Deputy Company Secretary

Our Purpose 

At Xero, we’re here to help you supercharge your business. We do this by automating routine tasks, surfacing actionable insights and connecting businesses with the right data, advisors and apps. When that happens, we’re not only making life better for small business, we’ll be building a stronger economy that can change the world.

How You'll Make An Impact

As the Deputy Company Secretary, you’ll report to the Chief Legal Officer & Company Secretary, working in close conjunction with the Executive Leadership team and the Board.  You will work closely with the Chief Legal Officer & Company Secretary to provide leadership on Board and subsidiary governance within Xero and contribute to the strategic direction of Xero’s governance practices and compliance.  You will be responsible for the operational delivery of governance and compliance advice and company secretarial services to the Xero Limited board and all global Xero group entities,  leading a team of legal and governance professionals. This role ensures that Xero continues to operate in compliance with relevant Corporations Act, Companies Act (NZ) and ASX requirements, the legislative and regulatory environment, and Xero’s policies and procedures. You’ll be passionate about the important role our Company Secretary function plays while living and breathing the Xero values. You’ll thrive working in a fast paced environment that requires you to be comfortable dealing with ambiguity.

What You'll Do

• Provide effective and #human leadership to the Company Secretary team to support and empower the team to thrive.
• Provide strategic and operational governance and listing compliance advice to the Xero Limited Board, Executive Team, and to the Xero global group.
• Support the CLO & CoSec in playing a strategic role in ensuring governance processes at Xero lead to strong governance outcomes, supporting Xero’s position as a high growth and dynamic global technology company.
• Ensure compliance with the ASX Listing Rules, including continuous disclosure requirements, constitutional requirements, and relevant New Zealand and Australian corporate regulatory requirements.
• Support and advise on disclosure committee and share trading processes.
• Provide proactive advice to ensure governance and procedures are aligned with Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations.
• Lead and coordinate all aspects of the Annual General Meeting.
• Contribute as required to overseeing and approving Board papers, and oversee Company Secretariat contribution to periodic public reporting and other reporting as required.
• Prepare for and attend Board and Board Committee meetings (where possible) and assist in preparing relevant minutes and records and oversee processes for compliant record keeping.
• Oversee retention and maintenance of applicable registers, statutory records and other internal documents.
• Lead the Company Secretary team to ensure appropriate governance and statutory corporate compliance for the Xero global group of companies, including completion and lodgement of relevant ASX, ASIC and other statutory forms/returns, announcements and reporting obligations under applicable laws and regulations globally.
• Lead the Company Secretary team to deliver on key projects and strategic priorities.

Success Looks Like

• Xero’s Company Secretary function operates effectively and in compliance with all ASX and statutory requirements with an eye on continuous improvement and delivery of strategic priorities.
• Xero’s Company Secretary strategy is clear and aligns to border Legal team goals.
• Xero’s governance is highly effective, aligned with Xero’s culture and supports Xero’s position as a high-growth technology company.
• You have developed strong relationships with the Legal team, Executive Leadership team and the Board which enables you to advise and influence outcomes.
• You live by the Xero values and build strong relationships.
• You provide effective, engaging, and motivating leadership.
• You continuously develop those within the team.

What You'll Bring With You: Critical Competencies

• Ability to build relationships and influence various stakeholder groups, at the most senior levels.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with a focus on detail.
• Highly developed knowledge of relevant ASX and ASIC regulations (knowledge of NZ corporate regulatory desirable and to be developed in-role).
• Ability to synthesise and convey complex legislative and regulatory matters in a digestible, plain-english format.
• Strategic thinker with an ability to execute in an evolving, ambiguous, fast paced environment.
• An ability to cope with change in a fast paced dynamic, or ambiguous, environment experiencing growth and expansion.
• Ability to work autonomously.
• Collaborative and fluid working style.
• Strong problem-solving and decision making skills.
• Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to empower and develop your team.
• Ability to develop and present detailed reports to the Executive Leadership team and the Board

What You'll Bring With You: Experience

• Demonstrated governance and listing experience, ideally 5+ years experience in the role of Company Secretary with an ASX listed company and 15+ years professional legal experience.
• Experience leading a team of Legal professionals.
• Global experience highly desirable.
• Technology industry experience desirable.
• Relevant legal qualifications essential.
• Governance qualifications highly desirable (eg MAICD, Governance Institute Australia).
• Demonstrated experience partnering with executive and board level stakeholders.

Why Xero? 

Offering very generous paid leave to use however you’d like (plus statutory holidays!), dedicated paid leave to care for your physical and mental wellbeing as well as an Employee Assistance Program to access mental health care for you and your family, health insurance, life insurance, and income protection, wellbeing and sports programmes, employee resource groups, 26 weeks of paid parental leave for primary caregivers, an Employee Share Plan, beautiful offices, flexible working, career development, and many other benefits that reflect our human value, you’ll do the best work of your life at Xero.

Our collaborative and inclusive culture is one we’re immensely proud of. We know that a diverse workforce is a strength that enables businesses, including ours, to better understand and serve customers, attract top talent and innovate successfully. We are a member of Pride in Diversity, in recognition of our inclusive workplace. Our goal is to make sure you feel welcome and supported to do the best work of your life. 

At Xero we embrace diversity and inclusion and value a #challenge mindset. Research has shown that women and underrepresented groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single competency or experience . If you are excited about this role, but your past experience doesn't align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You could be just the right person for this role and Xero. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at time of application and throughout the interview process.