Head of Governance; Company Secretary

Please note, this Final date to receive applications at 12pm, midday, on 2nd November 2026
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Hours:

35, Full-time

Contract:

Permanent

Second stage w/c 16th November

Reporting to:
Group Chief Executive Officer

Responsible for:
Governance and Legal Support Officer, Governance and Executive Support Officer

To provide strategic leadership of governance, assurance and company secretarial services across United Welsh Group, ensuring the organisation maintains the highest standards of governance, regulatory compliance, board effectiveness and assurance.

The postholder will act as the Group Company Secretary and trusted adviser to the Board, Chair, Committee Chairs, Chief Executive and Executive Team. You'll help ensure our governance arrangements support good decision-making, accountability and the delivery of great services for customers

You will lead the governance and assurance framework, provide independent governance advice, oversee risk and assurance reporting, and ensure the organisation can demonstrate robust stewardship, accountability and regulatory confidence.

The role will have direct access to the Chair, Committee Chairs and Chief Executive on matters of governance, constitutional compliance, regulatory concern, probity or assurance.

• Provide strategic leadership of the governance function and promote a culture of effective governance throughout the Group.
• Provide expert governance, constitutional and regulatory advice to the Board, committees and Executive team. Drive continuous improvement activity and ensure governance arrangements evolve to meet best practice, regulatory expectations and organisational complexity.
• Horizon scan for changes in legislation, regulation and governance practice and advise the Board and Executive accordingly.

• Act as Company Secretary for United Welsh and its subsidiary companies.
• Ensure compliance with constitutional documents, Rules, standing orders and statutory obligations.
• Ensure the meetings of the primary governing bodies within United Welsh Group are serviced appropriately, are well-managed, receiving information that is necessary and sufficient for them to manage the business; and that all such meetings are minuted .
• Maintain appropriate governance arrangements for subsidiary entities.
• Oversee FCA, Companies House, and other statutory filing and reporting requirements.
• Maintain statutory registers and governance records.
• Support execution of corporate contracts and governance approvals.
• Ensure appropriate management of declarations of interest, conflicts of interest and governance probity arrangements.

• Oversee the Board and Committee governance framework, supporting effective operation of the Board, Committees and subsidiary boards.
• Support the Chair in maintaining an effective Board.
• Coordinate Board and Committee annual work planning.
• Oversee Board recruitment, succession planning, induction and development.
• Oversee periodic reviews of Board effectiveness and governance performance.
• Ensure Board decisions are accurately recorded.
• Ensure effective information flow between Board, Committees and Executive Team.

• Provide strategic leadership of the Group’s internal audit and assurance framework, acting as the principal contact with internal auditors and ensuring the Board and Audit and Risk Committee receive robust, risk-based assurance on governance, internal controls, regulatory compliance and organisational performance.
• Oversee corporate risk reporting,…