Assistant Company Secretary

Assistant Company Secretary

Location: Cambridge, UK

Introduction to role

AstraZeneca is shaping the future of healthcare by expanding our global presence and harnessing innovation to make an even greater impact on society and the planet. Join us in this exciting new chapter as we build sustainable, digitally enabled workplaces designed to inspire and empower our teams to deliver life-changing medicines to the world.

Are you a company secretarial professional looking for a new challenge? We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our Board & Corporate Support team (B&CS) at AstraZeneca. Our team is a well-respected part of the organisation, based in the UK and Canada, and we work closely with the Legal function and colleagues in our major hubs in the UK, Sweden, and the US. We support AstraZeneca PLC’s boards and committees, manage the Group’s London, Stockholm and Nasdaq stock exchange listings, and support the Group’s principal operating companies. We are involved in key business activities such as corporate disclosures, financings, production of the annual report, and corporate transactions. We value flexibility, a willingness to learn, and the ability to take on new challenges. We foster a collaborative environment, both within the team and when working with other areas of the business; but are not afraid to take the lead and take pride in the high standards we achieve and our ability to deliver under pressure.

Accountabilities

As Assistant Company Secretary, you will report to the Company Secretary. You will be adaptable and able to work flexibly within the team to provide support on significant matters and projects as they arise. You will be excited to take on work in new areas and pick up new skills.

You will have your own ongoing responsibilities, including:
• Supporting the Group’s UK, US and Swedish listings and registrar-related activities
• Supporting the Group’s principal subsidiaries and wider intra-group transactions 
• Supporting company secretarial aspects of Group and UK employee share schemes
• Acting as liaison with the Group Treasury team and representing B&CS on Treasury projects.

You will have the opportunity to lead on important projects and you will be highly visible to our senior leaders. You must be self-aware and eager to learn more about our business, build good working relationships with stakeholders outside the B&CS team and understand how your team’s activities fit into the “bigger picture” of our organisation.

Essential Skills/Experience
• Company secretarial qualification.
• Strong company secretarial experience and working knowledge of UK corporate governance regime coupled with a desire to expand your skill set as you quickly adapt to a new team and new organisation.
• Experience managing global subsidiaries, supporting intra-group transactions and working with subsidiary management software.
• Pragmatic with an ability to switch your focus between detailed technical matters and a broader “big picture” approach.
• Proven record of ability to take on, and prioritise, multiple workstreams and being comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work to high standards of accuracy.
• Collaborative and keen to share knowledge with, and learn from, other team members, and represent the team to internal and external stakeholders.

Desirable Skills/Experience
• Listed company experience and a good knowledge of the associated regulatory requirements.
• Working knowledge of UK or EU Market Abuse Regulation regimes.
• Experience supporting employee share schemes.
• Experience supporting corporate transactions, including treasury and financing activities.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Here you will experience a fast-paced and agile environment as we continue to support the business on a journey of evolution and growth, driven by new, exciting technology and digital innovations. It's challenging and sometimes demanding, and that's why we love it.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now!

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.