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The question, “why do I need a company secretary?” is probably the most asked question when it comes to company registration and appointment. In this article, I want to highlight the typical duties of a company secretary.
In short, a company secretary has the responsibility of ensuring that the company fully complies with the provisions of the Companies Act of Botswana.
What is a Company Secretary?
A company secretary advises board members of their statutory responsibilities to ensure that the company and its directors operate within the law.
According to the Companies Act of Botswana, every company is required to appoint a company secretary within three months of incorporation except for close companies, which are required to appoint accounting officers.
A ‘company secretary’ or ‘company secretarial services’ should be appointed to safeguard the interests of the business, and should be independent.
A Company Secretaries is responsible:
- Advise board members of their statutory responsibilities to ensure that the company and its directors operate within the law.
- For Corporate Governance of all post-incorporation notices including annual returns and changes.
- To the board of the company for issuing all notices of meetings and responding to all inquiries in relation to notices of meetings.
- To maintain a register of shareholders, directors, and secretaries.
- To ensure together with the directors, that the company keeps accounting records.
- To maintain an adequate system of record keeping.
Register your business.
How to choose Company Secretary
Generally, you want to team up with an organization that offers you more than just registration. Choose a partner that will be with you along the business growth journey. A company secretary operating in Botswana must demonstrate through a practicing license to be one of the following:
- A legal practitioner
- A member of the Botswana Institute of Accountants
- A member of the Southern African Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators
- A member of the Association of Business Consultants of Botswana
- A member of the Botswana Association of Company Secretaries
What does a Company Secretary do for your Business?
1. They guide and help with all post-incorporation notices
A company secretary guides and helps with all post-incorporation notices. These include annual returns and any changes to company regulations.
They issue all notices of meetings to the board. They also respond to all inquiries about notices of meetings.
2. They keep things up to date
They keep up to date and maintain a register of shareholders, directors, and secretaries. They also ensure together with the directors, that the company keeps accounting records.
That is, a company secretary submits changes of name and company constitution. They ensure compliance with annual returns. A company secretary completes transfers of shares, issues a share certificate, and keeps a share register.
3. Maintain an adequate system of record-keeping
A company secretary keeps company records up to date. He/she keeps a share registry to ensure these records are up to date every time there I a change in your company.
Register your business.
When do you need a company secretary?
Say you would like to add a new shareholder to your company. The process will include a transfer of shares from one shareholder to another. The records kept by the secretary in the form of a share registry are a requirement in your submissions. Where the secretary makes this application and submission for you, the record continues. What has changed is highlighted through the registry.
For more on see the company registration process.
Key Takeaways
Keep in mind a company secretary will assist you in understanding and being compliant with the Companies Act of Botswana.
- They are responsible for the Corporate Governance of all post-incorporation notices including annual returns and changes.
- They are also responsible to the board of the company for issuing all notices of meetings and respond to all inquiries in relation to notices of meetings.
- They maintain a register of shareholders, directors, and secretaries.
- They ensure together with the directors, that the company keeps accounting records.
- They maintain an adequate system of record keeping.
A company secretary performs an important role in your business, make sure to keep them engaged with your plans for your company. They will always keep you up to date with the changes in compliance requirements by the Companies Act of Botswana and the Companies and Intellectual Property Authority.
Starting a business in an emerging market such as Botswana can be exciting. Looking for information, knowing where to start can be a challenge. We understand that. We’re here to empower you with the tools need to start, grow and lead in the Botswana market.
Do you need help with registering your next business in Botswana? We provide secretarial solutions to help your business grow and succeed, email us at email us or contact us.
