Company Secretary Trainee

Branch Overview

Branch delivers world-class financial services to the mobile generation. With offices in the United States, Nigeria, Kenya, and India, Branch is a for-profit socially conscious company that uses the power of data science to reduce the cost of delivering financial services in emerging markets. We believe that everyone everywhere deserves fair financial access. The rapid spread of smartphones presents an opportunity for the world's emerging middle class to access banking options and achieve financial flexibility.

Branch's mission-driven team is led by the founder and former CEO of The company presents a rich opportunity for our team members to drive meaningful growth in rapidly evolving and changing markets. In 2019, Branch announced our Series C and garnered more than $100M in funding with investments from leading Silicon Valley firms, including Andreessen Horowitz, Trinity Capital, Foundation Capital, Visa, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

As a company, we are passionate about our customers, fearless in the face of barriers, and driven by data. As a product-driven org, we value bottom-up innovation and decentralized decision-making. We believe the best ideas can come from anyone in the company, and we create an environment where everyone feels empowered to propose solutions to the challenges we face.

We value diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive working environment where human beings of all backgrounds can thrive.

Job Overview

The Company Secretary Trainee will report to the Company Secretary of the Company. This will be a contract role for 21 Months of long-term training that will involve a variety of Secretarial & Compliance functions, including preparation of fundraising documents & forms, assisting in Board/Committee Meetings, maintenance of records, and helping with general day-to-day secretarial & compliance functions.

Responsibilities

• Assist in managing corporate secretarial compliance for private companies. Ensure that all necessary filings and documentation for regulatory requirements are completed on time, such as annual returns, board resolutions, shareholder resolutions, etc.
• Assist with filing documents on the MCA (Ministry of Corporate Affairs) portal, including forms for annual filings, changes in directorship, and other corporate filings.
• Support the preparation of compliance documents and reports for various stakeholders.
• Assist in the preparation of documents for fundraising deals.
• Assist in ensuring that corporate governance practices are followed by the company as per relevant laws and secretarial standards.
• Help in the preparation of agendas and minutes of board meetings and annual general meetings (AGMs).
• Help track and monitor compliance with the Companies Act, FEMA, and secretarial standards.
• Draft and maintain internal compliance documentation, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
• Collaborate with the legal, finance, and other departments to ensure all regulatory compliance aspects are addressed.
• Assist in coordinating internal meetings and provide secretarial support as needed.
• Assist with the maintenance of corporate records, legal databases, and compliance registers.
• Help in compiling data and preparing compliance status reports for internal use.
• Provide administrative support in organizing meetings, maintaining meeting schedules, and handling communications related to corporate governance and compliance matters.
• Keep up with industry-specific regulations and ensure the company stays compliant with all necessary laws.
• Support internal audits and compliance checks.
• Assisting in NSDL/CDSL Compliances
• Assist in preparing and maintaining corporate records and documents.
• Support compliance with relevant regulations and corporate governance practices.
• Manage and maintain the company's statutory registers.
• Provide general administrative support to the Secretarial & Compliance department.
• Assist in drafting, reviewing, and vetting various legal documents, contracts, agreements, and company policies to ensure compliance with applicable laws and internal guidelines.
• Assist in managing and updating compliance management software or tools for tracking statutory and regulatory compliances
• Track entity-wise, activity-wise, and event-based compliances across various laws and regulations applicable to the company
• Prepare regular MIS (Management Information System) reports on compliance status, outstanding issues, contract renewals, and statutory filings for management review.
• Support in the implementation and periodic review of compliance frameworks and processes.

Qualifications

• Education: Professional passed out Company Secretary (CS) or Currently pursuing CS with completed 2 groups of Professional level
• Experience- Nil or 6-month Internship experience
• Proficiency in MS Office
• Have a good understanding of Companies Act
• Communication skills both in Hindi and English
• Collaborative and Communicative- Capable of working with seniors

• Mission-driven and fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
• Competitive salary
• A collaborative and flat company culture
• Private health insurance for you
• WFH refreshment stipend
• Laptop provided by the company for the duration of the contract
• Weekly team meals and social events (virtual for now)