretary of an UK company is a person who acts as a company officer, and holds a qualification for performing his/her functions. The qualification includes being a Chartered Accountant, barrister, advocate or solicitor, having worked as a company secretary for at least 3 years (of the 5 last years). The company directors must decide if the experience of the secretary is enough for the position. The legislation specifies few specific functions to be performed by a company secretary, and others may be added by the articles or the directors. Common duties include maintenance and filing of statutory registers and information, scheduling meetings, managing the documents of member resolutions, custody of the company seal, and provide access to company records to the entitled people. Private companies don't need to have a secretary (as specified in the Companies Act), but public companies must have at least one.
